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"Fingerprints They were on file at her school It’s a safety er?"

"Yes"

Malachi looked at Abby She was stoic, watching, listening, betraying sorrow but allowing little else to show on her face

Tierney went over the young woman’s injuries

Malachithe body And again, he had no sense of anyone re

"Mr Rupert Holloway is the last of our recent victiue, do you?" Tierney obviously wanted to be on his way

"Just these victims," Malachi said "Mr Holloway, please"

Rupert Holloas in nearly the same shape as their Jane Doe, and his head wound orse; the skull had been fractured "He ht still have been out cold when he was tossed in the river," Tierney said

"But he’s er, as well"

Tierney looked uncomfortable "Yes Taken while he was still alive--as with the others"

"Any other marks on him?" Malachi asked

"Just one On his back Help ed; Rupert Holloway had been a big man

Low on his back there was a wound, which was sharp and broad

"Not serrated," Abby commented

"No, it was made by a smooth blade," Tierney said "Now, if that’s all"

"That’s all, Dr Tierney Thank you so much for your time"

He led Abby out They removed the scrubs they’d donned and left them in the appropriate receptacles

"Definitely a serial killer," Abby said She shuddered and looked at hih she’d held up well "Whywhy the fingers? Is there a significance to the ring finger? Are they trophies?"

"Possibly And I can’t begin to fathoer Does it have anything to do edding or engageed "I don’t know" As he spoke, he watched so come alive in her eyes

"I’m an idiot," she said

"Why?"

She flushed "I er Pirates used to cut off the ring fingers of their hostages specifically to steal their rings Blackbeard supposedly cut off his own ring finger as a warning to others to leave him alone"

"Then it is symbolic," Malachi said

"Yes, I believe that has to be it But still, the killing of Rupert Holloas different from the others The injury on his back is completely unlike the injuries on the women What do you think the blade was?" Abby asked "And why that mark left there?"

"At the shtfully "A pirate sword, Agent Anderson I’ to bet that wound was made by a sword"

5

"It’s not Helen It’s not Helen," Dirk repeated He’d said the words dozens of tionslayer

"No, Dirk, it’s not Helen," Abby assured him

"Oh,lot and Abby put the car in Park Malachi was out of the backseat, opening the door for Dirk When Dirk stood in front of him, he steadied the man with a hand at his elbow "Not Helen, Dirk So if you can think of anything at all that ht help us find her, it could save her life"

"What if he’s doing that to her--to Helen--right now?" Dirk asked

"Dirk, the poor girl looks so bad because of what the creatures in the river did to her Helen could be alive She’s a bright girl, and if anyone can ht help You let the police do a thorough search of the Black Swan," Malachi said

"A search?" Dirk asked blankly

By then, Abby had come around the car "If they search the Black Swan, Dirk, theyHelen left on the ship A note, a scrap of paper, a card--soh she couldn’t believe anything evil of hie "If it’ll help, hell, yeah, search the ship"