a sexual pleasure from this form of mutilation and murder. The killer—or killers—may have a devious plan going on. We have noted Ripperesque removal of the victims’ organs, but none have been left with the bodies. We could be looking for a businessman—or a business cooperative. These murders could be taking place specifically for the removal and sale of those organs. Naturally, all specifics are to be kept from the press, lest the media trip us up when we are moving in the proper direction.”
“What about that congressman’s wife? The one who created all the hoopla over Billie Bingham and her husband, forcing him to resign?” an officer asked. “That’s motive for murder.”
“Yes. We’re investigating along those lines. The point is, the killer is out there. We need the officers working the streets to warn the women they know to be sex workers. Everyone needs to be vigilant. There will be dozens of people who need to be questioned, and we’ll be asking for help in all directions. I know in this room we’re all aware that these are particularly heinous murders and we must find the killer—or killers—quickly.”
Jackson took the floor again, and Keenan stepped back. Soon enough, the meeting ended. He noted Stacey, Jean and Fred were talking together. He couldn’t get to the group right away because he was greeted by longtime friends who had just come in from the field and a few others who were heading out to other states.
He was stopped by Will Chan, one of the six original members of the Krewe of Hunters and a fascinating man. Will had worked as a magician, and those talents still stood them well at times when they were investigating.
Will knew how to work a crowd.
“I just wanted to let you know that the Krewe has faced something similar before. Way back, Whitney Tremont worked with then-detective Jude Crosby on a case in New York City. Bodies being left in shreds. Jude and Whitney are finishing up some work out in Seattle right now, but I’ve let them know we’re looking at a similar case. I don’t think the details are quite the same, but they might have some insight. I personally think your theory on the organs just might be right.”
“Thanks,” Keenan told him. “I’ll look forward to their take on what we’ve got here. And it was Stacey Hanson who brought forward the idea that the killings might be for organ harvesting.”
He’d been anxious to get to Stacey, Fred and Jean, and it seemed they’d been as eager to talk to him. The room was thinning out, and the three came over to him.
Stacey hadn’t met Will yet; Fred had, but Jean hadn’t, either.
Intros went around.
Keenan looked at the detectives. “Later, I want to cruise the streets where Jess Marlborough was working. Find some of her friends, see if they know anything. We’ll do the same with Andrea Simon. Stacey, the CSI crews have finished up at Billie Bingham’s residence. We should have a look there.”
She nodded, told Jean and Will it had been a pleasure to meet them, and followed Keenan to the door. Jackson was standing there.
He was studying Stacey as they prepared to leave. He glanced at Keenan, nodded to him grimly, and looked at Stacey again.
“Anything new?” he asked her.
It took a second for her to realize that he was asking if she’d dreamed any more details. “I’m sorry, no,” she said.
“We get what we get,” he assured her. “Going to the Bingham place?” he asked Keenan.
“Right now. We’ll just keep going from there,” he told Jackson.
“We’re working it here,” Jackson said. “I’ll call you with anything at all.”
Keenan nodded.
As they left the building and headed to the company SUV, Keenan asked Stacey, “He thinks you can dream an answer?”
He’d grown up being taught to be polite, so automatically, he opened the passenger’s side door for her.
She just murmured a thank-you and slid in.
He went around and took the driver’s seat, revving the ignition and starting out. She hadn’t answered him yet.
“Stacey?”
She swung to look at him. “He’s hoping the dream will come again—and go further. When my dad—well, my whole family, really—was in danger, I saw a little more bit by bit. The same with the situation you were called in on. When you were a rookie. The dreams develop with more and more information each time.”
He thought about that, wondering what it must be like. Before he had a chance to ask more about how it worked, Stacey