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The sun wasa red ball of fire colliding with the horizon by the time Dana was back in Richter’s SUV heading toward the city. She wanted to call Jake and fill him in on everything that happened, but she was preoccupied, her mind busy trying to piece together the fragments of clues they’d gathered today.

Catching her chewing her nails again, Richter asked, “What’s bothering you?”

“What isn’t?”

“I know we didn’t stop the murder, but at least it wasn’t Miss Kincaid.”

“But if the Reaper isn’t Dvita, or there’s more than one killer, they’ll know they failed here. I’m worried someone will still try to get to Meredith.”

“I know the MO was different here,” Richter said. “But a life is a life, isn’t it? If Sharon’s death was orchestrated by our killer, we have to assume she is the fourth victim.”

“I don’t know,” Dana muttered. “This case is so twisted I don’t know which way is up, only that we’re always a step behind.”

Richter smirked. “Welcome to the BAU.”

Dana stewed on her thoughts for a moment longer, landing on one looming question. “I still don’t understand Meredith’s role in all of this,” she said.

“Neither do I,” he replied. “But we’d better get to the bottom of it if she was important enough for someone to try and tie up loose ends.”

“Someone? Don’t you mean Dvita?”

Richter frowned. “I’m not so sure.”

“You were the one who said trust your gut.”

“I know, and now I need to take my own advice,” Richter said. “Dvita’s in lockup. There’s no way he could’ve got to her.”

“We discussed this. He could’ve already had this plan set in motion,” Dana argued.

“Possibly, but it doesn’t feel right. I guess we won’t know until we talk to Meredith.”

“Maybe not,” Dana said, an idea forming that just might fast forward through all the red tape and get them the answers they needed. “How do you feel about hypnosis?”

After getting Richter on board,Dana dialed Jake. His voice was the perfect salve for the chill and fatigue the day had gifted her.

“We’re fine,” he reassured her when she asked about him and Claire. “What’s going on?”

Dana filled him in on the events of the day while Richter drove.

“Wow,” Jake said when she’d finished.

“Yeah,” Dana almost laughed. “That about sums it up. The important thing is Meredith is okay, but we’re not getting in to see her today. St. Elizabeth’s is still on lockdown. Richter and I are heading back to the house.”

“For what?” Jake asked.

“I want to run something by you. It’s about Claire.”

Dana laid out her plan and was met with Jake’s silence. “What do you think?” she pressed.

“I think it just might be crazy enough to work, but it has to be Claire’s decision. She’s been through enough. I’m not going to force her to do anything she doesn’t want to. And the BAU and Hartwell have to sign off.”

“They already have.”

“Of course they have,” he muttered.

“Jake, we don’t have a lot of time. If we’re wrong about Dvita, then the Reaper is still out there and someone else is going to die tonight. I’m just trying to make sure it’s not Claire.”

“I know, and that’s the only reason I’m agreeing to this.”

“Okay. I’ll see you soon.” She hung up the phone and looked at Richter. “He’s in.”