„It’s all right,“ he said. „I used the time to make some calls.“

Another thirty seconds passed, then she murmured, „Anything new?“

„Jack found traces of dried milk on the inside of one of the crates. Two percent.“

She didn’t move a muscle, her eyes still glued to the window. „Wouldn’t you expect to find milk in milk crates?“

„Not unless they’d recently been used for a milk delivery.“

„So he has access to a person or business that gets milk in crates?“

„Versus using them to hold up his stereo equipment. Yeah.“

„He could have picked them up from anywhere.“

Abe shrugged, a little unnerved by her lack of animation. Something had happened that morning, and he had no illusions she’d trust him enough to be forthright with the information. „Maybe. It’s one more piece of the puzzle though. Jack also found ground marble on all the crates, but that was no surprise since the killer lined the crates with marble tiles.“

He pulled the SUV to the curb in front of their first stop.

„Are you going to tell me what happened?“ he asked sharply and she stiffened. „Another letter?“

Her head whipped around, her green eyes wild and turbulent. „No. I would have told you that. I’m not stupid, Detective.“

He wanted to touch her, to soothe her, but of course he did not „Then what?“

Her eyes quieted. „I got a new sexual assault case today. The victim and her father were waiting for me outside my office when I got back from motion hour.“

So that explained her terse tone when she’d called his cell phone to ask for another half hour. He said nothing, just waited for her to continue. After a few seconds and a weary slump of her shoulders, she did.

„She broke down in my office, terrified to testify. Her father all but threatened her if she didn’t. Said he wouldn’t rest until the scum was behind bars.“

„She won’t make a very compelling witness if the jury thinks she’s being coerced.“

She looked back at the house beyond the curb. „No, no she won’t, even though I think she’s telling the truth. Plus, the physical evidence isn’t very strong. I have to decide if we have enough to charge the man she’s accused.“

„And if you do, you’ll have to put her on the stand.“ He followed her gaze to the little house. „Like the boys in the King case.“

She sighed, deep and long. „And the Ramey case and all the other cases. Every time a victim of sexual assault goes on the stand, they live it all over again.“

„Maybe that’s how they heal. Learn to forget. Go on with their lives.“

She turned again, met his stare, her eyes now filled with sorrow and a vulnerable regret that made his heart clench. „They never forget,“ she said quietly. „They might heal and they might go on with their lives, but they never, ever forget.“ She opened the door and hopped down. „Let’s get this over with,“ she said without looking back at him.

Stunned, he simply sat watching her back as she faced the house, then made himself move to where she stood on the sidewalk. „Kristen – “

She shook her head, a hard, resolute movement that made him leave it alone. He wasn’t sure what he’d been going to say anyway.

She gestured at the driveway. „The Restons have company,“ she said.

It was true. Cars lined the driveway and the other side of the street.

„Mr. Reston was their spokesman. They stood together then,“ she explained and started up the front walk. „All the parents. I guess that hasn’t changed.“

She didn’t even have to knock on the door. It opened as they stepped onto the front porch. Standing inside was a man in his sock feet wearing a Bears sweatshirt and a battered pair of jeans. On his face he wore weary resignation.

„Miss Mayhew,“ he said softly. „We’ve been expecting you.“ He opened the door wider and they entered. Abe looked around the room where nine more adults sat. All studied him with curiosity, then lowered their gazes to look at Kristen with hostile accusation.

Which made Abe madder than hell. He drew a deep breath and reminded himself why they were there. Their children had been horribly victimized, not only by King, but also by the judicial system that failed to give them justice. Standing behind Kristen, he touched her shoulder lightly. She flinched at the contact, then cleared her throat.

„This is Detective Reagan. He’s been assigned to this case.“

Which case didn’t need to be said. Not one of the parents said a word.

Her shoulders rigid, Kristen continued. „Ross King was murdered. We’d planned to spend the morning informing the families of his victims, but you’ve made our job easier by being here all together.“

„So happy to make your job easier, Miss Mayhew.“ The sarcastic sneer came from one of the men on the sofa and Abe again had to remind himself of why they were there.

Kristen ignored the jab. „You all have obviously been informed.“

Reston gestured to the coffee table where five envelopes sat in a neat row. „We all received these yesterday morning. And we saw that reporter on the news last night.“

Kristen searched the room. „Where are the Fullers?“

„They got divorced last year,“ Reston answered. „She moved back to L.A. with their boy. His company moved him to Boston. Their marriage just couldn’t take the strain.“

A woman rose from the love seat and came to stand beside Reston, sliding her arm around his waist in the way of a supportive wife. „We knew you’d been to see those women yesterday. We figured it was only a matter of time before you came to us.“ She looked up, met Abe’s eyes with challenge in hers. „We used to be a normal, happy family, Detective Reagan. Until Ross King. Not one of us is sorry to see him dead.“

Abe searched the faces of each parent, choosing his words carefully. „I won’t insult your intelligence by acting as if I assumed otherwise. I won’t debase my own integrity by acting as if Ross King deserves my compassion. But it’s my job to investigate murder, regardless of how I feel about the victim. I don’t expect you to accept that, but that doesn’t make it any less of a reality.“

There was absolute silence in the room. Then one of the women started to cry. Her husband stood, helpless rage on his face. „Tell us this, Miss Mayhew. Did he suffer?“

The woman looked up, tears streaming down her cheeks. „You owe us that much.“

Kristen looked up at Abe over her shoulder and for a moment the sobbing mother’s anguish was reflected in her eyes. Then it was gone. She looked back to the waiting parents. „I can’t give you details on an ongoing investigation.“

„Goddamn you to hell!“ Still another father jumped to his feet. „We did what you said. We put our boys through hell because you said you could put him away.“ Dropping back into his seat, his chin dropped to his chest and his shoulders started to shake. „Goddamn you,“ he whispered.

Abe could feel her hesitate, then her breath left her in a silent sigh. „I can’t give you details,“ she repeated. „But…“

The father looked up and Abe felt his own eyes sting at the man’s sheer misery. „But?“ the man whispered.

„He suffered,“ Kristen said simply.

„A lot,“ Abe added flatly, wondering what the parents would do next. They looked at each other, grim relief the predominant theme. „I realize that when we find King’s murderer you all are likely to send him a thank-you card, but – “

„Try a twenty-year-old bottle of scotch.“

„A week in my Florida time-share.“

„Season tickets to the Bears.“

Abe held up a hand to quiet them. „I get the picture. Still, I hope you’ll give me your cooperation. Did anyone see anything that would help establish the time the notes were delivered?“ No one said a word and Abe sighed. „You are obviously smart people. You know from the news that King is not the only one that’s been killed. You also know that we can’t condone vigilante justice. If you did condone it, you would have offed King yourselves.“