When I head downstairs, I want to check windows on the first floor. The layout of the back of the house makes it harder to get to this window but it would be pretty easy to quickly get out of it.

Rachel took one last look at the body. The single neck wound appeared to be the only attack. And though she was no forensics expert, she was quite sure the flow of blood from the body indicated that the knife had gone all the way through the neck, from front to back.

How far away is forensics? she asked.

Last I heard, about five minutes, Stanhope said.

Im heading out to join Rivers. When they get here, let me know if they find anything. If the killer was in this house, waiting for God only knows how long, he had to have left some trace of himself.

Absolutely.

And another thing to consider, Rachel said, the idea coming just as she headed for the bedroom door. This woman was higher up on the list. Number four, in fact. It makes me think we need to put the first three on the list under protective custody.

Its a good idea, Brown said, and we can certainly try. But as Im sure you know, the person we want to put under protective custody has to agree to it. We cant make them.

Yes, I know. Well just have to convince them of how serious it is.

What she thought but did not dare say as she looked down to Christina Raglands body was: And I dont think that should be so hard.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Rachel headed back downstairs to where Mr. Ragland was still being consoled by a cop. Rachel heard only a fragment of the conversation and ascertained that Mr. Raglands mother was on the way over to be with him. Meanwhile, Rachel walked into the den area and looked at the window. She opened it and checked both sides of it, but could see nothing out of the ordinary. She did the same with the single hallway window but there was nothing there, either.

She hit what may have been paydirt when she checked the kitchen. There were two windows thereone looking out over the side yard and another, smaller one, over the sink. The one looking out onto the side yard was about eight feet off the ground and hard to open. Still, she saw nothing that raised suspicions.

However, when she checked the one over the sink, things were a little different. There was nothing on the interior, but she noted a few scratch marks on the outside, just at the corner. She closed the window and stepped outside onto the screened-in porch to get a better look. Sure enough, there were light scratches that looked rather fresh There was also a very slight chipped section, right at the edge of the frame where it settled into the windowsill.