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or we, can do about it. Andy?” And with that Pike hands it back to Rivers and leaves the meeting.
    The unit had twenty people in it before September 11 and now there are only twelve of us. Eleven after Hunter leaves.
    â€œAny cases in Hunter’s load that appeal?” Rivers says, eyeing the rest of us.
    â€œI’d like those religious murders down in Arkansas,” James says, furiously tapping his pen against his notebook again. The man drinks too much coffee. Not that I can talk.
    â€œAnd I’ll take the kidnapping in Rhode Island,” Hammerston says.
    I missed Hunter’s case rundown. I should have paid attention. As the other agents call out their preferences, I try to remember at least one of his top-priority cases. My mind is sluggish and refuses to respond.
    â€œI’ll take the D.C. one,” I finally say. I can’t remember the case, but Hunter had one on the go in the city. A serial killer, just my style, and only two known murders to date…I think. At least, that’s what I remember from last week’s meeting.
    Everyone turns their heads and looks at me. The room falls silent. I’ve said or done something foolish.
    â€œWhat?”
    Sam breaks the silence with a lighthearted laugh, taking the impatient eyes away from me. “I just asked for that one, honey.”
    â€œOh.” I feel suitably dense.
    â€œDo you want it?” Sam says.
    â€œNo, no, I’ll take—” and there I stop, because for the life of me I can’t remember any of Hunter’s other cases.
    â€œWhy don’t you take that Australian one, give you a taste of home,” Sam comes to my rescue again.
    How could I forget that Hunter was doing a profile for the West Australian police? “Sounds good.”
    â€œSo what have we got left?” Rivers says, checking his notes. “There’s the rapist in Miami. Marco, why don’t you take that one. And the global credit-card scam.” Rivers looks over his glasses and sweeps his eyes around the room. “Actually, you can finish the profile for that one this week, Hunter, and then pass it over to Wright for follow-up. And we’ve got those hate crimes in Pennsylvania… Silvers, you take that one. Hunter, I want a list of your other cases and recommendations for reassignment by the end of the day.”
    â€œNo problem, sir.”
    â€œWell, that’s it, folks. Let’s get back to work. I’ll come and see you all individually about Hunter’s cases.”
    Sam and I are already standing, ready to go, when Rivers speaks again.
    â€œOh, and we’ll have a send-off for Hunter on Friday night.”
    Sam and I are first out the door. “What time did you get home?” she whispers. We keep walking, moving away from the other agents.
    â€œI left about thirty minutes after you.”
    â€œYou look wrecked, girl.”
    â€œThanks.”
    â€œYou know what I mean.”
    â€œI didn’t get much sleep.” I think about the dream again, and the elements replay themselves more vividly. The dead girl with a tattoo, some sort of a Celtic symbol perhaps, and a woman walking by herself in a parking lot. Then I was running.
    I dismiss the dream; after all, I often dream of death and stalking. An occupational hazard, I guess.
    Sam brings me back to the world of the living.
    â€œNo sleep? Any particular reason?” She has a cheeky look on her face.
    â€œNo.” I know what she’s hinting at and head her off at the pass. “It’s strictly professional between me and Marco,” I say, making sure no one’s in earshot.
    â€œMaybe for the moment, honey. But he knows how to work the ladies.”
    â€œWell, that’s a good reason to stay away, isn’t it.”
    â€œHe just hasn’t met the right woman yet. Someone like you?”
    â€œBut what about Matt?”
    â€œ Matt? What about him?”
    â€œIt doesn’t feel right