“If there's some sort of connection, it isn't to Delko,” Bellisario said. “And if he's been framed, then he poses no threat.”

Ruby and Gabe exchanged a look. All they had was evidence that Delko denied, and a witness account that Delko had been at a victim's house, but left. There was nothing that placed him irrefutably anywhere but that butcher shop.

“Maybe he and Thorne swapped murders, like a movie,” Gabe said. “That’s why they’re so cocky. We’ve found the connection to a person they didn’t actually kill, but that doesn’t mean they’re not involved.”

Bellisario gave them almost a pitying look. Between a murder pact and a prison conspiracy, they were not looking like logical investigators.

“With all due respect, he practically tackled Agent Hunter,” Gabe added. “We could hold him on that.”

Bellisario shot him a disapproving look. “He's been cleared. Go out there and make nice,” he said, putting his hand on Gabe's shoulder. “If it’ll help soothe your conscience, get an analyst to check if they have alibis for the other murders.”

Gabe nodded sternly, stepping back into the interrogation room to deliver the news.

Delko sure would be pleased.

This meant humiliation for Ruby, but at least she would always have the arrest of Vincent Vallejo to her credit. Gabe was just trying to make a good impression on his first case and Ruby was dragging him down with her.

“Ruby, do you know how many people witnessed you arrest an innocent man? How much time and resources were wasted testing pig blood just in case? It doesn't look great,” Bellisario said.

Her heart sank. She knew how it made her look, like she had become a loose cannon, a person who jumped to conclusions too fast. The other responders hadn't followed the bloody footprints through Pearl Helman's house, then stumbled into the shrine in Delko's garage, or found the pig punctured with that telltale pattern.

All the responders saw were a couple of FBI agents arresting a butcher covered in blood.

“If this case is too similar, I can find someone else,” Bellisario offered carefully.

Ruby snapped to attention.

“No. This is mine. Vallejo is involved somehow. He's teasing us. He's leading us down rabbit holes. Give me time and I'll prove it.”

“Time means victims,” Bellisario said.

“I will get to the bottom of this,” Ruby said.

She had to. If she gave up now, it would mean Vallejo beat her, even from prison.

CHAPTER TWENTY

From the way Vincent Vallejo spoke of Agent Hunter, John expected so much more from her. It nearly tempted him to stray, to push exactly how much he could get away with. By now, he anticipated a need to watch his back, to be more cautious.