Jack Rivers hated driving, but Rachel had always enjoyed it. It was yet another way their partnership was a good fit. Something about being behind the wheel and watching the roads and highways unfold in front of her was calming to Rachel. It also helped her concentrate on the case details as Jack read them, going through each and every file Anderson had sent them. Getting out of Richmond wasnt as hard as it could have been, as they missed the morning traffic by about half an hour. The Beltway, she knew, was going to be a completely different story.

These photos are pretty gruesome, Jack said, wincing at the current one on his screen. A lot of blood. Forensics reports eleven stab wounds, all in the stomach.

Which victim?

The most recent, from last night.

What about the first victim? Rachel asked.

Nine times, same place. Right in the stomach.

Rachel tried to form a link to it all in her head. The women being slightly older helped her to categorize it a bit easier. Typically, women murdered at such an age were targets of some sort of terrible domestic abuse rather than intense and unrequited lust. But two of them so close together, and killed in similar ways, presented a whole new side of the puzzle.

Its also worth noting, Rivers said, that both women were killed at home. The first victim was laying in the kitchen, the second in her back yard. It looked like she may have fallen from the back porch…before or after she was killed, though, is anyones guess. She was also killed late at night, apparently when going out for a cigarette.

Rachel did her best to stay focused on the details Jack was giving her but every ounce of mental strength she had seemed to still be digesting yesterdays news. She was also hyper-focused on the road, as if her brain was betting on the monotonous actions and scenery to help process the information faster.

Rachel?

Yeah? she asked, quickly glancing at him. His brown eyes were studying her in a way she rarely saw. It was far too close to the way he studied victims and suspectswith a suspicious glint in his stare.

Whats up? he asked. You seem pretty distracted.

Crap, she thought. That didnt take long.

No, Im okay. Just tired, I guess. I didnt sleep well last night.

Up all night trying to make a baby with Peter? Jack asked with a knowing chuckle.

She grimaced and shook her head. Shed almost forgotten shed shared that bit of information with Jack. But sometimes, all the time alone in cars managed to open up a lot of personal information. She trusted Jack with her details, though. He was a very honorable guy once you got past the oddly-timed jokes and Marvel movie references.

No. Just not a great night for sleep, I guess.

He scowled at her and said, I dont buy it.