“Yes sir,” Glenn agreed as Dunlop gave me an unreadable look and edged quietly out of the room, surprisingly agile for his size. “But I believe Ms. Morgan is entertaining a valid thought path.”

Surprised at the support, I blinked at Glenn.

Edden didn’t even look at me. “Stop the college psychobabble, Glenn. Dr. Anders is our prime suspect. You’d better have a good reason for pulling your energies from there.”

“Yes sir,” Glenn said, not at all upset. “Ms. Morgan has found a direct link from four of the six victims to Mr. Kalamack, and a probable window of opportunity for contact with Mr. Kalamack in the other two.”

Instead of being excited as I would have expected, Edden slumped. I stood up as he came close to look at the records tacked to the wall. His tired eyes went from one to the next. The last of the FIB officers left, and I went to stand beside Glenn. With a united front, maybe he might stop wasting our time and let us go after Trent.

Feet spread wide, Edden put his hands on his hips and stared at the sticky notes tacked to the reports. I found I was holding my breath, and let it out. Unable to resist, I said, “All but the last victim used ley lines heavily in their daily work. And there’s a slow progression from those highly skilled down to those just out of school and not yet using their degrees.”

“I know.” Edden’s voice was flat. “Which is why Dr. Anders is a suspect. She is the last ley line witch of any repute left in Cincinnati actively practicing. I think she’s getting rid of the competition. Especially as most of the victims were working in security related fields.”

“Or Trent just hasn’t gotten to her yet,” I said softly. “The woman is a cacti.”

Edden turned, putting his back to the reports. “Morgan, why would Trent Kalamack be killing ley line witches? He has no motive.”

“He has the same motive you’ve given Dr. Anders,” I said. “Getting rid of the competition. Maybe he offered them a job, and when they refused, he killed them? It would fit in with Sara Jane’s missing boyfriend.” Not to mention what he did to me.

Creases appeared in Edden’s forehead. “Which brings up the question as to why he would let his secretary come to the FIB.”

“I don’t know,” I said, my voice rising as I became frustrated. “Maybe the two are unrelated. Maybe she lied about him knowing she came to us. Maybe the man is crazy and wants to get caught. Maybe he’s so sure we can’t find our asses in the dark that he’s thumbing his nose at us. He had them killed, Edden. I know it. He talked to them before they died. What more do you need!”

I was almost shouting. I knew it wouldn’t get me anywhere with Edden, but this bureaucracy was part of the reason I had quit the I.S. And it rankled to find myself trying to “convince the boss” again. Head bowed and hand on his chin, Glenn took a step back, leaving me alone. I didn’t care.