Diana wondered if Finn was even conscious of his determined use of the present tense.

“We’ve already checked with his coworkers at the bank,” he went on. “Most left before he did, and none of them have any useful information. We’ve found no witnesses along his usual route home. I’ve got a team following up on his friends outside the bank, and Cavendishes who don’t work there but might know something. Many have already been questioned generally about anyone potentially missing because of Cole. I just don’t know if we’re going to find out any more than we already have.”

Bishop said, “It should have taken Simon how long to walk home?”

“No more than half an hour even if he strolled. According to security, he left the bank just after six thirty. Home by seven, say a quarter after at the very latest.”

“A forty-five-minute window.” Bishop shook his head slightly. “And he left the bank later than usual; if the unsub had targeted him, he had to be lying in wait somewhere along Simon’s usual route home.”

Quentin nodded in the direction of the victim they had found here. “And we’re fairly certain because of what was done to him and what’s left that this man was being tortured for hours, that he was almost certainly still alive when Simon was taken.”

Finn said, “So from that and from what Megan’s spirit told Hollis this morning, this victim had already been taken before Simon disappeared, and was . . . suffering . . . even then.”

Quentin said, “Which likely means that last night the unsub had to leave this victim, probably here, then get himself down to town, snatch Simon—planned or because the opportunity was there—then take Simon somewhere he felt it was safe to leave him. While he came back here and . . . finished up with this victim.”

“Taking one victim while he had another,” Bishop said, “even if he felt rushed for whatever reason, means planning and preparation, a lot of it. I doubt Simon was taken because he just happened to be where he was.”

Quentin nodded. “So the unsub had to lie in wait, maybe longer than he planned because Simon was later than usual, then immobilize Simon quickly and quietly, and get him out of downtown because you had people patrolling the area.”

“And then take him to whatever place he had ready,” Diana said.

Nodding again, Quentin said, “Even if most of the downtown businesses were closed by then, there are restaurants all around. Plus the patrols. It would have been at least reasonably likely that someone might have seen something. He couldn’t waste any time getting Simon out of the area.”

“Simon would have passed very close to two of the restaurants on the way to his condo if he took his usual route.” Finn paused, then added, “As nearly as I can figure, we were all at one of them at just about the right time.”

Quentin said, “Man, I hate knowing that.”