“It should be me,” D.D. agreed. “She’s not going to buy into the kindhearted father figure, either. In her world, understanding is weakness, and males are her murder victims of choice.”

“I asked Horgan . . .”

“I’m not on active duty. I can’t do it. I know that.”

“Will you come anyway? I’m told the prison interview room has a viewing window. You can’t go in, but there’s nothing to say you can’t watch.”

“I’m there. Have you read her file yet?”

“Just pulling it up.”

“Don’t bother. I spent most of last night researching her and good ol’ Harry Day. Take it from me, you need to remember just one thing.”

“And that is . . . ?”

“Blood is love. And as the father figure, you’re going to have to prove that you love her very much.”

• • •

ALEX HELPED HER shower and dress. She was nervous, which surprised her. Her hands were shaking, and for a change, she barely noticed the ache in her left arm and shoulder. Alex helped ease a button-up silk shirt over her left arm. She winced; then the blouse was on, and Alex worked the buttons.

“For the record,” he commented, “I much prefer the removal process. This goes against my grain.”

She smiled but remained distracted.

“She’s just another killer, D.D. How many have you interviewed over the years?”

“Dozens.”

“Exactly. And this one’s behind bars, meaning she can’t even be that good.”

“She was fourteen. Didn’t have the maturity and foresight yet to better cover her tracks.”

“She’s just another killer,” he repeated.

She nodded, but they could both tell it wasn’t working. Then Phil arrived, looking even more hyped-up than she was, and Alex shook his head.

“You are the detectives,” he informed them both. “You’re smarter, more experienced and definitely more capable. Now, get out there, and learn what you need to know in order to destroy Pat.”

“Pat?” Phil asked.

“It’s a long story,” D.D. supplied.

“Perfect,” he said twitchily. “I could use one of those right now.”

. . .

• • •

ADELINE WAS WAITING for them in the prison’s lobby. She wore professional attire. Dark-brown slacks. A blue cashmere sweater. More respected psychiatrist than loving sister, D.D. noted. Girding her loins for what was sure to be a highly interesting conversation?

The doctor walked forward to greet them. She explained basic prison protocol, that all jewelry, bags, scarves, accessories, were to be checked into the available lockers. Phil also checked his sidearm; the MCI didn’t permit firearms to be carried even by the corrections officers in order to minimize the risk of a weapon being seized by an inmate and used against them.