Cuts Like a Knife: A Novel (A Kristen Conner Mystery Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

mouth shut, and let anyone else know with his body language we are not a team.
    We all wait as Reynolds sets his water bottle down slowly and picks up his papers again. I can’t pull off a similar “pregnant pause” because I live in a constant state of fear that I’m putting people to sleep when I talk. There’s precedence to support me on this one.
    “PV is one of the biggest breakthroughs in profiling unsolved crimes,” he continues. “Obviously, it connects the dots between federal, state, and local investigations. It gets computers talking to one another—and that leads to people talking to one another. One of the key ideas was to make information available whereby other law enforcement agents and analysts could study and make suggestions on a case, even if there was no solid line of connection with something they were working on. PV stole a page from a business textbook and has become a kind of ‘best practices’ online symposium.”
    “I bet that goes over real good with the guys working the case,” Martinez chimes in. “Sounds like one more way everybody in the world wants to second-guess you and look over your shoulder if you’re a cop.” “You’d be surprised at how well it works and how well it’s been received, Detective Martinez,” Reynolds answers. He’s good at remembering names. “I guess ideas and advice don’t offend as much when someone’s nose is in your case from a thousand miles away. But the unexpected positive outcome from Project Vigilance is that it has revealed to us almost 1,000 connected cases. PV has correlated crime events that were once treated as singular and jurisdiction-specific crimes into non-isolated crime streams.”
    What did he just say? Jurisdiction-specific? Non-isolated crime streams? I’m writing this stuff down. I think I’m back at NIU in an advanced level criminal justice seminar.
    “So, Boss, how come we aren’t on Project Vigilance, if it’s so good?” Martinez asks, turning to face Zaworski.
    “It’s still under review,” the captain answers curtly. His steely look suggests further comments and interruptions are not welcome.
    I look straight down at my notebook. No way am I going to snicker. Don must have been worried about me because he kicks me under the table. Ouch. That one I didn’t deserve.
    “So did you start this Project Vigilance? Do you run it?” Blackshear asks Reynolds.
    “I wish,” he snorts. “No, I’m a single investigator who has benefited from someone else’s vision and work.”
    I’m impressed. Handsome and dutifully humble.
    “I do have the distinction, however,” he continues, “of identifying thirty-seven streams; more than any other investigator. I’ve spearheaded seventeen busts nationwide.”
    So much for being humble.
    “But I’ve had my eye on one stream from the first day PV started connecting dots for us. This particular stream pulled together six unsolved crime factors. And by factor, I mean each of the cities that have experienced multiple murders at the hands of the same perp, who I’m about to tell you about.”
    “How many murders in all?” Konkade asks.
    “As I said, we’ve identified six factors, which means six cities,” he answers. After a pause he continues, “There are now forty-seven known murders. We aren’t counting Chicago as a factor yet. It’s also possible PV has missed some of his handiwork, so there could be more.”
    Everyone is still. Blackshear gives a low whistle. Don whispers, “Sweet Jesus,” under his breath. Martinez crosses himself and mumbles, “ Santa madre de Dios, apiádate de nosotros!”
    “If we’re right about who the killer is, today’s murder is just the first he has planned for your city,” Reynolds continues. “We believe Sandra Reed is victim number forty-eight.”
    I can’t help myself—I gulp. An hour ago I was poking my finger in a coach’s chest for encouraging rough play. Or maybe girls just trip each other. Now I am saying a prayer for