“They’re not exactly accurate. For example, although the police report stated that Mr. Harris was a city planner, according to his obituary he was trained as an architect.”

“Who was strangled.”

“No, not strangled. Asphyxiated.”

“So?”

“The murderer tied a cord around his neck and asphyxiated him. Architect. Asphyxiation.”

“That’s quite a leap, Doctor.” This time, Detective Iberville rolled her eyes in disbelief. “You can’t mean to tell me this supposedly brilliant serial killer is that obvious? A is for apple? Are you serious?”

“Yes,” Erin confirmed coolly. “The first one isn’t terribly elaborate, I’ll grant you, but it was enough to throw your investigators off. Look at this one,” she instructed, jabbing at the details on the next page. “Mr. Singleton was a loan officer. A banker.”

Not bothering to contain it, the detective snorted her amusement. “Who was beaten?” The full-blown laugh rippled through her. Wait until she told the squad. “Stretching a bit there, aren’t we, Doctor? You’ve been in the classroom too long.”

Eyes narrowed and hardened, Erin bit out, “Mr. Singleton was not beaten. The more accurate description for the act is bludgeoned.”

“Same difference.”

“Different difference. The weapon the police officer misidentified as a cricket bat was a short stick filled with lead at one end.”

“So?”

Using the tone she generally reserved for obnoxious students, Erin explained brusquely, “A bludgeon is a short stick that usually has one thick or loaded end and is used as a weapon. I believe that would be the connection.”

“Enough of this,” Sylvie snapped. “I’m sorry your classes are boring you, but I don’t have time for conspiracy theories or whatever this is.”

The derision stung, but Erin held her temper in check. Detective Iberville had every reason to doubt her tale. Erin barely believed it herself. Still, one word kept her in her chair, kept her voice steady as her stomach trembled. Analise.

She tried a different tack. “For the sake of argument, at least consider this: according to what I found, officers discovered the murder weapon at each crime scene.”

“Your point?”

“Criminals usually hide the evidence.”

Sylvie tried not to roll her eyes. “If you’re really a psychologist, shouldn’t you of all people know that criminals are mostly stupid, Dr. Abbott?”

Her tone left the legitimacy of the title “Doctor” hanging in the abruptly tense air.

Erin explained, “This killer did two things. One, he killed each victim near his or her workplace. Two, he left the most obvious clue at the crime scene.” Again Erin pointed to the album. “Whoever sent me the note knew that all I’d be able to find would be vital statistics and the method of murder.”

Speaking over her, Sylvie wagged her finger. “Given the number of murders that happen in New Orleans each year, the absence of a criminal mastermind isn’t a lot to go on.”