“No, sorry, I don’t.”

“Any idea where she’s from, where her family might be?”

“No, it never came up in conversation.”

“You wouldn’t happen to know anyone who might know where Melissa is now, would you?”

“No, sorry. We didn’t keep in touch, and I didn’t go out with her long enough to find out who her friends were. Sorry.”

“Yeah, me, too. Thanks, Grady.” Annie disconnected the call and tossed her purse onto the front passenger seat. The conversation with Grady had left her dissatisfied. It wasn’t that she thought he was lying as much as she felt he’d brushed over certain things. Who dated someone and didn’t ask where they were from? Wasn’t that part of that whole small-talk thing, like where you went to college? When you’re just getting to know someone, wasn’t that just basic?

She tucked the overnight bag behind the driver’s seat along with the case holding her laptop. Her phone rang again just as she turned the key in the ignition.

“Annie, it’s Evan. Would you have time to stop in at Sheridan’s office before you head out?”

“Not really. My flight leaves in two hours. What’s up?”

“All hell’s breaking loose around here. Our killer apparently was very busy last night. Writing letters, including one to the local paper,” he hastened to add. “Which is preferable to some of his other nocturnal activities. Sheridan is calling a press conference at noon and was hoping to have you there.”

“For what purpose?”

“Between you and me, I think he just wanted to parade his bevy of FBI personnel so that county residents could see that all the big guns are out on this one.”

“If he wants me to look over another letter from the killer, I’m happy to do that. He can fax it to my office. But I don’t have time to take part in a dog and pony show today. John wants to meet with me later this afternoon, and since he’s going to be out of the office all of next week, I can’t put him off. There are things he wants to talk about before he leaves tomorrow.”

“Hey, no apologies necessary. I agree with you. I’ll tell him your plane took off already, I couldn’t reach you. No big deal. Frankly, I’d like to take a bye on this myself.”

“He wants you there, too? Even though you’re not working the case anymore?”

“He wants everyone there. But as soon as he’s done talking, I’m outta there. I called the cop in Chicago, and I’m still waiting to hear from him. That’s my priority today.” He paused. “I don’t suppose you heard from Connor?”

“No, but that’s not unusual. He’ll get to me when he can. I’ll let you know as soon as I hear from him.” She stole a look at the clock on the dashboard, then turned the key in the ignition. “I need to get going.”

“I’ll give you a call tonight.”

“Maybe we’ll have news to exchange by then.” She thought of the conversation she’d just had with Grady. “Oh, speaking of news. Guess who used to date Melissa Lowery?”

“Art Sheridan.”

She laughed as she pulled away from the curb. “Grady Shields.”

“You’re kidding?”

“Nope. Of course, he tells me it was just a casual thing, just a few movies and dinners.”

“Does he know where she is now?”

“No. He claims to not even know where she’s from.”

“You say that as if you don’t believe him.”

“I thought there was something slightly evasive in his responses. I mean, how do you go out with someone and not know where they’re from? That’s the type of thing you ask when you first meet someone. But maybe that’s me. And maybe he just felt it was none of my business who he dated. And of course, it isn’t.”

“Well, maybe Will can come up with something.”

“I’m counting on it.” She made a left at the light and headed for the highway. “I have to go. I’m moving into heavy traffic. I’ll talk to you tonight.”

Annie dropped the phone into her lap and set it to voice mail, then eased onto the four-lane highway that would take her to the airport.

She sped along, reflecting back on the morning’s events. The Schoolgirl Slayer had revealed more of his hand by sending yet another letter, which she was eager to read. Evan had a solid contact in his case, and she was a step closer to Melissa Lowery. All in all, it had already been quite a day.

She hoped that the officer in Chicago would have something that would shed light on the deaths of the three young girls-his girls, as Evan had started referring to them. She knew he’d work this case until he solved it, and she loved him for that, for caring about three nameless girls who seemed to go unnoticed in death. What they had been in life had yet to be determined.

There would be no glory for him in the resolution of that case, unlike the case of the Schoolgirl Slayer, which would undoubtedly land Sheridan, Malone, and Weller on CNN and Good Morning America. It was more than likely that Sheridan wouldn’t even bother to call an all-out media conference once Evan found their killer. Since they were lumping these deaths in with the others-at least for now-there’d be no band playing for Evan, no recognition of his dedication and hard work.

Unless, of course, there was a cop involved. That would be news.

Spoken like a true cynic, she thought wryly.

As far as her own search was concerned, Will would come through for her, of that she was certain. God only knew where that trail would lead, or what she’d find, once she finally found Melissa.

It was almost 6:00 p.m. when Annie closed the door of John Mancini’s office behind her. She was stiff from sitting, earlier on the plane on her way back from Philadelphia, later in the day for the two-hour meeting that had just broken up. She rolled her shoulders while she walked to her own office, then stood next to her desk as she listened to her voice mail. When she’d heard all the messages, she smiled, snapped off the light, and took the elevator to the floor below.

“I just got your message.” She stood at the doorway to Will Fletcher’s office. “I’m glad I caught you before you left. You have something for me?”

“I was just getting ready to close up shop. I wasn’t sure if you were in the building. Someone said they’d seen you earlier.” Will leaned back in his chair. “Come on in, and I’ll-”

“Will… oh, hi, Annie, I didn’t know you were here.” Brendan Shields stood in the doorway. “We’re all heading over to Pike’s. It’s my brother Andrew’s birthday. You should come, too, Annie.”

“That’s the best offer I’ve had all week, since my girl is still in Pennsylvania and I’ve got nothing better to do.” Will stood and stretched. “I was just getting ready to leave anyway. How ’bout it, Annie? Come with us to Pike’s?”

“I think I’ll pass. I’ve been away all week and have to leave town again tomorrow. I have a lot of work to catch up on and a presentation to prepare. But thanks, Brendan. Next time.”

“I’ll hold you to that.” Brendan looked back at Will. “You ready now?”

“I was just packing up. You can go on. I’ll meet you there.”

“I don’t mind waiting,” Brendan told him.

“If you’re sure…” Will piled some papers into his briefcase, hesitated momentarily, then folded one and handed it to Annie.

“Before I forget, here are the directions to that restaurant you and I talked about,” he said.

“Thanks.” She stuck the paper in her pocket without looking at it.

“Which restaurant is that?” Brendan asked.

“Oh, a crab place on the other side of the bay. In Rock Hall. It’s a favorite of Miranda’s and mine,” Will told him.

“Hey, I’m always up for crabs,” Brendan said. “What’s the name of it?”

“I’ll tell you about it while we’re walking to Pike’s. We are walking, right?”

“Sure, why not? It’s just a few blocks.” Brendan waited at the door for Will, then held it open for Annie before closing it. “Sure you don’t want to come down for a quick beer and a burger?”