Sachs stood and took up a position. "Like this?"
"Closer."
She moved in.
"There."
Her standing in this pose did in fact bring back a memory. "One thing. . . . He was talking about the victims. He said killing them wasn't anything personal."
"Nothing personal."
"He killed . . . yes, I remember now. He killed them because of what they represented."
Sachs was nodding, scribbling notes to supplement the tape recording. "Represented?" she mused. "What does that mean?"
"I didn't have any idea. One musician, one lawyer, one makeup artist. Different ages, sexes, professions, residences, no known connection to one other. What could they represent? Upper-middle-class lifestyles, urban dwellers, higher education. . . . Maybe one of those is the key--the rationalization for picking them. Who knows?"
Sachs was frowning. "There's something wrong."
"What?"
She finally said, "Something about what you're remembering."
"Well, it's not fucking verbatim. I didn't exactly have a stenographer handy."
"No, that's not what I mean." She considered for a minute. Then she nodded. "You're characterizing what he said. You're using your language, not his. 'Urban dwellers.' 'Rationalization.' I want his words."
"Well, I don't remember his words, Sachs. He said he didn't have anything personal against the victims. Period."
She shook her head. "No, I'll bet he didn't say that."
"What do you mean?"
"Murderers never think of the people they kill as 'victims.' It's impossible. They never humanize them. At least a pattern doer like the Conjurer wouldn't."
"That's hogwash from police academy psych 101, Sachs."
"No, it's the real world. We know they're victims but the perps always believe they deserve to die for one reason or another. Think about it. He didn't say 'victim,' did he?"
"Well, what difference does it make?"
"Because he said they were representative of something and we have to find out what. How did he refer to them?"
"I don't remember."
"Well, he didn't say 'victim.' I know that. Did he talk about any of them specifically? Svetlana, Tony. . . . How about Cheryl Marston? Did he call her the blonde woman? Did he say lawyer? Did he say the woman with big boobs? I guarantee he didn't say 'urban dweller.' "
Rhyme closed his eyes, tried to go back there. Finally he shook his head. "I don't--"
And then the word came to him.
" 'Equestrian.' "
"What?"
"You're right. The word wasn't 'victim.' He called her 'the equestrian.' "
"Excellent!" she said.