“Michael, whatever you think you’ve done wrong, it’s nothing to us. It’s nothing. We don’t care what you’ve done on your computer. This isn’t about you or your family or your hacking. There have been some terrible murders in Washington, and there might be a connection to this game called the Four Horsemen. Please help us, Michael. You’re the only one who can. You’re the only one.”

Mark Ormson, who was a radiologist at Georgetown University Hospital, leaned forward on the black leather couch in the den. He looked more frightened now than when he’d gotten home. “I’m beginning to think I better get a lawyer,” he said.

Patsy Hampton shook her head and smiled kindly at both parents. “This is not about your son, Mr. and Mrs. Ormson. He’s not in any trouble with us, I assure you.”

She turned back to the teenager. “Michael, what do you know about the Four Horsemen? We know you’re not one of the players. We know it’s a very private game.”

The boy looked up. She could tell that he liked her, and maybe trusted her some. “Hardly anything, ma’am. I don’t know too much.”

Hampton nodded. “This is very important to us, Michael. Someone is killing people in the Southeast part of Washington — for real, Michael. This is not a fantasy game. I think you can help us. You can save others from getting murdered.”

Michael dropped his head again. He had hardly looked at his mother and father since they arrived. “I’m good with computers. You probably already figured that out.”

Detective Hampton kept nodding, giving the boy positive reinforcement. “We know you are, Michael. We had trouble tracing you here. You’re very good with computers. My friend Chuck Hufstedler at the FBI was really impressed. When all this is over, you can see where he works. You’ll like him, and you’ll love his equipment.”

Michael smiled, showing off large, protruding teeth with braces. “Back at the beginning of summer, probably late in June, this guy came into the Gamester’s Chatroom — where you found me.”

Patsy Hampton tried to hold eye contact with the boy. She needed him badly; she had a feeling that this was a big break, her biggest so far.

Michael continued to speak softly. “He sort of, like he took over the conversation. Actually, he was pretty much a control freak about it. He kept putting down Highlander, D & D, Millennium, all the hot games that are out now. Wouldn’t let anybody else get a word in. Almost seemed like he was high on something.

“He kept hinting about this completely different game he played called the Four Horsemen. It was like he didn’t want to tell us about it, but then he would give out bits and pieces anyway, but not much. He wouldn’t shut up.