Kelly nodded. “He was sent a DVD.”

“Federal Express. It’s difficult to imagine anything more cruel. The husbands learned in the space of minutes that their wives were unfaithful, and that they were dead. Here’s another twist. We haven’t recovered a single body. Furthermore, we have been unable to identify even one murder location. We have assumed the states I just mentioned because the women were from those states. They were not gone long when they were first reported missing.”

“How long after they disappeared did the husbands receive the DVDs?”

“Usually only two days.”

“Incredible.” She paused. “Tell me more.”

“That’s just it, we have nothing more. We’re dealing with a brilliant mind. His level of execution is flawless. He leaves no evidence. Yet he mocks us. He gives us a ringside seat to his dirty work.” Slate paused. “There’s an irony here.”

“He feels he’s doing the husbands a favor?”

“Yes. He’s on a mission. He knows he’s hurting the husbands and at the same time he thinks he’s freeing them of these sinful women. He considers the short-term pain he inflicts on them the lesser of two evils.”

“So you assume,” Kelly said.

“You disagree?”

“No. I just don’t want to jump to any conclusions.” Kelly paused. “Why is confidentiality so crucial?”

“Because each of the husbands in question has been severely ridiculed.”

“And because they are important men and don’t like to be ridiculed?”

“Yes.”

“What about the FBI’s level of embarrassment?”

“We don’t need the entire country on our backs.” Slate raised his hand when she went to protest. “I understand, we lose an important weapon when we eliminate public input. But we feel this guy is too smart to be caught by a random tip.”

Many of the most brilliant killers in history had been caught by such tips.

“Really?” she said, a faint note of sarcasm in her voice.

Slate’s tone hardened. “Are you suggesting that I’m lying?”

“I just wonder if you’re rationalizing. Or is it politics?”

“All of the above, Agent Fienman. You’re bold to ask. Perhaps you’ve spent too much time in the company of Charles Fitzsimmons and picked up his habits. In either case, the choice is not yours or mine to make.”

“Yes, sir. I apologize.”

“No problem. You wonder why I want your input?”

“YES.”

“Did you notice the book on the nightstand in two of the videos?”

“Yes.”

“An enhanced copy of the DVDs reveals that it is a copy of Joseph Campbell’s The Hero’s Journey. You’re familiar with it?”

“I’ve studied Campbell’s work extensively.”

“We see it as a lead.”

“The book alone? It’s not much of one.” She paused. “Sorry to be so blunt, sir.”

“It appears to be an essential part of your personality. No, we see the book in reference to his other comments. You must have noticed that he speaks like someone with a background in literature.”

Kelly frowned. “He did make a few references, but they were rather vague. I would need to study the transcripts of his conversations with the women.”