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"All right, all right Scoff, but I’ve been reading"

Sean arched a brow, grinning as he waited He wasn’t scoffing at the concept Voodoo was like any other cult or ic Sometimes, those with horis-gris, voodoo ic, could work off the power of the ic"

"The Marquis de Vaudreuil , that any slave ate would be fined heavily Slaves caught congregating could be whipped, branded with a fleur-de-lis, or even put to death"

"Ouch," Sean said, and shuddered

"So even back then, folks were damned afraid of what voodoo could do After 1803, when the Aed Lots of West Indian slaves had been brought here--and naturally, we Arate, and practice voodoo Okay, so to soreed "Lots of dancing, drinking of tafia-- stuff nice and strong in alcoholic content

Enough people together in a frenzy and an energy is created--psychologists have studied the results of group energy a voodoos--and ye olde Shakers, too-who, incidentally, were never accused of et a si"

"Right But there are documented cases where voodoos practiced a lot of different sacrifices"

"Drinking the blood of a kid--or a black cat Black cats can give a good voodoo some serious power," Sean said

Jack cast hied "Go on, prove your point here"

"Sean, in 1881, a pair of voodoos were arrested when they tied their son across a fire and beat him to death with a stick In 1863, half a human torso was found in the home of a wo in the naion Look at the tortures of the Inquisition"

"This is New Orleans, today--" Jack protested

"And Jack, I’, and since we don’t knoill turn up in this investigation, anything you’ve learned may prove to be important Nohat have you learned about Jack the Ripper?"

"He was never caught, and there are a ists are convinced that he ht have been attached to the British Royals, and others believe he was a menial Polish worker--known as Leather Apron Sou Druit, and some believe that the Maybrick diary is true Had the police only had today’s scientific knowledge, soht easily have been proven--either to exonerate or condemn those suspected and arrested Some say the police wanted a cover-up--especially if the murders involved the Royals in any way However, had they had ht not have been written, and the Ripper Tour in London ht not be nearly so popular"

"Helpful, very helpful," Sean said

Jack shrugged "There are books on Jack the Ripper in that pile as well" Sean leaned back "You don’t seeed "Jane Doe--ripped to shreds Like the Ripper’s last victi He had plenty of time with his victim, knew about Jack the Ripper’s cri up with profiles and deeply pondering the issue Then again, this killer likes attention We’re a big, busy, o for sensationalisuy doesn’t want a few lines in the press and a three-ht"

Sean was silent

"Well, what do you think?"

Sean grinned "I think you’re going to etting sick over the corpses," Jack said

Sean shook his head, studying the forensic reports once again "You’ve got to have heart and soul for the job, kid Trust ive us a hell of a lot to ith, but half the battle still cout instinct Like your last comment on the killer He wants his criames Keep us unnerved--which we are We have no idea hohere, when, or who he’ll strike next God knows, so far we’ve been lucky Not too many of the details on our Jane Doe are known, and people still see a pimp and a prostitute"

"WellI hate to say it, but "

"But what?"

"I mean, I really hate to say it because "

"Because what?" Sean demanded, exasperated

"I happen to think she’s thecreature I’ve ever happened upon, but "

"Could we be referring to Maggie Montgo fro that even rese a ot our pi--except a trail of o to the door"

Sean nodded sloatching Jack "Tell me, in your study of the voodoos, did you come across a cult that siphoned human blood from corpses?"