Page 39

“Iam.”
“Don’t you know who this guy is? I mean, why would he buy you a sandwich if he doesn’t knowyou?”
“If it’s who I think it is, we haven’t met.” Nyle rejoined them. “But I know abouthim.”
He smiled impishly. “My brother Doug bought Tara Marvin a slice of pizza because he thought she was hot. Maybe this guy likesyou.”
The thought had her mouth drying out. It was all she could do to force the words out. “That’s a thought. Thanks again for yourhelp.”
This time he lost no time gathering up his bike, jumping on it and pedalingoff.
“It would be worthwhile for that young man to sit down with a forensic sketch artist,” Alexa informed Nyle. “He’s eagle-eyed, and he saw the offender minutes ago rather than three years like Fornier. I’d like to get a second sketch and compare thetwo.”
Nyle nodded. “I just called Ethan. He’s contacting the Halifax RCMP and requesting Cote’s services again. He’s also sending extra officers from the scene over to help do a patrol for the van in thevicinity.”
“Let me guess.” She turned toward the car. “We’re on camera dutyagain.”
He nodded. “We’ll check the businesses the kid mentioned and other ones in the vicinity for security cameras. Then it’s back to our tasks from earlier thisafternoon.”
A sense of urgency filled her. If Anis Tera had been caught on camera in town in the last couple of hours, they wouldn’t need a forensic artist. They’d have the first picture of The Tailor in the history of thecase.
* * *
Three hours later,they were back at the RCMP headquarters in Halifax, preparing for the day’s briefing that would begin in twenty minutes. Alexa had a feeling that she looked worse for wear. The long hours without sleep were beginning to take a toll. But working practically around the clock hadn’t prevented Jeanette Lawler’sdeath.
That failure weighedheavily.
Ethan strode into the conference area they were using for the meeting, his cell clutched in his hand and his expression forbidding. “Commissioner Gagnon,” he said, by way of explanation, and pressed a button before setting the phone on the table between them. “You’re on speakerphone, Commissioner. Dr. Hayden is withme.”
“Doctor. Thank you for your efforts on the task force.” Gagnon’s voice was brisk but sincere. I wanted to hear your thoughts about the UNSUB’s communication with you. Is this an encouraging development? Or is he playing a cat-and-mouse game withus?”
She flicked a glance at Ethan’s expression, which hadn’t lightened. She could only guess at the phone conversation before it had included her. “Nothing in the profile I’ve developed leads me to believe that the offender had planned to change his behavior. Now that he has, however, he will attempt to manipulate us,yes.”
“And what do you think precipitated thechange?”
A bit discomfited, she said, “I believe it was my appearance at the press conference that did so, sir. We know the UNSUB researches his victims exhaustively. He might have been intrigued by my specialty in entomology, given his interest in thatarea.”
“Sergeant Manning believes he has an unhealthy fixation onyou.”
Ah. The reason for the temper radiating off Ethan was now becoming clear. “I wouldn’t disagree. That doesn’t mean we can’t use it to ouradvantage.”
A note of satisfaction entered the commissioner’s voice. “That’s what I wanted to hear you say. Of course, we don’t expect you to take any unnecessary risks. But as long as you’re comfortable, I’d like you to use his new focus on you as a way to expand the investigation. Tomorrow I’ll call another press conference, for which the two of you will again be miked in remotely. I want you to speak directly to the offender. You know best what to say to say to him. But use his newfound fixation to draw himout.”
“Exactly what I would suggest myself,sir.”
“Excellent.” There was no mistaking the note of finality in the man’s tone. “Ethan? Did you have anything else toadd?”
“No,sir.”
“Then Captain Campbell will contact you before the conference to discuss what information you’re ready to make public. I won’t keepyou.”
They said their goodbyes anddisconnected.
Ethan slipped the phone in his pocket, careful not to make eye contact with Alexa. But she could sense his disapproval. He didn’t have to state it. She already knew that she was in for some heated discussion over on thissubject.
For now, though, Ethan and an RCMP officer busied themselves hooking up the video conference software. The equipment was a far cry from what they had available in the hotel room yesterday morning. There was a large screen hanging in the center of the wall and three mikes set up before each of Ethan’s, Alexa’s and Nyle’s places at the table. Within minutes, familiar faces filled the screen. The remainder of the task forceteam.
Ethan walked back and took his place at the table between Alexa and Nyle. “Welcome,everyone.”