"Good question," Nicky cut in. "I'm wondering the same thing, Chief. Senator Gregory said there was intelligence reported on Meghan Salinger, and I need to know exactly what that intelligence was, where it came from, and how credible it is."

"Lyons, I agree with you." The chief used a remote to flick to another image on the projector screen. This one was a mugshot of a sallow-faced man in his late fifties or early sixties. His eyes were dull, and they seemed to stare straight into Nicky's soul.

"This is Bernard Brown," the chief said. "A convicted serial killer with a long history with the law. Brown is our intelligence in this case."

Nicky, Ken, and Grace all exchanged confused looks. Nicky sensed they were all thinking the same thing--what did a convicted serial killer have to do with this? He was surely already in jail when the girls went missing.

"I can see your confusion," the chief said. "Let me explain. Brown shared a cell with another convicted felon--a murderer named John Wentz. Brown testified that Wentz claimed he had a friend on the outside who had made a bet with him that he could make a girl vanish without a trace, without actually killing her. Meghan Salinger went missing around the same time Brown claims Wentz's friend made such a statement, and he was in the same area of Southern Florida, so the timeline matches up."

Nicky thought on it. It was a convoluted trail--but it could lead somewhere. "So we should talk to Wentz," Nicky said, "not Brown."

The chief held up a hand. "One problem with that, Lyons. Wentz is dead. Brown killed him in his cell."

Silence spread throughout the room. Of course--with Nicky's luck, Wentz being alive would be too convenient.

"So the only lead we have is Brown," Nicky said. "And it's hearsay from a clearly deranged murderer."

"That's right," the chief said.

"But Brown is the only convicted killer we have with a possible connection to this case. We don't want to overlook a lead that could save a lot of lives, especially if it's this one."

"But what can we do with it?" Grace said, her doe eyes wide. "How do we even use this lead? Can't we just confront Brown with the information on Meghan Salinger and ask him to help?

Ken let out a grunt. I doubt itd work that easilythe guy is a felon. He wont be eager to help us.

"I didn't say it would be easy," Grace said, her slender fingers drumming on the table. "But we have to try."

"You're right," Nicky said. "We have to try, even if theres a slim chance this could lead us to find what happened to Meghan.

"Then what do we do?" Grace turned to face Nicky, hope in her eyes.

Nicky nodded. She knew this case was going to be tough. But it could be done. She could do this.

"We'll proceed with caution," she said.