Twisted (Burbank and Parker 1)

First, he strode into Sloane’s house. Burt was in the kitchen with the hounds, who were whimpering and vitally aware that something was wrong. Burt looked grateful as hell to see Derek, and turned his attention to him, answering every one of his questions while the local cop waited.

None of his answers helped. They only reiterated the facts that Derek already knew.

Sloane was missing.

And he was too late to stop the serial killer who’d taken her.

CHAPTER

TWENTY-NINE

DATE: 1 May

TIME: 1145 hours

She looks so peaceful on that bed, so utterly right in this room that I built for her. Truly, this is where she belongs until we ascend. I know I have to move her, but locking her in a lifeless cell is going to take a Herculean effort on my part.

But I have no choice. Until I know her intentions, I can’t afford to let sentiment cloud my judgment. I must contain her, limit her awareness of where she is. More important, I must limit her access to anything she can use to retaliate or escape.

She’s highly intelligent and equally resourceful. But she’s also strong—in will and in strength—and stubborn. As goddess of the hunters, she’s dedicated to the chase, and she’ll do all she can to outwit me so she can regain her freedom.

No matter how difficult she becomes, I must demonstrate patience. She doesn’t understand yet. She still views me as the enemy.

It’s up to me to convince her that I’m her salvation.

Sloane’s house

Hunterdon County, New Jersey

1:05 P.M.

Sloane’s living room had become the meeting place for Derek, Jeff, Bill, and Larry, who’d spent the past two hours reviewing evidence, and refocusing their strategy and analysis based on the information Elliot’s computer system had spit out.

At Derek’s urgent request, Bill had flown immediately up to New Jersey to join the team.

Jeff had been added to the team as well. It was Tony who’d informed Derek of his decision. And Derek offered no argument. Tony was right. Derek knew his objectivity was severely compromised based on this latest development in the case. Plus, Jeff ’s Violent Crimes experience would be beneficial.

All Derek cared about was getting this Unsub—now—before he hurt Sloane.

Unless he already had.

He shoved that thought aside, forcing himself back into special-agent mode. Anything less, and he’d be no good to anybody.

“Okay, so now everyone on this list is accounted for,” Larry was saying, having just hung up the phone. “I’ve now confirmed all the facts on Eve Calhoun, who was our only unknown.” He counted off on his fingers. “Worked at the Manhattan D.A.’s Office with Sloane at the outset of Sloane’s career. Now a matrimonial attorney. Was last seen doing laps at the NYU pool. Divorced, no family. Just a pissed-off law firm. The victimology fits.”

Bill nodded thoughtfully, steepling his fingers together and leaning forward on the sofa, rereading his copy of the table for the umpteenth time. “Eve Calhoun being a matrimonial attorney correlates with Hera being the ‘mother.’ Not only is she the goddess queen, she’s also the goddess of love and marriage.” Another thoughtful glance at the printout. “This Unsub has certainly captured an eclectic bunch of women. But there’s more than one motherly type. The pattern does demonstrate a maternal fixation.”

“Agreed.” Larry perched on the arm of a chair. “I’m not up on my Greek mythology, but I did some quick research. As queen of the goddesses, Hera ran the show. My guess is that our Unsub needs his ‘Hera’ as a strong guiding force. And his ‘Hestia,’ Lydia Halas, is the calm goddess of home and hearth. The real Lydia Halas is a healer, a nurse. Our Unsub needs her for security and comfort.”

“So we have two maternal figures here—one to nurture, the other to parent,” Bill concluded.

“What about the other victims?” Jeff asked. “I see the whole mother-complex thing you’re referring to. But that only explains two of the nine women our Unsub went after.”

“Look, guys.” Derek interrupted before Larry or Bill could reply. “This is all very fascinating. But we’re racing the clock here. How does all this psychological analysis help us find our Unsub or his victims?”

“As opposed to doing what?” Bill asked, leveling a calm stare at Derek. “Racing into the field, guns blazing? Analysis produces a more focused pursuit, which will lead to quicker success. By knowing who this Unsub is, how he thinks, and what motivates him, we can zero in on him and his intentions.”

“But what solid information have we come up with?”