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and slid into bed, letting the gentle waves rock him.
    But despite the quiet and his weariness, sleep failed to claim him. Each time he closed his eyes, Sydney’s curious expression when he’d made the "pretty face" comment played over and over in his mind. In their brief acquaintance, it’d been the only moment in which she’d looked at him like he was a man and not an obstacle to a good story.
    Despite his efforts to disregard her reaction, he liked it. And that bothered him more than anything.
    ****
    The day dawned dark and dreary, but nothing could dampen his mood when he opened the paper and saw he’d made the front page. He smiled and took a deep, satisfying breath. He liked being the top story, even if the readers didn’t know him by name — especially so.
    Four months had passed since he’d been the topic of conversation — too long to wait for that glorious feeling of absolute control that had rushed through his veins the day before. He wouldn’t wait that long again.
    He ran his fingers over the words describing his latest work. His eyes locked on the byline. Sydney Blackburn. Sydney. What a lovely name. It suited her.
    He cut the article from the paper and took it to the corkboard on the facing wall. He pinned it next to the old articles about Stephanie Mortimer. She’d been more of a challenge than Maggie, and he’d enjoyed her much more because of it. The struggle to tame the woman made his blood rush and pump like a wild beast. It made him invincible. He would pick strong, worthy adversaries from now on. He should have been able to tell by looking in her eyes. Maggie’s had been the portal to a weaker, gentle soul.
    He walked around the room, grazing his fingertips over the hundreds of photos taped to the wall — images cut from magazines to inspire him. What man wouldn’t want a room full of blond beauties forced to watch his every movement?
    He glanced at the clock and cursed the time. He swallowed one last drink of coffee before reluctantly leaving his haven and heading out to work through a now steady rain.
    ****
    Sydney took a deep breath as she parked in the Fields’ driveway. The gray morning sky matched her mood. She hated to bother them at such an awful time, but they might have information that could lead to their daughter’s killer. And finding and punishing that person would help in their eventual healing.
    She stepped out of the car then approached the front door slowly. But before she could knock, Jane Field opened the door and offered a weak smile. She reached out and took Sydney’s hand in between her two cold ones.
    "Thank you for meeting with me," Sydney said, an uncomfortable lump forming in her throat. "I know this must be hard."
    "You did your best to help us, honey. Come on in out of the chill."
    Sydney entered the middle-class ranch house and glanced at the walls she’d seen once before when she’d interviewed the Fields after they’d discovered their daughter missing. All the cherished school pictures that chronicled Maggie’s life stared back at her. Now they sent a shiver up her spine. This time, she knew Maggie was dead.
    "Can I get you something to drink?" Jane asked.
    "No, I’m fine, thanks. I won’t take much of your time."
    Jane indicated for Sydney to sit on the couch. "What can I help you with?"
    Sydney wanted to hug the woman across from her. Jane Field remained kind and considerate even in the face of incredible loss. Sydney prayed she could find a way to help ease her suffering.
    "I’d like you to try to remember if Maggie had any disagreements with anyone recently, anyone who might have wanted to get back at her."
    Jane rubbed her hands together in her lap and shook her head. "Everybody loved her. She was..." Jane paused to take a shuddery breath and wipe the corner of her eye. "She was such a sweet girl. She had lots of friends."
    "What about neighbors?"
    Jane shook her head. "She got along with everybody."
    "I know you said she wasn’t seeing