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in common could be the key we need for a break in this case.”
    “Agent Harris,” Detective Wells said, “we haven’t found even one person these girls have in common. Not a friend or minister or employer. Nothing.” Wells shook her head. “None of the associates or intimates has a record or history of trouble or violence. If we’re looking for a serial perpetrator, wouldn’t there be some of those details you’re talking about in his background? Some suggestion of unacceptable or questionable behavior?”
    Wells made detective last year and she had quickly shown she was one of the best Birmingham PD employed. Despite twenty years in law enforcement, Dan found himself on the edge of his seat in anticipation of Jess’s answer to the detective’s provocative query.
    “Study your serial offenders, detective. Whether they’re killers or rapists or plain old peeping toms, the experts often disagree as to whether they were born that way or evolved as a result of environmental factors. But the one thing those same experts all agree on is that these offenders have a single trait in common. Not one was a serial anything until he committed that first act. As far as evil goes,” she shrugged one shoulder, “I’ve spent a dozen years studying the subject and there’s one thing I know for sure.” Her expression grew distant, breakable somehow.  She blinked and seemed to push whatever had distracted her aside. “If you want to know what evil looks like, look in the mirror.”
    She leaned down, flattened her hands on the table once more and went face-to-face with Wells. “Any one of us is capable of evil, detective. We all have a line. It’s not crossing it that separates us from the Ed Geins and Charles Mansons of the world.”
    “With all due respect, Agent Harris,” Patterson piped up.
    Jess drew to her full height, squared her shoulders and turned to him. 
    “I’m sure we all appreciate the lecture on motive and overlooked details, but I, for one, would like to get to the part where we do something besides talk about what we don’t have and don’t know.”
    “You read my mind, Chief Patterson.” Jess strode back to the board and directed their attention to the information she’d posted there. “We go back to the source. To the people who know these girls best. Their family and friends. And we find what we’re missing. We don’t stop until we do.”
    “What about involving the media?” Griggs ventured. “The girls’ photos have been running on all the local channels and in the papers. It’s time we stepped up that venue, wouldn’t you say?”
    Dan bit back the acid response he wanted to give to that one. With the families’ pleas for help, the thousands of fliers distributed and the news updates there had been near continuous coverage in the media and the community. Obviously, this unsub wasn’t feeling neglected by the media. “What else do you want to do, Griggs? Rewards have been offered. Pleas for information. This guy ain’t taking the bait.”
    “No offense, Burnett,” Griggs fired back, “but I’d like to hear what the agent has to say about the subject.”
    Fury roiled in Dan’s gut, twisting those infernal knots. The man was old school. Dan had to bear that in mind. It would take them all working together to get the job done.
    “The media can be an ally, that’s a given.” Jess rubbed at her forehead.
    She had to be exhausted from the drive. She’d turned down his offer of lunch after her arrival. Her whole life she’d been thin, but, in his opinion, she was too thin. Too pale. Not that she would care what he thought. And he damned sure wouldn’t mention it.
    “After nearly three weeks,” Jess said in answer to Griggs’ suggestion, “I would conclude that attention isn’t what this unsub is looking for based on the simple fact that he hasn’t responded. If he wanted more attention, you would certainly know it by now.”
    “We go back through the steps,” Patterson