Bellisario promised her the opportunity to end a killing spree before more lives were taken, a way of making up for what she couldn't do fast enough in the middle of the Lucky Thirteen case. Her heart thrummed in her chest.

Gabe's name popped up on the SUV's console, Bluetooth kicking in. Ruby hit the answer button on the screen.

“What's happening?” she asked too quickly, her heart already sinking at the potential for bad news.

“Amelia Brady's safe,” Gabe replied over speakerphone, “I'm at her house. No one's here. No car in the driveway or anything.”

Ruby took a corner hard, barely slowing down. Every stop became a rolling stop, a balance of being determined and being in control.

“That doesn't mean she's safe, it just means she's not home,” Ruby replied. Maybe she would've given him a break if there had been a pattern. Their previous victims had been killed in alleys and at parties. Gabe needed to be pushed not to accept things so easily.

“Look at the time, Hunter,” Gabe replied. “Did any reasonable locations come up on her search? Where am I supposed to look for her at this hour? I can't research her whole life and drive at the same time.”

Ruby gritted her teeth. They didn't have time for this. She had acted urgently, balanced research with time frame and it meant she hadn't found a long list of other places Amelia might spend the night.

“I just need to know where she actually is,” Ruby replied. Thoroughness had gotten them this far. Everything they learned about this killer came from going through the details with a fine-toothed comb. Now wasn't the time to cut corners.

“Do you think that's the best use of resources right now? I could come to your location,” Gabe said. “This isn't Vallejo. You don't need to catch him single-handedly to prove anything.”

Something hot and biting flared inside Ruby, possibly from hitting too close to a nerve. Gabe didn't know her’ he didn't know Vallejo. She just needed him to do what she asked.

“Find her,” Ruby repeated. “I'll be fine.”

There was a long pause on the other end of the line.

“I'll do my best,” Gabe replied, “don't get yourself killed out there, alright?”

He hung up. Ruby could feel herself vibrating from the call. She didn't need that kind of concern. She could take care of herself. This was not her first case and it wouldn't be her last.

She turned into a residential neighborhood, forcing her to slow down and pay attention when all she wanted to do was rush in and take out all her frustration on a killer.

When she caught Vallejo, there had been more than duty in play. He had taken so much from her. This mimic had stripped a daughter and sister away from her family and Ruby was forced to probe them, hyper-analyze lives looking for a reason.