“So—punishment,” Kara said. “Either the person who wronged him or a surrogate. Still reads like revenge any way you slice it.”

Catherine didn’t say anything, but a tiny twitch in her neck told Matt she wasn’t particularly happy with Kara’s blunt pronouncement. Probably because it lacked Catherine’s class and nuance—though that didn’t make it any less true.

Ryder said, “Sir, it’s three-fifteen—you need to meet with Chief Packard in fifteen minutes.”

Matt needed more. “Anything else, Catherine? Anyone? I’m meeting with the press soon. I need to give them something without tipping our hand.”

Silence all around. This wasn’t going to help.

“Anyone,” Matt said. “We’re running out of time.”

Catherine spoke first. “Keep tabs on the audience. I guarantee he’s following the news on this investigation. Fifty-fifty, he’ll show up at a press briefing if he’s in the area. Zero chance if it’s indoors or sparsely attended. But if there are a lot of people, he may come to watch. If he doesn’t, he’ll watch it on TV or online or read about it in the paper. He’ll want to know everything about what the police are doing, what they’ve found—and he’ll crave more.”

Matt glanced at Kara. Out of all of them, she looked the least like a cop.

As if she’d read his mind, she said, “I’ll do it.”

“Do what?” Catherine asked.

“Work the crowd. Blend in. Assess the audience. I know what you want.”

“Thanks,” Matt said.

“I have a question,” Kara said.

“Ask.”

Ryder tapped his watch and pointed at Matt. Matt nodded—he knew they were on the clock, but Kara had insight that had already proven valuable to the investigation.

“What happens if we screw with his pattern?”

“Explain,” Catherine said.

“He kills on specific days. What if his intended target is unavailable? Or has a friend over? Or goes out of town? Does he pick another victim? Does he kill the friend? Does his head explode because his pattern is fucked-up?”

Matt hadn’t thought of that—he was focused on simply finding and stopping the predator. “What do you think, Catherine?”

“It’s an interesting question. I think it depends on whether the individuals he picks are representative of the person he wants to kill—such as if Victoria Manners was chosen specifically, or simply chosen because she was a nurse. If he’s targeting occupations, then yes, I think he’ll find another victim. He may have a backup in mind, or he’ll grab someone who fits his criteria. Definitely a greater chance that he’ll screw up at that point because it goes against his established plan. But if the victims are personal, then he could have some sort of psychotic breakdown. If he can’t complete his pattern, then I can’t predict how he’ll respond. He’ll certainly go after his intended victim, but there could be collateral damage—friends, family, colleagues—or he could change his MO, such as the weapon he uses.”

“So we’re damned if we do, damned if we don’t,” Jim said.

“Not necessarily,” Catherine said. “If you throw him off his game in any way—take one of his would-be victims off the playing field—he’ll react. Until now, he’s been driving the train, so to speak. He plans and executes his plan. He is in control. He is acting—the police are reacting. You make him react to something he’s not expecting, he’ll reveal himself—either intentionally or accidentally. Just be careful, Matt—once his pattern is destroyed, he can and will do anything to achieve his goal.”