Body Count by P.D. Martin Page A

indicate the vics were lying down and he was standing over them.”
    â€œSupports the flat surface from the lividity.”
    â€œYep.”
    â€œNothing else?”
    â€œOur guy’s a real pro. No fingerprints or footprints that haven’t been accounted for.”
    â€œWhat about tire treads? Where’d he park when he nabbed Jean?”
    â€œNo treads, but we’re assuming he parked on the street out front or back. No one saw anything.”
    â€œVictim’s fingernails?” I ask in a last-ditch attempt to find something, anything.
    Sam shakes her head. “Scrubbed clean and clipped back. Like I said, a real pro.”
    â€œBut this is his first on record?”
    â€œOfficially, yes. It may be the first we know about, but it certainly ain’t the first time he’s killed.” She stands up again and starts pacing, glass of wine in hand.
    It is too perfect, too rehearsed for a first-time kill, unless the guy had done his research and planned for months, or perhaps if he’s a cop who has decided to try murder for himself. But it’s more likely he’s killed before. One of the two thousand-plus serial killers doing their rounds in the good old U.S. of A.
    â€œWhat about VICAP?” I ask.
    VICAP is the Violent Criminal Apprehension Program, a nationwide database that contains details of murder cases and other violent crimes around the States to analyze patterns and track criminals that may cross law-enforcement boundaries. Pretty effective too. Copsenter in the details and the database comes back with any similar crimes. Of course, it relies on all law-enforcement officers entering their cases into the database in the first place, something that doesn’t always happen. Some cops think VICAP is just more red tape and paperwork.
    â€œFlynn and Jones entered in both D.C. murders and got two matches in Chicago. They followed up with Chicago Homicide. It looks like it was our perp, but there weren’t any significant leads or suspects in Chicago, so it was a dead end. I talked to the VICAP guys myself and they’re going to get someone onto it. Do a fresh, more detailed computer search and then get one of their best analysts to look at the cases manually. Should have the results in a couple of days, but the guys are swamped down there. Our perp could have been active in states that don’t use VICAP, so he could have been getting away with murder for years.”
    â€œTrue.” I move back to the table and pick up my glass of wine. I take another sip.
    Sam also takes a contemplative sip. “I think the perp has moved here recently. God knows how many he’s done in other states. I’ll bring it up at tomorrow’s meeting and see if anyone recognizes the MO.”
    â€œGood idea. I don’t think he’s transient, though. I think he’s set up shop here.”
    â€œWell, I’m not complaining about that. Those wandering bastards are hard to pin down.” She takes another sip. “How about a work transfer? Or maybe the cops were getting too close for him and he decided to move on?”
    â€œPossibly.”
    â€œPretty stupid to move to D.C. near all the profilers.”
    And then it hits me. “Maybe that’s the point. Maybe he wants to see if he can get away with it under the Bureau’s nose. Under our noses.”
    â€œA thrill killer? Living on the dangerous side?”
    â€œThis might be his idea of fun. And the evidence does point to a high-risk offender.”
    â€œSoph, this could be disastrous.”
    I nod. “He’ll hit hard and fast to show us up.”
    â€œBut he’s only done two in five months.”
    â€œHe may know it takes a little while before the Bureau steps in.”
    â€œWaiting until he has our attention?”
    â€œCould be.”
    â€œWe need to get this guy sooner rather than later.”
    I’d like to get them all sooner rather than later, but Sam is