The Red Light Girls (Unsolved Mysteries Book 2) by Kim Knight (most romantic novels TXT) 📗

Janssen’s eyes moved over the missing person’s report. Pulling out her notepad, she made a note to call around again to see her personally. She could see from the file that her officers had called. They had even posed enough questions to her mother, but she wanted to take a deeper look.

A witness had had come forward from the appeal and confirmed they had seen Tess talking with a dark-haired man at Dam Square just outside the erotica museum on the day she went missing.

Need to follow this up too, she thought and made a swift note.

She picked up the phone and punched a few numbers.

“Hello,” the junior detective answered.

“Denz,” she said as soon as he answered. “This morning, I need you to question the witness who came forward on Tess Van Jijjk’s case—follow up on that led again.”

“Yes, Ma’am.”

“The file is on my desk if you need to review anything.”

“Okay, I’ll be over for it in minute,” Denz confirmed.

Janssen dropped the phone on its receiver without so much as a thank you or goodbye. As soon as she did, it jumped to life.

Ring.

Ring.

She snatched up the receiver. “Yeah, this is Janssen.” Her eyes didn’t move from the case notes on her desk.

“Detective, hi. Dr. Cleveland here.”

“Oh, hey doc. What’s the latest?”

“The victim—Suzy Chan, well, she’s another strangulation.”

“With what?”

“This time, with a belt.”

“How do you know?”

“By the puncture marks on her neck. Looks like it was wrapped around her neck a few times, then the clasp of the belt was actually closed with the clasp, which caused a puncture marks to the skin.”

“Jesus, what a sick bastard. Anything else you can tell me?”

“Well, some good news.”

“I’m all about the good stuff. Hit me.”

“This time, I found a hair.”

“Human?”

“Yep. And it didn’t belong to the victim. Also, the swab samples might show up more information once they come back from the lab. Keep your fingers crossed. This time, we might just find something.”

Janssen stopped chewing her fruit and placed it on the desk. The hair found was music to her ears.

“Doc, you’re amazing. This is what we needed,” she said. “Some kind of headway with the forensics. This fucker’s been too damn careful for my liking.”

A long sigh, followed by a pause hit the line.

She rolled her eyes. “Sorry. Excuse my language.”

Dr. Cleveland chuckled slightly at her apology. “No worries. Well, let’s hope there’s something to look back on if you find your suspect. I’ll keep you posted on the clothing and other samples taken.”

“Was she assaulted in anyway?

“No. Just like the others. From what I could make out, no sexual assault occurred. Whether she had sex and with who is a whole other question. But the samples taken will confirm that one way or another.”

“Thanks. Talk to you soon.”

“No problem. Keep well.”

Janssen placed the phone receiver down, picked up her apple and a whiteboard marker pen, then rose. She took a large bite of the sweet fruit and made her way from her desk, over to the whiteboard.

Standing in front of the board for a moment, she sighed, then added Suzy’s name to the list of missing women along with her mug shot.

Her eyes moved over each of them. She noted a similarity in age—early to mid-thirties.

From an ethic standpoint, they reflected every shade under a rainbow of flesh tones. And the fact that they were all tied to the city via their jobs as working girls, offering adult services to the public, was one more tie that connected them.

Once she finished combing over the information on the board, she headed back to her desk and pulled up the transcript of the interview with the witness who had come forward, regarding Tess’ last sighting.

She recorded the person’s name and address in her notebook, then read over the mother’s report once more.

11

Last Sighting

Detective Gibson

Later that morning, Gibson pulled up outside the last known address of Suzy Chan. Hopping out of the car, he straightened his tie, and then looked up at the building. The accompanying officers parked a few cars down from his vehicle.

He turned his attention back to the block of flats, then glanced around the residential area. Nothing seemed out of place.

Suzy lived not far from the Anna Frank museum. The area was busy for ten-thirty in the morning. People made their way in and out of the direction of the iconic tourist spot of the city.

Gibson rubbed his hands together for warmth as he waited for his officers to make their way over.

“Morning gentlemen.” He addressed the three men.

“Morning, Sir,” said Denz, the more talkative of the group.

“So, this is the plan,” said Gibson. “We have a warrant to search the property. With any luck her, roommate will be home and can let us in, so we can take a look around.”

“Okay,” replied Denz. “Anything in particular we’re looking for?”

Gibson looked officer Denz in the eye. “We need the contact details of her parents. She named her roommate as her next of kin. Other than that, bag up anything you can find of use. Diaries, notes, electronics, anything that may shine some light.”

The officers nodded in agreement.

Gibson strode over to the building and pressed the intercom buzzer.

“Hello,” said a feminine voice.

“Morning, this is Detective Gibson. I believe you spoke to one of my officers yesterday about Suzy. I have a few more questions for you.”

“Oh, okay, come on in.”

The door clicked open. Gibson placed a hand on the knob and opened the door. He entered the building with his men behind him. Glancing left and then right, he noticed no one around. Just a few empty bottles, graffiti and take out boxes.

He shook his head at the rubbish and remained on high alert as he progressed up the stairs. Once he arrived outside of what was Suzy’s home, her roommate was already on the landing of the balcony waiting for him. She was what he would consider tall for a woman, around five-foot-ten, slender, with long, black braids to her waist, and