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more human pace.
    â€œShannon Pitcher, maiden name Cruse, lived here in Normal Hills with her husband, Thomas, and their daughter, Alicia.   They divorced a few years ago, but Shannon stayed in town so Alicia could be close to her father.   Thomas Pitcher is the son of Simon Pitcher, who pretty much owns this town.
    â€œShannon continued to work for Simon after the divorce, did the books for him.   Evidently, the old man paid her well too.   From what I gather, not all of Simon’s business dealings were above board, so I guess he had to.   Thomas was murdered a few months ago.   Alicia was spending the weekend with him when it happened.” Charles paused as the waiter returned to fill their mugs and recommend his wife’s Huckleberry pie.   Gordon declined; Charles ordered two pieces.   The waiter left and Charles continued in a softer voice.
    â€œIt’s a sore subject to broach around here,” he said.   “From the early to mid-nineteen seventies a dozen girls disappeared.   Earlier this year they started finding their bodies.   They never caught the killer.”
    â€œDo you think they’re connected?”
    â€œNo,” he said quickly.   “None of the parents in the earlier cases were murdered.   I don’t think they’re connected.   The locals don’t see it that way though, they think it’s either the same person or a copycat, but they don’t know what we do.”
    â€œSo where do we go from here?”
    â€œTo see Shannon Pitcher.   She’s living with her brother back in Riverside.   I haven’t contacted her yet; I wanted you to be there.”
    The waiter returned with Charles’ pie, two thick wedges topped with whipped cream.   The sweet, tart scent of Huckleberries filled their little corner of the dining room.
    Charles dug in while Gordon waited for the waiter to leave again.
    â€œHow much are we going to tell her?”
    â€œEverything,” Charles said between bites.   “I don’t know that it will do any good, but she’s all we have right now.”
    And that isn’t much , Gordon thought, but it’s more than we started with .
    â€œYou know we can’t keep this up forever, Gordon.   I’ve never wanted to solve a case so badly in my life, but eventually we’re going to have to give it up.   You need to get on with your life.”
    Gordon nodded, looking Charles in the eyes.   “But not today,” he said.
    â€œNo,” Charles agreed.   “Not today.”

Chapter 8
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    T he girl watched cartoons and ate cold cereal on their sofa, always keeping one sharp eye on them as they sat drinking coffee in the kitchen.
    She’s quick , Shannon noted mentally.   She has the reflexes of a wild animal, and she doesn’t trust us .   Not one little bit .
    â€œWould you like something to drink,” Jared ventured, “Maybe a soda?   Or are you a coffee drinker?”   He held up his mug and smiled.
    The girl forgot the TV for a moment, focused on Jared, scrutinizing him.   She watched him, spooning more cereal into her mouth, and spoke around it.
    â€œSoda.”   It was the first time she had spoken to either of them.   Shannon watched her while she kept one eagle eye on the TV, and one on Jared.
    Jared approached her slowly, knowing that if he moved too close, too quickly, he would end up hurting for it.
    When she had awakened earlier that morning it was like watching a rabid clown spring from a jack-in-the-box.   She jumped from the couch with a shriek, her frail-looking body suddenly possessing a Herculean strength, a combination of panic and adrenaline.   She rammed Shannon hard enough to knock her backward out of her chair, then ran around the couch toward the front door.
    Jared had blocked her, and she screamed bloody hell as she tried to push him aside.   When he tried to hold her