“We can’t comb every library, park, and mall looking for thirteen connections,” Gabe said, putting words to a truth Ruby already recognized.

She crossed her arms over her chest.

“He’s trying to disorient us. We need to try different tactics,” she said.

Gabe gave her an incredulous look.

“So how do we find our next suspect? What kind of nutjob is he going to be? A psychotic clown that shoots blood out of his water gun?” Gabe said. “Really impressive that we’ve managed to find a couple of innocent guys with the most deplorable hobbies I’ve ever seen.”

He was getting frustrated. That much was clear, even now that Ruby could also see a sliver of self-consciousness in him. There were quite probably people betting on when he would give up and try to fit himself in somewhere else in Quantico.

“The suspects have all been picked, just like the victims have,” Ruby said, “both made to look like sure things, distractions to drag us further and further behind. Just like these pictures.”

“Yeah, well, we better catch up before we wind up standing over another victim,” Gabe said.

Tired and running on caffeine and vending machine snacks, Ruby closed her fists tightly, fighting to keep her composure.

The only thing worse than Gabe's relentless doubts would be him requesting a different partner, leaving her either alone or with a new partner. She couldn't waste time catching someone up on the case.

“I am very, very aware, believe me,” she replied.

“Was this what it was like watching the Lucky Thirteen murders happen in real time?” Gabe asked.

Ruby took a long, deep breath. People knew what the murders looked like from the outside, after all was said and done. It was different when it was happening, before Ruby knew there would be thirteen deaths and one of them would be Asher's.

“I was younger and more reckless then,” Ruby said. “We would do anything to chase down a lead, Asher and I.”

“Your partner?” Gabe asked, “Agent Carnes?”

Ruby nodded vaguely. A familiar pang twisted like a knife in her chest. She wasn’t sure there would ever be a time when it was comfortable to talk about Asher.

“A lead came up and he went to investigate without me.”

He'd let her sleep instead, catching up on days of too-long hours. He'd gone in without back-up.

Gabe's face was pale, but he didn't say anything. For once, he didn’t have any commentary to give.

“He was already dead when I found him,” she continued. “I got a text message with his location. Vallejo sent it from Asher's phone after he'd already killed him.”

“I'm sorry,” he said, “I shouldn't have brought it up.”

“No, I need to acknowledge that it happened. Some things you need to face head on,” Ruby said. Gabe deserved to know that Ruby was bad luck. Her track record with partners left something to be desired.