She looked at Sellitto, who took over. "Yeah, Vincent, same thing here. The DA'll listen to our recommendations."
Lost in the bars on the computer screen, his teeth set, Vincent said nothing.
Baker continued. "Here's the deal: If you help us get the Watchmaker and if you confess to the prior sexual assaults, we'll get you immunity on the murder and assault counts for the two victims the other day. We'll make sure you have access to a treatment center. And you'll be isolated from the general population."
Dance said firmly, "But you have to help us. Right now, Vincent. What do you say?"
The man glanced at the screen that contained a DNA analysis that had nothing whatsoever to do with him. His leg was bouncing slightly--a sign that a debate was raging within him.
He turned his defiant eyes to Kathryn Dance.
Yes or no? What would it be?
A full minute passed. Rhyme heard only the ticking of the Watchmaker's clocks.
Vincent grimaced. He looked up at them with cold eyes. "He's a businessman from the Midwest. His name's Gerald Duncan. He's staying in a church in Manhattan. Can I have another Coke?"
Chapter 27
"Where is he now?" Dennis Baker barked.
"There was somebody else he was going to . . ." Vincent's voice faded.
"Kill?"
The suspect nodded.
"Where?"
"I don't know exactly. He said Midtown, I think. He didn't tell me. Really."
They glanced at Kathryn Dance, who apparently sensed no deception and nodded.
"I don't know whether he's there now or the church."
He gave the address.
Sachs said, "I know it. Closed a while ago."
Sellitto called ESU and had Haumann put together some tactical teams.
"He was going to meet me back in the Village in an hour or so. Near that building in the alley."
Where, Rhyme reflected, Vincent had been going to kill and rape Kathryn Dance. Sellitto ordered unmarked cars stationed near the building.
"Who's the next victim?" Baker asked.
"I don't know. I really don't. He didn't tell me anything about her because . . ."
"Why?" Dance asked.
"I wasn't going to have anything to do with her."
Do with her . . .
Rhyme understood. "So you were helping him out and in exchange he'd let you have the victims."
"Only the women," Vincent said quickly, shaking his head in disgust. "Not men. I'm not weird or anything. . . . And only after they were dead, so it wasn't really rape. It's not. Gerald told me that. He looked it up."