The Kill Read Online Free PDF Page A

explain,” she began, though she had no idea what to say.
    “You don’t need to explain to me, Olivia. I understand you need to find out who killed your sister. But why didn’t you talk to me first?”
    “I don’t know. It’s kind of personal.” More than personal; guilt sat like a lead weight on her shoulders. Her testimony against Brian Hall had enabled an evil predator to go free.
    “Personal?” He sat down across from her and ran his hands through his hair. “We were married for three years, we’ve been friends for ten more, and you couldn’t share this with me?”
    Hurting Greg was the last thing she wanted to do. “At first, I just looked at Missy’s case. At the evidence, the DNA reports, the interviews. I thought, well, I don’t know what I was thinking, except that maybe I’d see something that could put Brian Hall back in prison.” She laughed, a hollow, sad sound.
    She continued. “Then I thought, what if? What if he had a partner? There was never any indication that he worked with anyone, but he’s not all that bright—if he did have an accomplice, Hall probably would have turned on him to avoid the death penalty. But what if Hall did have a partner who he was protecting for some reason? We know he didn’t rape Missy, but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t somehow involved. But then I thought, what if Hall is really innocent?”
    “So you started researching similar crimes,” Greg said, holding up the paper he’d taken from her hands.
    “Yes. And, well, things started falling into place. I flounder when I don’t have hard science to back me up, but now—I really think I’m on to something. Will you take a look and tell me if we have enough to go to Rick?”
    Rick Stockton was their boss, director of FBI Laboratory Services. He was also a friend, and Olivia wasn’t afraid to capitalize on that friendship if it meant finding Missy’s killer.
    Greg took the folder and Olivia sighed in relief. She found herself wringing her hands as she tried to avoid staring at him while he read her compiled reports.
    “I don’t understand—in Kansas and Kentucky someone was convicted of the murders. In Kansas, the guy was a known sex offender. I don’t see where they fit into your pattern.”
    “The hair,” she said. “Look at the autopsy reports.”
    “I saw that, but—”
    “Isolated, it doesn’t mean anything,” Olivia interrupted, anticipating Greg’s objections, “but coupled with all the other similarities, my theory holds together. This guy has killed more than two dozen girls. He can wait years between attacks, but then kills two, three, four girls in a short period of time before leaving the area. Why? I don’t know. Maybe he’s satisfied for a time. He shows excellent self-control and discipline. Maybe the police get too close for his comfort. Or in some cases they arrest another man and our guy leaves quietly. Like Hall.”
    “I see your point.” Greg stared at the ceiling as if reading the tiles, but his expression was familiar. Olivia grew excited—he was seriously considering her theory. Looking at it from every angle. She held her breath. Having Greg on her side would help her with Rick—not only were Greg and Rick friends, but Greg was also assistant director of CODIS, one of the largest departments in the FBI laboratory, and well respected in the building.
    He finally looked at her. “What can Rick do?”
    She handed him a report. “Two girls in Seattle who fit the profile are dead, one discovered just this morning. We need to get the Seattle bureau involved. Get the local cops on our page. Profile this guy—he’s disciplined, methodical, and patient. But what else? His job? His family life? If we can trace his steps from Redwood City thirty-four years ago to now, we can learn his identity. Stop him before another girl dies.”
    “It’s circumstantial, Olivia,” Greg began.
    “But—”
    He put his hand up. “But I’ll go with you to talk to Rick. I agree,