“And he’s on a monthly cycle.” When Bell nods, she asks the necessary question. “What do the police think he’s doing with them?”

Bell hesitates, checks her face. Tells her anyway. “He abducts them, ties them, holds them for about twenty-four hours. Then he hangs them by the ankles and bleeds them out.”

Everything Emma’s been doing for the last few days comes in on her suddenly. She has to fight it, leans forward over her knees. When Bell calls her name, she sits back up. “I’m all right. Gimme a minute.”

“Cooper’s coming, you don’t have a minute. And we haven’t looked at the questionnaire yet.”

“That’s okay.” Her chin firms. “I’ve got a few things to say to Cooper that should keep him distracted.”

When Cooper slides into the driver’s seat and turns to check on them, the first thing he sees is Emma’s level expression. “What is it?”

“Gutmunsson knew who I was. He knew it in the space of one conversation and he wasn’t even trying.”

“Miss Lewis—”

“No.” Her voice is cold. “You offered me up to Simon Gutmunsson like a jig on a line, knowing he’d take a bite. Someone like me is pure catnip to an offender like Gutmunsson, and you needed something to tempt him.”

Cooper has the grace to look abashed. “Miss Lewis, I’m—”

“If you apologize to me right now I swear to god I will get out of this car and walk back to Quantico.”

Bell shifts awkwardly. “Uh, this conversation might be—”

Emma stops him with a raised hand. “You’re a part of this conversation, too. You really think it was an accident that you, of all people, were recruited to help me interview Simon Gutmunsson? Whatever Agent Cooper has to say, he can say it to both of us.”

Bell closes his mouth. Looks from Emma to Cooper and back again. His expression turns flinty.

Cooper watches the interplay, settles on Emma. “I told you Gutmunsson was smart.”

“You told me he was smart. Right. You didn’t tell me he followed the press. He tagged me from the logo on my T-shirt, my name, and the newspaper reports.” She wrangles with her anger. “He’s got something you want, doesn’t he? Something on Pennsylvania.”

“That’s not—”

“Do you know what Gutmunsson said to me? Tell Agent Cooper he chose well. He knew the score on this before I even walked in the building.” Emma shakes her head in disgust. “Was the interview unit stuff all just bullshit? Was it all leading up to this?”

There’s a silence. Cooper’s expression cycles as he considers holding the line, before he gives up with a sigh.

“The interviews aren’t bullshit. The interviews are important. But I needed to know you could handle yourselves before—”

Bell swears loudly, looks away.

“Gutmunsson is a special case—”

“And we were the only people you could use for this?” Bell demands.

“You’re the only people of his age who report to the bureau.” Cooper’s jaw clenches. “You’re the only people we haven’t tried.”