however, that Miss Hewsom requires specialized care. She is a deeply, deeply troubled individual. But rehabilitation could give her a second chance to overcome both the wrongs that were done to her and the grievous wrongs she herself has done. In view of that, the court has decided to send Miss Hewsom to the Spurling Institute, a private institution that has had great success in treating people who lack values and morals to guide them.”
It took a few seconds for the truth to settle in. Sissy had thought the trial would end with her going free. But instead she would be locked up for years. She realized she had made a mistake. Mr. D hadn’t wanted to help her get free. He wanted to get her away from him.
Which wasn’t the same thing.
CHAPTER 19
Channel Four
C assidy looked into the camera. “Tonight, Channel Four offers you an exclusive interview with the accused Want Ad Killer, Colton Foley. And his fiancée, Zoe Barrett, opens up about her ordeal.
“Colton Foley is being held without bail in the Multnomah County Jail. Foley is twenty-three and a medical student at Oregon Health Sciences University. He is charged with robbing and killing three women who variously described themselves in want ads as masseuses, exotic dancers, or strippers. Two other women who were robbed, but not killed, have also come forward.
“He allegedly contacted women through the ‘Meetings sought’ section of the local alternative weekly.” Cassidy held up a section of newsprint. “Here’s how one ad he answered read: If you’d like to spend some time with a sweet blonde, give me a call .”
Brad Buffet, the anchor, asked, “Do authorities suspect that there are other victims out there, Cassidy?”
She nodded. “The assistant United States attorney has posted an ad in the weekly alternative paper—ironically, the same paper believed to have been used by the killer to hook up with the three dead women. The ad says something like Please come forward if you were a victim . But will they? It’s quite possible they were doing something illegal. We may never know how many more victims are out there. But one young woman says that there is yet one more victim in this story: Colton Foley himself. She is Zoe Barrett, Foley’s fiancée.”
This part of the story was a “donut,” with Cassidy speaking on either side of a piece of video that had been put together beforehand. In the video, she sat in an upholstered chair while Zoe Barrett, a blandly pretty woman with honey-blonde hair, faced her on a matching couch. With her big eyes and snub nose, Zoe looked younger than her twenty-three years. But her words were direct and her tone unwavering.
“Your fiancé, Colton Foley, is facing accusations that he is the man behind what have become known as the Want Ad Killings,” Cassidy said. “How do you feel about that?”
“Unfortunately, Cassidy,” Zoe said, “you were given wrong information, as were the rest of the press and the public. Colton is completely innocent of these trumped-up charges.”
Cassidy offered her a patient smile. “Pardon me for saying this, but isn’t that what anyone in your situation would say?”
“You think I wouldn’t know?” Zoe straightened up. “I met this man three years ago when we volunteered at a food bank. We’re both training to be doctors. We’ve lived together for the past eight months. I know Colton’s character, inside and out. He is a kind, gentle, caring man, not some sick killer. The police have got the wrong man, but they don’t want to admit it. Colton was set up.”
“But why would they do that?” Cassidy persisted. “What would be their motive?”
“Cash,” Zoe said bluntly. “We’ve heard that a Portland police officer has been making the rounds of the tabloids, trying to make big bucks off of selling Colton’s story.”
Was it possible? Sure, one cop might want to leak something to the media in the hopes of getting an under-the-table payment. But a whole task
It took a few seconds for the truth to settle in. Sissy had thought the trial would end with her going free. But instead she would be locked up for years. She realized she had made a mistake. Mr. D hadn’t wanted to help her get free. He wanted to get her away from him.
Which wasn’t the same thing.
CHAPTER 19
Channel Four
C assidy looked into the camera. “Tonight, Channel Four offers you an exclusive interview with the accused Want Ad Killer, Colton Foley. And his fiancée, Zoe Barrett, opens up about her ordeal.
“Colton Foley is being held without bail in the Multnomah County Jail. Foley is twenty-three and a medical student at Oregon Health Sciences University. He is charged with robbing and killing three women who variously described themselves in want ads as masseuses, exotic dancers, or strippers. Two other women who were robbed, but not killed, have also come forward.
“He allegedly contacted women through the ‘Meetings sought’ section of the local alternative weekly.” Cassidy held up a section of newsprint. “Here’s how one ad he answered read: If you’d like to spend some time with a sweet blonde, give me a call .”
Brad Buffet, the anchor, asked, “Do authorities suspect that there are other victims out there, Cassidy?”
She nodded. “The assistant United States attorney has posted an ad in the weekly alternative paper—ironically, the same paper believed to have been used by the killer to hook up with the three dead women. The ad says something like Please come forward if you were a victim . But will they? It’s quite possible they were doing something illegal. We may never know how many more victims are out there. But one young woman says that there is yet one more victim in this story: Colton Foley himself. She is Zoe Barrett, Foley’s fiancée.”
This part of the story was a “donut,” with Cassidy speaking on either side of a piece of video that had been put together beforehand. In the video, she sat in an upholstered chair while Zoe Barrett, a blandly pretty woman with honey-blonde hair, faced her on a matching couch. With her big eyes and snub nose, Zoe looked younger than her twenty-three years. But her words were direct and her tone unwavering.
“Your fiancé, Colton Foley, is facing accusations that he is the man behind what have become known as the Want Ad Killings,” Cassidy said. “How do you feel about that?”
“Unfortunately, Cassidy,” Zoe said, “you were given wrong information, as were the rest of the press and the public. Colton is completely innocent of these trumped-up charges.”
Cassidy offered her a patient smile. “Pardon me for saying this, but isn’t that what anyone in your situation would say?”
“You think I wouldn’t know?” Zoe straightened up. “I met this man three years ago when we volunteered at a food bank. We’re both training to be doctors. We’ve lived together for the past eight months. I know Colton’s character, inside and out. He is a kind, gentle, caring man, not some sick killer. The police have got the wrong man, but they don’t want to admit it. Colton was set up.”
“But why would they do that?” Cassidy persisted. “What would be their motive?”
“Cash,” Zoe said bluntly. “We’ve heard that a Portland police officer has been making the rounds of the tabloids, trying to make big bucks off of selling Colton’s story.”
Was it possible? Sure, one cop might want to leak something to the media in the hopes of getting an under-the-table payment. But a whole task
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