“I know killings often have motives. I also know they can be random. I’ve read a lot. I’m not an investigator, of course, but I’ve read that serial killers seldom stop, that they stay active until they’re incarcerated or killed themselves. There have been exceptions or times when they take a break. There might have been killings in other places—other countries, even—that we don’t know about. And this killer might have discovered the unsolved case of the Axeman and decided New Orleans might be the right place to strike. My parents were killed twelve years ago, and the killer—or killers—struck again six years later. And now. There might be a pattern here. Something in the motive that means killings must happen six years apart.”

“Six years... Maybe there is something to the number six,” Dan said quietly.

“All right, Miss Delaney,” Ryder said. “I can understand why you’re so concerned, and why you think these killings are related. Sure, you’ve read, so you know about copycat killers. These cases could be totally unrelated. Even your case in the Keys and the one in Orlando might be separate.”

“Yes, I know.”

“Your parents were killed on a boat,” he pointed out.

“But the older couple and their niece in Orlando were killed in their home. Just as these people were killed now.”

Katie glanced at Dan Oliver again. She couldn’t begin to fathom what he was thinking. His face was totally impassive.

“Listen,” Ryder said, “I understand how you both feel. And yes, murders like this aren’t common, thank God. I will bear in mind during the investigation all that has happened in the past.”

“Ryder—” Dan began.

“Look, I called you, right? I want to solve this. I want every piece of information available on this killer. If it is the same guy, I want to get him this time. If it isn’t, I’m still interested in seeing how this killer—or these killers—are copying the Florida murders or the old Axeman of New Orleans. We’re all on the same side here,” Ryder said. “Our forensic teams are still going over the scene. You know that, Dan. We’ll do everything in our power.”

“That means calling Florida for every record available,” Dan reminded him.

“I will get everything transferred,” Ryder promised. He looked at them both. “I’m sorry. I’m truly sorry,” he said to Katie.

She nodded. “Thank you. If you need me to describe what happened, what I found on the boat that day, I can do so.”

“I don’t see a need to make you go through that now, Miss Delaney. When I’ve read all the reports...well, I may ask you to come back in.”