The Profiler Read Online Free PDF

hadn’t heard it in a long time.
    “Ben? Is that you? Christ, uh… I thought you were… Never mind. Why the hell are you calling? I haven’t heard from you in years.”
    Ben Walker chuckled. “Sounds like you were expecting someone else, Clay. Is that twin brother of yours still trying to set you up? I thought a man of your advanced years would have settled down long ago.”
    Clayton’s heart pounded. His throat constricted. Ben didn’t know . He didn’t know about Lisa. He snatched a breath of air and fought to answer. “Twenty-eight’s not all that advanced, Ben. Besides, it’s not a crime to be single.”
    “Well, you’ve certainly got that right, but I’m surprised a man of your good looks and charm’s still on the market.”
    Clayton winced. He had to tell him. He owed him that much. “The truth is, Ben, I was married.”
    “Was? I take it things didn’t work out.”
    Breathing got even more difficult. “Kind of. The thing is, Lisa… She…she died a few years ago.”
    The line went silent. He braced himself for the usual well-meaning, but ultimately pointless platitudes.
    “Clay, I’m so sorry. I had no idea. Why didn’t I hear about it?”
    Clayton pinched his eyes shut and tried to block the pain. “I don’t know, Ben. I thought it would have filtered down to you by now. Maybe everyone thought you knew.”
    “Well, I’m sorry to hear now. I can’t imagine how difficult it’s been for you.”
    Guilt over the manner of Lisa’s death assailed him. He remained silent, not even trying to fight it.
    Ben cleared his throat. “Listen, the reason I’m calling is to ask for your help. I’ve got a bit of a situation up here and I could really use your take on it.”
    Despite the turmoil in his head, Clayton heard the defeat in the voice of the man who’d been his boyhood hero. Pushing his own problems aside, he focused on the conversation.
    “What kind of situation?”
    * * *
    Ben appeared in the doorway of his office. “You two, I need to see you. In here. Now .”
    Luke shot Ellie a questioning look.
    “Beats me,” she mumbled. She pushed back her chair and headed toward Ben’s office, Luke close behind.
    “Shut the door behind you, will you?”
    Nerves mingled with dread in Ellie’s stomach. The last time they’d been summoned, Josie Ward had gone missing. Was still missing. It had been nearly a fortnight. Evelyn Ward would be out of her mind.
    “I know you’ve been putting in big hours trying to identify the head. I also know you haven’t been getting very far. The Missing Persons Unit has come up with nothing so far. We know it can’t be Josie Ward and Sally Batten’s parents have ruled her out.” His gaze narrowed on Ellie’s. “Am I correct?”
    She nodded and swallowed against the tension that tightened her throat.
    “This girl belongs to someone. Every day is another day her family still suffers the pain of not knowing.”
    The lines of fatigue marking Ben’s face deepened. Guilt weighed Ellie down, making it difficult to breathe. It was her investigation but it was going nowhere. Dammit, she was responsible for finding the killer…
    Ben turned away and stared out of the window. The pale winter sun shone feebly through the glass, refracting light off several steel-framed photographs that lined the bookcase adjacent. With her newfound knowledge of her boss’ tragedy, Ellie scanned the pictures for a glimpse of his long-lost daughter. And found her.
    Her heart thudded beneath the cotton drill of her jacket. She swallowed quickly against the surge of emotion and looked away. Another lost child.
    Too close to home. Way too close.
    “I’ve decided to bring in some help.”
    Her gaze swung back to Ben’s.
    “I know we don’t have an ID on Jane Doe, and until we do, we won’t know if there’s any connection between her and the missing girls, but knowing there’s someone out there capable of cutting off a woman’s head while she’s still breathing chills me to the