“More on the serial killer. You’d better have something about him,” Peter said. He kicked the office door closed and propped his shoulder against the frame. “We’ve carried all the victim profiles. I doubled up with the two you brought in yesterday.”

Kelly said, “We’ve been getting thousands of hits and phone calls from advertisers.” Hearing her glee, she covered her mouth in shame. “God, Erin. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—”

“I understand,” Erin said, trying to soothe Kelly’s conscience. “If the newspaper is going to help find their killer, you need the financial support.”

Peter wasn’t as shy about the bottom line. “Which will run out if we don’t get something new in soon, Gabe. I’m pacing this out, but we’re running out of teasers.”

“That’s why I’m here.” Gabriel cocked his head. “We’re going to run a big story tomorrow. Make the serial killer angry enough to make a mistake.”

“How?” The one-word question came from a suddenly pensive Genevieve.

“We’re going to make ourselves bait,” Erin answered. “Gabriel will use my profile to write a story that will break his control.”

“Desperate times lead to stupid actions,” Peter said angrily. He shook his head before Gabriel could respond. “I won’t print it.”

“That’s not your decision,” Gabriel said mildly. “The Ledger is my paper.”

Gabriel rotated his chair toward Gen. She reclined against the sidewall, staring at him as though he’d lost his mind. Perhaps he had, but it might save her life. “The police can’t help us, Gennie. Not without proof.”

“Your dead body?” She glared at Erin, who squirmed under the accusation. “And hers?”

“I don’t like this, either. But he won’t listen.”

“He wouldn’t need to if you hadn’t brought him into this!” The accusation burst out of her. Gabriel couldn’t walk away from a fight, especially when there was an underdog. Usually the stakes were low, but this could mean his life. And all because Erin had brought a killer into their lives. “The killer is after you. Not Gabriel.”

Before Erin could respond, Gabriel moved to Gennie’s side. He clasped her hands. “Erin did her best to keep me away from her and this story. But I’ve never listened worth a damn.”

“The killer is after her,” Gennie protested. “And you’re taking stupid chances because you feel responsible for her. I know the pattern, Gabriel. I’ve lived it.”

When his eyes darkened, she plowed on. “When Mom got sick, you came home to help Dad with the paper. After she died, you nearly drove yourself crazy trying to hold on, even when Dad wouldn’t.”

“He needed me to.”