“It was horrible.” She closed her eyes. “Brian’s eyes … I’ll never forget his face.”

“Then you’ll be giving Zeus exactly what he wants. Don’t do it, Eve.”

“I’ll do my best.” Her lids opened to reveal eyes shining with tears. “Because you’re right. You’re pretty damn smart, Joe. How did you get that way?”

“I’m a natural. Me and Solomon and a few other gifted guys out there. We could run the world if you gave us a chance.”

“I believe Solomon tried.” Her voice was steady, but her hand was shaking as she lifted her cup to her lips. “Okay, I’ll stop blaming myself because of McVey and see if I can help find that bastard who murdered him. Zeus must be feeling very triumphant right now.”

“Yes, smug and self-satisfied as a Cheshire cat. But he may have tripped up.”

She went still, her eyes locking with his. “What are you talking about?”

“Ego. He’s always been careless because he thought no one could touch him. I thought I’d seen signs that he was changing but maybe not. Maybe that arrogance is just too ingrained to overcome.”

“And why do you think he may have tripped up? How was he careless?”

He shook his head. “I’m not discussing it with you yet. I have to check on some things, then think about it. I know you, Eve. You’ll grab hold and try to run with it. I’m not ready to do that.”

“Tell me.”

He shook his head. “When I’m sure.” He finished his coffee and stood up. “Now get to bed and try to sleep. I’m going out on the porch and see what I can help wrap up. And I want to make sure that they clean it, so that it’s not going to hurt you every time you go out there.”

She was glaring at him. “You’re not being fair.”

“No, but I’m making it easier on myself. It won’t hurt you to wait. I’m not having you disappointed if my theory doesn’t pan out.” He headed for the door. “And thinking about how angry you are at me will keep you from dwelling on what happened tonight.”

“Your decision, your opinion. Tell me, dammit.”

He paused at the door to look back at her. Her eyes were glittering, and her cheeks flushed with color. Much better than when he’d walked into the house earlier. Good.

He turned and went out onto the porch. “When I’m ready.”

*   *   *

THE LAB TECH HANDED JOE the report the next morning. “Here it is. No wonder you didn’t send it up to the Bureau for analysis. A first-year intern could have done this one.”

“Thanks.” Joe scanned the report before turning away. It was what he’d expected, but he still felt a flare of excitement at the confirmation. “I appreciate your making it a priority.”

The tech shrugged. “No problem. Literally.”

Joe moved quickly down the hall toward the elevator.

One down.

A moment later, he was at Slindak’s desk in the squad room. “Did you check out that shoe factory in Toronto?”

“Yes, we haven’t got the report yet.”

“Give me the name and phone number. I’ll follow up.”

“Sure.” Slindak studied Joe’s face as he searched the papers on his desk for the information. “You’re wired. What’s happening?”

“Nothing yet.” He took the report Slindak handed him. “But maybe soon.” He turned and went to his desk across the room.

A moment later, he was dialing the number in Toronto.

Fifteen minutes later, he leaned back in his chair and looked down at his scrawled notes. It was all coming together.

But there were still a few pieces to fit into the puzzle. Get to work and make it happen.

He reached for the telephone again.

*   *   *

EVE MET HIM AT THE FRONT DOOR when he came back to the house that afternoon. “Well?”

“You’re barring the door. Does that mean you’re not going to let me in the house unless I divulge everything I know?”

“You’ve got it.” She grimaced and stepped aside. “I’d do it if I thought I could get away with it. I’m frustrated as hell, Joe. I didn’t think you’d—” She stopped, staring at his expression. “You look … Joe?”

“How do I look?” He passed her and went into the living room. “Slindak said ‘wired.’ Yeah, that’s what I feel.” More than that, he thought, as he turned to face her. He had the bastard in his sights and was aching to pull the trigger. “I think I’ve got him.”

She inhaled sharply. “What?”

“Or at least I know how to get him.”

She dropped down on the couch. “Talk to me. Who is he?”

“Zeus could be either Donald Novak or Ralph Fraser.”

“You don’t know which one?”

“I will by the end of the day.” He paused. “I’m going to go pay him a visit.”

“You know where he is?”

He nodded. “It was easy to trace him. He’s not trying to hide. He doesn’t think it’s necessary.”

She shook her head. “My mind is spinning. Start at the beginning.”

“The beginning.” He pulled her up and toward the back door. “We’ll start here.” He threw open the door. “What do you see?”

She looked at him in confusion. “Fence, flowers, lawn.”

“A nice lawn. Pretty flowers. Did you put in the landscaping after you moved in?”

“No, I wouldn’t have been able to afford it. It was already established. I just took over the care of it.”

“But you were offered a maintenance contract by the landscape company who does most of the rest of the neighborhood.”

She nodded. “The price wasn’t too bad, but I’m a student and work two jobs. I can cut my own lawn.” She frowned. “Where is this leading?”

“It’s leading to the fact that there was a landscape-maintenance crew in your neighborhood several times a month. Including five of the homes on this block. That’s why all the lawns and gardens look so well kept.”

Her eyes widened. “Yes…”

“And all the houses of the victims’ parents that we visited had the same nice lawns. They all had that in common if nothing else. Such a little thing…”

“The landscape company?” Eve repeated. “Is that what you’re saying? He works for the landscape company?”

“It would be the perfect opportunity for him to observe possible victims playing in the neighborhoods where he was working. He could take his pick of the children.”

“Are you guessing?”

“Yes, but I’m betting I’m right. In the trunk of the car where he was hiding last night, there was blood, but there was also a scraping of something that looked like dirt. It wasn’t dirt; under testing, it proved to be fertilizer. It was a common brand used by most landscapers in the area. I contacted the company in Toronto that manufactured the shoes from which we got that print in the cave. Heavy rubber content. The company said that it sold those shoes almost exclusively to professional gardeners and irrigation specialists.”

“And last night on the phone Zeus said something about liking plants and flowers better than he liked people,” Eve said. “I didn’t think anything about it.” She moistened her lips. “But you did.”

“Only because it was all coming together for me.”

“This landscaping company…” She lifted her hand to her cheek. “I know I’ve seen their truck in the neighborhood, but I can’t even remember the name.”

“Johnston and Son. They service every one of the subdivisions of the kidnapped children. It’s a big company, and they have branches all over the Northeast as well as the South. The operations are extensive in Georgia. It wouldn’t have been a stretch for Zeus to have killed those children who disappeared outside Atlanta.” He paused. “But the company is based in Toronto, Canada. I checked with Johnston and Son personnel in Toronto, and the only workers they have in Georgia who were hired in Canada are Novak and Fraser.”

“What difference does that make? Zeus is Canadian?”

“I couldn’t tell on that first phone call, but on the second he was talking about your house. McVey was right, the pronunciation is different. Novak is Canadian. Fraser is a U.S. citizen, but raised in Toronto.”

Her hands clenched as she looked out at yard. “It makes … sense.”