Rachel nodded as she and Jack approached the body. Forensics, who had just pulled in ahead of them, were also closely studying the body. She heard their murmured conversation as they took notes and confirmed everything they said with her own eyes. It looked exactly the same as the first two victims: multiple stab wounds in the abdomen area, done in a fashion that seemed hurried and urgent. On this new victim, there was a slash lower than all the rest, nearly in the groin, but it was slanted upward, indicating the knife used to do the stabbing had slipped.

Yet again, Rachels thoughts went to Alex Lynch. Hed killed with similar brutality, almost as if hed enjoyed ithad thrived on it. And while the similarity was enough to bring his case to mind, she hated that she felt so drawn to his old case because of this new one. Shed spent so much time trying to forget about him, spending months in therapy. Now she felt like she was taking several steps back, letting that vile man back into her mind.

Wheres the husband? Jack asked.

Hes inside with the EMTs, one of the officers said. He gave is information like a champ for about two minutes and then it all hit him. Hes being treated for shock.

Jesus, I guess so, Jack said. Did he have anything to share that would be useful?

No. Poor guy is floored. I honestly dont even think hes fully aware of what has happened.

The crime scene then fell into a silence Rachel had seen beforeeveryone realizing that they were standing in the middle of a huge event, in the shadow of evil. The man that had done this was sick, that was for sure. But as Rachel looked to the body and stepped aside to let the forensics team get in closer, her mind shifted into some other place. It seemed to be doing that a lot latelyperhaps in response to her sudden rampant thoughts and memories of Alex Lynch.

What if its not just about the fertility treatments? she wondered out loud.

What do you mean? Jack asked.

I mean the fertility treatments are a definite link. Theres no question about that. But hes also killed them the same way every single time. Theyre all at home. The wounds are all in the stomach or sides angling into the abdomen. Its always with a knife and theres nothing neat or precise about it. Maybe theres something we can use in that…in the way hes doing it.

Im not sure that sort of answer would help us, either, Jack said.

Rachel looked back over to the cops and asked: Did anyone ask the husband about security footage before he went into shock?