“She was the reason Burton didn’t want to use the golden gun on the college kid,” Rafe said bitterly. “That’s why he broke her neck. Burton was carrying a gold-colored gun with a suppressor when he killed the young woman in the costume store—a gun he took from the Santa Rosa madam. He didn’t want to shoot the college kid and have the bullet match with the old woman.”

But the death didn’t make sense. None of them did, and tears burned at Mercy’s throat. “Why did he kill an old woman?”

“It appears he slept there,” Erin said gently. “The bed was unmade and the shower had been used. They’ll dust for prints and screen the drains for any hair he might have lost. It’s being handled by the sheriff’s department right now. I’m assuming the FBI will take over at some point.”

Gideon had slumped in his chair. “We need to find this bastard, and soon.”

Mercy squared her shoulders. This was the reason she’d come back. “I can be bait. Use me.”

Two loud nos had her flinching. Gideon was halfway out of his chair, leaning on the table to get closer to her. Rafe had lurched to his feet, standing taller with a white-knuckled grip around the handle of the brand-new cane that his father had made for him that morning.

“I won’t let you be bait,” Rafe gritted through clenched teeth.

“No way in hell,” Gideon added.

Farrah looked stunned. “Mercy, please. Let’s think this through.”

Mercy ignored Rafe and Gideon, turning to Farrah with a tired smile. “I have. I knew when I came back that I’d have some role in finding Eden. This is it. Erin? What do you think?”

Erin hesitated, then nodded. “I think we can make it work, but only if my boss and Gideon’s boss agree and only if they provide a lot of backup.”

“Erin,” Rafe growled.

Erin didn’t drop her gaze, meeting Rafe’s eyes directly. “Rafe. This can’t go on. He’s murdering innocent people all over the damn place.”

“No.” Gideon was shaking his head vehemently. “I won’t have it.”

Mercy felt surprisingly calm. “I didn’t ask your permission. Erin, what do you need me to do?”

“Nothing for now. Get a little rest?” Erin glanced up at Gideon, who was glowering. “If we do nothing, he’ll get her, Gideon. He’s obsessed. He won’t give up. And we can’t maintain this level of security forever, short of WITSEC. Sooner or later something’s gonna slip, and she’ll be unprotected. That’s when he’ll strike, if we don’t take care of him first. If the powers that be agree, we will set this up so that Mercy has complete coverage.”

“I’m still here,” Mercy said, ignoring the glares coming from her brother and her . . . She faltered, not sure what Rafe was. Her friend, she decided. That word was perfect for now. “Gideon, this isn’t your call. Nor yours, Rafe. It’s my decision and I’m deciding to say yes.”