“And why would I corroborate this theory of yours?”

“Because you’ve been the lead investigator on three murders taking place over a ten-day period and have now flown across the ocean to look into a fourth. Not to mention that this one is a priest. I find it hard to believe that is a coincidence—given the church closings you orchestrated back in England over the weekend.”

“It could just be a nasty stretch we’re going through. You know what they say about people this time of the season.”

“Perhaps I’ll talk to your American colleague over there.” Ferguson indicated Frankel, who was still on his call by the entrance. “I could ask about the marks on the priest’s forehead and how it matches up with the bodies you found back home.”

Grant’s eyes narrowed. This was the first thing that Ferguson had uttered that took him by surprise. He thought they had successfully clamped down on the particulars of the crimes. He chose his next words carefully.

“If I asked how you got that information, I suppose you’d fall back on your precious sword of privileged information.”

“I’m glad you’ve been paying attention all these years,” replied Ferguson. “Are you going to stand here and deny all four bodies had the same mark?”

He doesn’t know that they were numerical in order.

Which meant that Ferguson hadn’t tumbled to the Ten Commandments connection.

Grant considered the ramifications of a published story linking the crimes to a serial killer working two sides of the Atlantic. It wouldn’t hurt for people to be a touch more careful around strangers in the coming days—at least until he and Frankel figured out who wasn’t honoring their mothers and fathers.

“Suppose I was to acknowledge the existence of such a person. Would you be willing to hold back the information concerning the ‘markings’ as you call them?”

“I think that can be worked out,” Ferguson replied.

Grant, his mind already made up, pretended to consider the deal. He went on the record with the journalist about a serial killer being in two nations’ midst. He was about to send Monte on his merry way when Frankel joined them.

Grant made introductions. The two men nodded, then Ferguson headed out, clearly wanting to file his story before Grant rescinded their agreement.

As Frankel stared at the departing Ferguson, Grant said the newsman might actually be an asset to their investigation. A dubious Frankel told Grant he might want to explain that on the way to the morgue.

Off Grant’s questioning look, Frankel explained. “That was the ME. He’s done the autopsy on Father Peters and is ready for us.”

In the cab on the way to the coroner’s office, Grant was happy to learn Frankel agreed on the deal he’d made with the reporter.