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Alexa smiled. “I didnot.”
“You could have. You justrefused.”
They’d reached the car. “You didn’t need help with any subject. You just used that as a reason to keep talking tome.”
“Mad skills with the ladies even back then, eh?” Nylelaughed.
“She did help me with English a couple of times.” Ethan unlocked the car, and they got in. “She used to read Voltaire. Forfun.”
Nyle feigned a shudder. Looked at Alexa over the seat as he fastened his seat belt. “What’s wrong withyou?”
“The numbers?” she reminded thempatiently.
Ethan returned his attention to the case as he drove out of the parking lot. “We can computer-generate all the possible combinations of the phone numbers.” He ignored the muttered remark from the back about doing the exercise in his head. “Then we can leave automated messages for the recipients to call our tip line if they saw her lastnight.”
“We’d still have to double-check on all the numbers that don’t call in, but that would be a faster way to hear from potential witnesses,” Nylenoted.
“I called one of the officers manning the tip line on the way back from Truro. He’s forwarding a list of the updated messages every few hours. I say we prioritize those and take some of the interviews ourselves.” Lawler’s photo and the message to the public had appeared in local papers this morning. Sifting through the deluge of calls to find the ones worth checking out would be a chore of itsown.
“I guess you haven’t heard the news about the memorial service,” Nylesaid.
A hard knot of trepidation formed in the pit of Ethan’s belly. He wasn’t a big fan of surprises. “Enlightenme.”
“It was Conrad’s tech that mentioned it to me,” Nyle informed him. “Apparently, there’s a movement afoot to have a candlelight vigil this evening in Victoria Park in memory of The Tailor’s two most recentvictims.”
Ethan looked at Alexa in the rearview mirror. Caught her gaze on him. “Will he bethere?”
“Ordinarily, I’d say no,” she answered slowly. “I think it’s unusual for this UNSUB to stay in the area after a kill. He calls the homicides a ‘mission.’ And that doesn’t sound like someone who would get a rush from standing around and reveling in the emotional aftermath the way some killers do. I think the bigger question is…do we want to try and lure himthere?”
* * *
“I’m still notsure about this,” Ethan muttered later that afternoon. They were sitting in an interview room at the Halifax RCMP divisional headquarters, waiting to be summoned for their remote appearance on a national newscast. As before, the setup had been left to Gagnon’s office. This time, the filming would take place on scene, rather than at the televisionstation.
“Captain Campbell seemed to think that trying to lure the UNSUB to the memorial vigil was low-risk,” Alexa reminded him. She’d put her hair up again before their arrival here and donned a black jacket that matched her slacks. The makeup artist that he’d sent away had found a more willing subject in her. Once again, her smooth, polished demeanor was intact. He found himself preferring her appearance this morning. “You’ll have ample time to get preparations in place. And I’ll be surrounded by a policepresence.”
He was aware of the advantages and disadvantages of the operation. He and Nyle and Alexa had debated them thoroughly before the conversation with Campbell. It had reached the point where Ethan had to ask himself whether he’d have the same reservations if Alexa weren’t involved. The answer was uncomfortable. She changed everything, and he couldn’t allow that. He’d sworn from the beginning that she wouldn’t be a distraction in this case. It was time he started remembering thatvow.
When he’d spoken to Gagnon yesterday, Ethan had been adamant that Alexa not use the news conference to try to connect with the UNSUB. He hadn’t wanted to cement the UNSUB’s obsession with her. But like it or not, the connection was already happening, on the offender’s terms. As much as it pained him to admit it, it was time to shift the balance of control. He had to reluctantly accept that fact that Alexa could help toward thatend.
“We’re ready for you.” A harried-looking woman led them quickly down the hallway, and out the front doors. Then she spent more time than he thought necessary positioning them for optimal impact outside the building while avoiding a glare from the banks ofwindows.
He ignored the cameras and tried not to fiddle with his ear mic, which he found damnannoying.
A moment later, the mic was activated. “…here with us now in Halifax, RCMP Sergeant Ethan Manning, lead investigator and Dr. Alexa Hayden, the profiler consulting on the case. Sergeant Manning, can you speak to your attempts to rescue Jeanette Lawler yesterdayevening?”
He kept his remarks brief, factual and undramatic, ending with, “We want to extend our condolences to the victim’s family, and assure them that we are actively pursuing a number of leads to bring the killer tojustice.”
“And what can you tell us about those leads,Sergeant?”
“We now have a second sketch of the person of interest in this case.” He knew that the drawing Patrick had worked on with the forensic artist this morning and the one Fornier did were now showing on the screen. “This man changes his appearance as he moves about in public. If you see this individual, do not approach him. Instead, quickly call the number on thescreen.”
“Thank you, Sergeant. And now here’s a picture of the latest victim, JeanetteLawler.”
“We know Jeanette Lawler was in downtown Halifax last night at a nightclub. People saw her. Spoke to her.” His voice was grim. “They might have seen her killer, as well. We ask that you please call the tip line if you have anything to report from yesterday evening. Your statement might be all we need to close in on this killer.” He hoped the UNSUB was watching. He hoped like hell the man wondered and worried about being seen the nightbefore.
“And Dr. Hayden, you’ve had time to study this madman who has struck all across Canada.” Ethan struggled to keep his face impassive. There was no way to keep sensationalism from creeping into the newscast. “What have you learned about him that will aid in theinvestigation?”
Ethan tensed, but beside him, Alexa appeared calm. Composed. “I understand this offender like no one else can. I know what drives him. He realizes that every deed will be brought into judgment. Every secret thing. His mission is over. Like a weary soldier returning from battle, he can put down his sword. Only then will he find truepeace.”