Aidan shook hands with Zane.
“It’s nice to finally meet you, sir,” he told him as they filed into the office. “I'm also in the Atlanta division.”
“Ah, yes,” Zane said, sizing Aidan up. “You’re the agent who The Carnations Killer’s been contacting?”
“Yes, sir,” Aidan replied.
“Do you have any reason why he’s singling you out?”
“No sir,” he answered. “Except I first investigated him ten years ago. He seemed to be taken by me. It's unclear why.”
Zane nodded once.
“Have you had any other contact with The Carnations Killer?”
Aidan glanced toward Shaun, then back at Zane. “Actually, I have. Which is unusual.”
“When?” Monroe asked, narrowing her eyes. She leaned against her desk, crossing her arms and legs.
“Yesterday morning, I found this at my door.”
Aidan passed the note to Zane. Aidan tried, but failed, to read his expression as Zane gazed at the written letter.
“What surprise do you believe he has in store for you, Agent O’Reilly?” Zane passed the note to Monroe.
“I haven’t figured that out yet,” Aidan said.
“And you have no idea why he’s choosing you? You, out of all the other agents? Other than you’ve investigated him in the past?”
His tone sounded accusatory, and Aidan didn’t appreciate it. But instead of saying so, he told him he had no idea what prompted The Carnations Killer’s interest.
“The only lead you have is that reporter? The one Carolyn informed me was released this morning?”
“That’s correct,” Aidan replied. “He has reported on previous Carnations Killer investigations in the past, he lied about knowing the latest victim and somehow he knew it’s all connected to The Carnations Killer. However, other than withholding truths and having a knack for being in the right place at the wrong time, he seems innocent.”
“I see,” Zane muttered. “What’s your profile on the offender?”
“White male, mid-thirties to early forties,” Aidan began. “It’s likely he has a job which allows him the freedom of traveling. The offender subdues them by means of tasing. He doesn’t seem interested in sex; however, he does redress his victims. He gets off from seeing them in pain. He probably harmed animals as a child. He thinks of it as a game.”
“What else can you surmise about him?”
“His victims are usually white women between the age of twenty-eight and thirty-three. Blonde hair. Usually long, but not always.”
Zane nodded thoughtfully. “Sounds credible from what I’ve studied. Where do you believe is his home base?”
“He’s very meticulous,” Aidan answered. “I don't believe the offender would take his victims where he resides. Especially if he has a family, as do a lot of serial offenders. So, I’m thinking he has a place that doesn’t necessarily stand out in a crowd but provides him a degree of privacy.”
“You seem to know him well,” Zane commented. It sounded to Aidan as though Zane was impressed.
“Well, I have been trying to stop him for many years.” Aidan cleared his throat. “Too many.”
“Hansford has told me a great deal about you, and I’ve read your file. He was your first,” Zane stated. “Wasn’t he?”
“Not the best way to be welcomed to the FBI.”
For the first time since Aidan met him, Zane offered a smile. “No, it’s not. I’ve heard good things about you, Agent O’Reilly. Hansford thinks highly of you. As does Monroe. You’re dedicated, you’re thorough, and you care about the people and the victims.” He stepped behind Aidan and reached for the doorknob. “I hear you have a teaching opportunity at Quantico?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Are you going to accept?”
“I haven’t decided yet.”
“Hmm.” Aidan couldn’t tell whether or not he liked the idea of him going to Quantico. Zane opened the door. “I wish you the best of luck. I’ll be keeping in touch.”
He left the room, shutting the door behind him.
“Now I know why Agent Henderson requested the agents to watch your house,” Monroe replied as she scanned the letter. She looked back at Aidan. “Maybe you should tell your girlfriend to go home.”
Aidan shook his head. “She doesn't know about the letter. I'd like to keep it that way. And anyway, she's too stubborn to go home. Besides, I want her where I can keep an eye on her.”
Monroe hesitated, then nodded. “I understand. Do you have anything else to report?”
After Shaun and Aidan briefed her of their conversation with former Agent Byers, they left her office to continue searching for the offender.
23
The next few days were quiet.
Aidan didn’t receive any messages from The Carnations Killer, and there were no reports of another victim found anywhere in the city.
It was quiet.
He found that unsettling.
Aidan spent his days and nights reviewing the information in the file, willing for vital information to appear.
Shaun and Aidan, along with a few other agents, spent a good deal of their time calling the families of the victims, asking questions they’d already answered in years past. Aidan wasn’t sure about the families Shaun and the others talked to, but the ones he dealt with seemed to want to move on from the nightmare they’d suffered.
A part of them wanted to forget they’d ever lost their loved ones, others pleaded for him to tell them there had been some new development.
Aidan couldn’t decide which was worse: the ones that wanted to give up or the ones holding onto the glimmer of hope justice would finally be given to them.
It was for this reason he couldn’t stand talking to the families. He was never good at it. He was afraid he'd become too emotional, and the families were emotional enough without adding his own feelings.
Aidan stopped by Shaun’s cubical to see if he was getting anywhere. He heard him consoling someone over the phone, promising he
