Page 23

TWENTY-TWO

After telling Erin what Adrian had said, the women went back to the photos. Erin couldn’t shake the feeling that she didn’t belong here—trying to help Kaely. She hadn’t worked for the FBI, and she’d never received the kind of training Kaely had.

“You’re pretty quiet,” Kaely said after a few minutes. “Anything wrong?”

“I’m just thinking that you’d do better if you had someone else to help you. Someone who actually knows what they’re doing. Not a clueless author who’s only parroting the information you’ve given me.”

To her surprise, Kaely laughed. When she saw the look on Erin’s face, Kaely reached over and took her hand. “You know, I’ve worked with several analysts at the FBI. They were great. But my interaction with you matches or exceeds anything I ever experienced on the job.”

Erin started to protest, but Kaely waved her comment away. “I’ve taught you a lot, but you soaked all of it up like a sponge. And some of the things you noticed on the body? I didn’t teach you that. It was instinct. You’re a natural. Not only as a cop, but as an analyst. I realize a lot of that comes from working on the streets of St. Louis. But when we’re working together, it’s like our minds are in sync. That doesn’t happen very often. I think you’re extraordinary. Forgive me for saying this, but I wish you wouldn’t give up on your dream of joining the Bureau and applying to the BAU. In the end, it’s your decision. And you might be right. It’s possible that the FBI might not see you as an acceptable candidate. But I’m willing to go to bat for you, if you ever change your mind.”

Erin sighed. “I know you’re trying to help, and I appreciate it. Let me think about it. I’m not sure what I want. Do I want to try for the FBI and fail? Or even win? Or do I want to keep writing? I know it’s frustrating, but I just need some time. I never expected this book to take off the way it did. Like I told you, I had a couple of novels published by a small press when I was in college. People seemed to enjoy them, but I didn’t sell a lot.”

“Are they still available?” Kaely asked.

“Yeah. After they went out of print, I published them myself. They’re only available online as ebooks.”

“Have they been selling?” Kaely asked.

“No, not really. I haven’t done anything to promote them in a long time.”

Kaely frowned. “I don’t understand. With the sales of Dark Matters , I’d think they should be selling like hot cakes.”

Erin smiled. “I published them under a different name. I didn’t want my college friends to make fun of me.”

Kaely’s mouth dropped open. “Erin, don’t you realize that a lot of people would buy those books if they knew you wrote them?”

“I’m not sure how good they are.”

Kaely shook her head. “Oh, my dear friend. You have such a natural talent. I’m certain they’re wonderful.”

“Well, I’m not so sure of that.”

“Why don’t you let me read them? If they’re good, I’m sure your publisher would be thrilled to release them under your real name. You could make a lot of money.”

Erin shook her head. “I have a lot of money, and it hasn’t made me happy. Until I’ve decided what I want to do with my life, I’d like to keep those books a secret.”

“Okay, if that’s what you want,” Kaely said. “But it won’t hurt to let me read them, will it? You should know me well enough by now to be confident that I’ll be honest with you.”

Erin hesitated. She wasn’t sure if she wanted anyone to read her other books. But if she had to pick the one person she trusted the most, it would be Kaely.

“All right. They’re under the name A.J. Waide.”

“Did you make that up?” Kaely asked.

Erin shook her head. “No, it was my mother’s maiden name.”

“Well, let’s go through the rest of these photos. Then I need to finish that profile. To be honest, I’m tired. It’s been a long day. I want to give Adrian my best, so I need to get to work as soon as possible.”

Kaely brought up the photos of the other bodies. After Chloe, there was Terri and then Annie. Erin and Kaely looked them over carefully. Erin didn’t see anything she hadn’t noticed earlier. The other bodies weren’t wearing white dresses or blue ribbons, although it’s possible the ribbon had disintegrated on the oldest one.

“Why didn’t he remove the jewelry?” Erin said. “Don’t serial killers like to collect trophies?”

Kaely nodded. “Many do, but not all of them. We might ask Dr. Gibson if they’re missing any hair.”

“You mean, maybe the killer cut some of it off and kept it?”

“Yeah.”

“I didn’t notice anything like that on Chloe,” Erin said.

“Me either.” Kaely sighed. “This guy really is different. He isn’t offended by jewelry, makeup, or fancy shoes. He dresses them in virginal white dresses, but he adds a blue ribbon.”

Kaely spoke slowly. Erin realized she wasn’t asking a question. She was thinking, repeating information they’d already discussed. Erin stayed quiet. Finally, Kaely straightened up and looked at Erin. “The white dress has nothing to do with purity. He thinks angels wear white. He’s angry with them. You said something about it earlier. I think you’re right. He blames the angels for something.”

“But he thinks angels wear makeup, jewelry and fancy shoes?”

Kaely shook her head. “No. I think he’s killing for someone who wore those things—or wanted to.”

“It’s hard to believe this guy is angry at angels. That’s so...twisted.”

“Of course it is,” Kaely said. “Serial killers aren’t rational people. If you can’t understand that they aren’t mentally sound, you can’t figure them out at all. That’s why the study of psychopathy is so important.”

“So, he’s a psychopath? Because he’s organized and carefully plans his kills, right? A sociopath is more impulsive. Erratic.”

“Exactly. But trust me, there’s a method to this guy’s madness. We just need to find it. Understand it. That way we can help Adrian catch him.”

“I hope you’re right about the local police department being up to the challenge,” Erin said.

“We better pray they are.” Kaely rubbed her temples as if she had a headache.

“You okay?”

“Yeah, I will be. I just need to get this profile right.”

“Are you going to... you know...”

Kaely met Erin’s gaze. “Yes, I am. And yes, you can watch.”

“Great. I think it’s fascinating. But why won’t you let me write about it?”

“Because it isn’t standard practice. The analysts at the BAU don’t use it, and I don’t want to anyone to think it’s a valid procedure.”

Erin nodded her assent, but she still couldn’t understand Kaely’s reluctance to allow her way of profiling to be included in a novel. The stories in novels weren’t real. Everyone knew that. But, if it was what she wanted, Erin wouldn’t go against her wishes.

She was excited to finally be able to watch this unique way of profiling.

And to be honest, just a little bit frightened.