I turned around and faced him. “I think he began with Robyn Naismith. I believe this monster has studied her crime scene photographs, and either consciously or subconsciously recreated one of them when he assaulted Eddie Heath and propped his body against a Dumpster.”

“That could very well be,” Wesley said, staring off. “But how could an inmate get access to Robyn Naismith’s scene photographs? Those would not be in Waddell’s prison jacket.”

“This may be just one more thing that Ben Stevens helped with. Remember, I told you that he was the one who got the photos from Archives. He could have had copies made. The question is why would the photos be relevant? Why would Donahue or someone else even ask for them?”

“Because the inmate wanted them. Maybe he demanded them. Maybe they were a reward for special services.”

“That is sickening,” I said with quiet anger.

“Exactly.”

Wesley met my eyes. “This goes back to the killer’s agenda, his needs and desires. It is very possible that he’d heard a lot about Robyn’s case. He may have known a lot about Waddell, and it would excite him to think about what Waddell had done to his victim. The photographs would be a turn-on to someone who has a very active and aggressive fantasy life that is devoted to violent, sexualized thought. It is not farfetched to suppose that this person incorporated the scene photographs - one or more of them - into his fantasies. And then suddenly he’s free, and he sees a young boy walking in the dark to a convenience store. The fantasy becomes real. He acts it out.”

“He recreated Robyn Naismith’s death scene?”

“Yes.”

“What do you suppose his fantasy is now?”

“Being hunted.”

“By us?”

“By people like us. I’m afraid he might imagine that he is smarter than everybody else and no one can stop him. He fantasizes about games he can play and murders he might commit that would reinforce these images he entertains. And for him, fantasy is not a substitute for action but a preparation for it.”

“Donahue could not have orchestrated releasing a monster like this, altering records, or anything else without help,” I said.

“No. I’m sure he got key people to cooperate, like someone at State Police headquarters, maybe a records person with the city and even the Bureau. People can be bought if you have something on them. And they can be bought with cash.”

“Like Susan.”

“I don’t think Susan was the key person. I’m more inclined to suspect that Ben Stevens was. He’s out in the bars. Drinks, parties. Did you know he’s into a little recreational coke when he can get it?”

“Nothing would surprise me anymore.”