Page 86 of Blood Moon

“Much obliged, Professor.” As John headed toward his bedroom, he answered his phone. “Hey.”

“Hi.”

“You made it home okay?”

“Yes. And joy!He’shere.”

“Are they fighting?”

“No. But Mom is pissed with me because I didn’t go to the table for dinner. I brought my plate to my room.”

“Well, I’m glad you’re in. You didn’t notice anyone following you?”

“No, Dad. And I looked.”

Her annoyed tone annoyed him. “Molly, don’t blow off this heads-up. I didn’t issue it for the fun of it. Don’t take it lightly.”

“I don’t. I promise. I’m sorry. I’m just grumpy.”

“Hang in there.”

“I miss Mutt. How is he?”

“I wore him out this afternoon.”

“Fetching tennis balls?”

“Sticks. Right now he’s sacked.”

“How’s Ms. Collins?”

“Listen, don’t go out again tonight. All right? I’ll check in with you in the morning.”

“She’s there with you, isn’t she?” Then in singsong voice, “I know she is.”

“Good night,” he said singsong. “Sleep tight. ”

Smiling, he hung up and rejoined Beth in the main room. She asked how Molly was.

“Hating life. Roslyn’s boyfriend is there. A familiar refrain.” He sat down in the chair beside her. “What did you think of the professor?”

“Well, he came through with his mailing list. I just opened up the attachment in his email.”

“How many names are on it?”

“Looks like several hundred.”

“Severalhundred? Jesus. Even eliminating the women, that’s a lot of men to check out. We could put fifty people on it immediately, and it could still take weeks. And who’s to say our perp ever attended one of Wallace’s lectures? I wouldn’t if you paid me. And I need the money.” He got up and rounded his chair. “But what else have we got? Nothing.”

“He also sent links to the chat rooms. Maybe we start by searching for names that are on more than one. And names that show up routinely. That would narrow it down.”

Wearily, he said, “I’ll get some of my people on that. I’ll also send the links to Gayle, Roberts, and Cougar, and encourage them to put people on the hunt. But manpoweris scarce, and these are cold cases, and I’m no longer a cop. Beth, I’m afraid—”

“Don’t say it.”

He didn’t speak it aloud, but each acknowledged that time was running out. She broke the gloomy silence by asking, “Have we eaten today?”

He gave a soft laugh. “Now that I think about it…”