“That’s the one,” Riley felt a smile tug at her lips despite the circumstances.“You’ve had your own run-ins with her?”
“Two years ago, that case in Alexandria.”The amusement in Bill’s voice shifted to something more serious.“They’re calling your murderer the Origami Killer now.It’s all over the TV broadcasts.”
“Nothing like a catchy nickname to really ramp up the panic.”Riley muttered.“There’s something else, Bill.The killer sent a message directly to me.A photo of a Chinese finger trap.”
The silence on the other end of the line was brief but heavy.“A finger trap,” Bill finally said.“That’s...specific.What does it mean?”
“It’s a reference to a seminar I attended back in 2000, led by Elaine Cooper.She used the finger trap as a metaphor for certain investigative dilemmas—situations where the harder you pull away, the more trapped you become.”
“Elaine Cooper,” Bill repeated, recognition evident in his voice.“The ethics specialist?Smart woman.”
“Very,” Riley agreed.“We’re headed to her house now.She didn’t answer when I called, but apparently she’s at home.”
“You think she’s in danger?”
“I don’t know,” Riley admitted.“The message was sent to me, referencing a teaching method she used.It could be a threat against her, or...”She trailed off, reluctant to voice the alternate possibility.
“Or she could be involved,” Bill finished for her.
“I don’t believe that,” Riley said firmly.“Not for a second.But she might know something—might recognize a former student or colleague who could be our killer.”
Bill was quiet for a moment.When he spoke again, his voice had softened.“Riley, I’m worried about you.This case has turned personal.And with everything else going on—”
“You mean Leo,” she said.
“Yes.That’s a lot for anyone to handle, even you.”The concern in his voice was genuine, devoid of any hint that he doubted her capabilities.It was one of the things she valued most about Bill—his ability to acknowledge her humanity without questioning her strength.
“I’m handling it,” she insisted.“But one crisis at a time.Right now, that means finding Elaine and figuring out what this finger trap message means.”
“And Leo?”
Riley closed her eyes briefly.“Gabriela knows not to let Jilly out of her sight, especially when we’re both away like this.April’s campus security has been briefed.”She sighed.“It’s the best we can do until we can locate him.”
“I should have been there—” Bill began.
“No,” Riley interrupted.“Your case in Maryland was important, too.You can’t be everywhere, Bill.”
“Neither can you,” he reminded her gently.
“I know,” she said reluctantly.“But right now, I need to focus on the lead in front of me.”
“Keep me updated.And Riley?Be careful.If this killer knows enough about your past to reference a twenty-plus-year-old seminar, they know a lot more about you than is comfortable.”
“I will,” she promised.“I’ll call you after we speak with Elaine.”
The call ended, and Riley slipped the phone back into her pocket.Ann Marie glanced over, her expression carefully neutral, but Riley could read the question in her eyes.
“Everything okay?”Ann Marie asked after a moment.
“As okay as it can be.Let’s just find Elaine and see what she knows.”
Ann Marie returned her focus to driving, but not before Riley caught the flicker of concern that passed across her features.
The finger trap image haunted her thoughts as they drove on.The trap was already closing around her; the question was whether she could figure out how to push inward before it constricted completely.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Elaine Cooper’s colonial home sat nestled among mature oak trees, its well-maintained exterior speaking of both pride and practicality.As Riley guided the car onto the paved driveway, she immediately spotted Elaine herself—kneeling in her garden, silver hair gathered in a practical bun, hands buried in the rich soil between rows of late-season vegetables.
