Thered been the smear of blood, but there had also been blood up on the landing. What if Lexa had seen someone in trouble, someone bleeding on the landing and had stopped to help them? She would have knelt down next to the person. The concrete in the stairwell was rough and could have easily scraped her knees through her slacks.

So what had happened to the person? Where had they gone? Why hadnt they tried to help Lexa when she was attacked?

He froze. Unless the injured person was the attacker. He shook his head. No. Someone who had lost that much blood wouldnt have had the strength to attack Lexa and drag her out to the alleyway. She was a young strong woman. Based on her broken fingernails and the bruises on her wrists, she had definitely fought back.

Unless the person wasnt really injured. Agent Hernandez had said this was the second medical professional in as many days to be killed in a similar manner. How better to lure someone in health care into a vulnerable position than pretending to be injured yourself?

It made sense. If Lexa had seen someone she thought was in trouble, she would have dropped immediately to her knees to examine that person, just as he had.

He walked more slowly up the stairs, thinking about how that might have worked. He pushed open the heavy door and onto the floor. Hed stop by the nurses station before he went to his office so they knew he was in. He rounded the corner and found Danielle Hernandez already there.

Agent Hernandez, what are you doing here?

My job. She gave him a perfunctory smile. Todays suit was navy instead of black, but otherwise identical, her dark hair still pulled back in a low ponytail. Interviewing people, trying to find out more about Lexa. Youd be surprised how often we find the perpetrator of a crime by really digging into the life of the victim.

Since she was here, he might as well pass on what hed figured out. Speaking of that, I, uh, went to the morgue and viewed Lexas body after I left the police station this morning. I noticed something. Im not sure if itll be helpful or not.

She looked at him with that cool level gaze, assessing, measuring. Right now, Im open to any and all information, Hernandez said finally.

He gestured for her to follow him. Lets go to my office. Ill explain.

So how did you manage to get into the morgue? she asked, as they walked down the corridor.

He felt color creeping up his cheeks. I sort of bluffed my way in. I felt like I needed to see her. To really understand that she was gone.