Erin’s gaze flew up to meet Gabriel’s amused look. “You’re not the only one who knows obscure facts, Dr. Abbott.” Running his hand along the unfinished piece, he said, “The killer knew about his job in college.”

“And about his hobby.” The grisly conclusion had occurred to both of them. Erin gave it voice. “He stabbed him with his own ébauchoir.” She pointed at the implements lying on the table. “The police blotter described it as a chisel. I wasn’t sure about the link.” She wrapped her arms around her waist and stared at the sculpture. “C was taken, so it had to be D, E, or F. Elevator operator … ébauchoir. He’s making it easy.”

Dropping a hand to her shoulder, Gabriel snorted. “There’s nothing about this that’s easy, Erin. Five—no, seven people have lost their lives because of a madman. And he’s sprinkling bread crumbs around the city that only you can see.”

Erin spun around. “But I can’t see it! I can’t see what he’ll do next! Who he plans to kill!”

To calm her, Gabriel said, “You’re working as fast as you can.”

“I don’t know how long we have. And it could get someone killed.” Erin rushed out of the house to the courtyard where flowers bloomed in wild profusion. A magnolia tree stood in the center of the cobblestones and she stopped at its trunk.

Gabriel followed. Unable not to, he pulled her to him, compelled to soothe. She struggled in his embrace, but he refused to loosen his hold. “Accept it, Erin,” he murmured against her temple. “Accept that you’ve got someone who cares about you. That for a minute or two, you have someone to lean on.”

“I can’t,” came the tortured whisper. Still, she wound trembling arms around his waist, rested her head against his shoulder. One minute, she thought. Then she’d be strong again.

“Tell me what’s going on, Erin.” Tension simmered in his voice, and he didn’t bother to disguise it.

“I can’t. You don’t understand. I simply can’t.”

“Won’t.” He shifted his hands to grasp her upper arms. “What are you afraid of?”

You. Him. Everything. “Isn’t a serial killer enough reason?”

“There’s more. And you and I both know it.”

She lifted her head and met his insistent look squarely. Courage, a recent addition to her armory, demanded she protect him from the nightmare that had tracked her across a continent. “I don’t want to spend time with you.”

The pronouncement, so baldly stated, neatly pricked his impenetrable heart. But he hadn’t become a seasoned reporter with a Pulitzer under his belt by accepting rejection without probing for more. “Why not?”

If we spend time together, I’ll probably want to know more about you. Erin remained stubbornly mute.