“Yes, thank you.” When she’d left, looking over her shoulder at him several times, Savich asked Dix, “Did you meet with the techs at the morgue this morning?”

Savich smiled up at Glenna, the waitress. It’s the process-that’s what’s important to him.” He didn’t want his handiwork discovered, that isn’t what he’s about, what he’s after. It’s usually a script the killer must follow to the letter if he’s to consider his act a success. It’s his own special deal, his way of making himself unique, his own creation.” Ruth laid down her fork, leaned her chin on her laced fingers. “I’ve learned that the killers among us have limitless imagination.” “You don’t sound surprised,” Dix said as he spread butter on wheat toast. I make that caveat because if not for Ruth, we might never have found Erin Bushnell.” “MAX found us instances of stabbing and gassing, of course, even embalming, by a parade of psychopaths you don’t want to know about, but never all together, at least that we know about. IT WAS TEN-THIRTY Tuesday morning before the four of them met for a late breakfast at Maurie’s Diner on Main Street. He looked at her every day, and every day he wondered what had happened to her. He still had Christie’s photo on his desk at work, taken with his boys only a month before she vanished. Somehow he felt comforted, a bit freer of the numbing pain, a bit more open to life again. He’d never before spoken of her as he had tonight. When he lay in his bed, Dix listened to the familiar sounds of the night and wondered what was happening to his peaceful town. “I need to pick up some clothes tomorrow, Dix. They’ll be checking the house every hour, not to worry.” I’ve got my deputies on a rotating schedule. But I’m not about to take any more chances with you or the boys. “I’m thinking you could kick your way out of a bar fight, Special Agent. He heard the hint of fear in her voice and shook his head. “You don’t think there’s any danger from me staying here tonight, do you?” When she finally stepped back, she kept her hand on his arm for a moment. There was nothing she could say, and so Ruth simply pressed against him, held him for a very long time. There is no way Christie would leave me and the boys. “Usually I can hear at least one of them snoring.”

He paused by the closed door of Rafe’s room to listen. Dix said, “Savich, what are the chances of your profilers at Quantico taking a shot at this?”Īfter Savich and Sherlock left, Dix walked Ruth to Rob’s bedroom.

Point blank novel