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the handheld camera brought her up, she looked too young to have any experience at all.
    â€œDammit.” Lieutenant D’Annibal had asked her to be the face of the investigation and she’d been sent as a missionary of department goodwill. Never fear, good citizens of Laurelton, the police are here to serve and protect and we’ve sent out our finest — youngest — detective to put you at ease.
    Pauline began by asking September about the circumstances that had brought Decatur’s body to their attention, which was the 911 call, and then brought up Sheila Dempsey, the first victim discovered strangled and left in a field in the area, though Dempsey had been across the county line and not in the Laurelton PD’s jurisdiction until D’Annibal wrested the case away after the discovery of Decatur’s body. Then when the third victim, Glenda Tripp, was found within Laurelton city limits, it was understood the case had been given to Laurelton generally, and to September and Gretchen Sandler specifically.
    But at the time of the interview with Pauline, Tripp’s body hadn’t been found yet, so the thrust concerned Sheila Dempsey and Emmy Decatur, a surprise to September as she’d hoped to keep the crimes separated, at least as far as the public knew. She’d had to go with the flow, however, and said, “. . . we’re still checking the evidence to see if the two crimes are truly related,” hoping to put an end to the speculation.
    Pauline was nodding and regarding her with an intense, “I get you” look, but then she uttered her pièce d’ résistance: “We understand there were markings on the bodies. Words.”
    September watched herself glance toward the hikers. They’d been asked not to reveal anything about the words carved into Emmy Decatur’s body, but Pauline had apparently gotten to them. She then turned from them, faced Pauline squarely, and said, “Cause of death was strangulation in both cases.”
    â€œBut there were markings . . .” Pauline also looked over to Legusky and Wendt. “There were words, cut into Emmy Decatur’s torso. ‘Do Unto Others As She Did To Me,’ right?” The camera pulled back to include Legusky, who nodded several times. Pauline then focused on September again, asking, “Can you confirm, Detective Rafferty?”
    â€œNot at this time.”
    â€œYou’re afraid of a panic? That people will freak out when they learn there’s a serial killer whose signature is cutting a phrase into his victims’ skin? Well, I think this is information we all need to know.” Pauline looked directly into the camera. “Young women are being murdered and their bodies used as a crude message.” She turned back to September. “What are you doing to protect us, besides keeping the truth to yourselves?”
    September could see herself straighten with the affront and she fought a groan. Her onscreen self stated firmly, “There’s an ongoing, full-scale investigation in progress.”
    â€œReally? Excuse me, Detective, but how can that be, given the other still-unsolved major case, the Zuma Software Massacre? Is that an ongoing, full-scale investigation, too?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œDo you have the manpower for both? We all know there have been major slashes to government budgets and that includes law enforcement as well. Can you guarantee our safety? I mean, seriously?”
    Watching, September almost wanted to cover her face and look between her fingers. She glanced away and heard herself say officiously, “Laurelton PD, in conjunction with Winslow County Sheriff’s Department and the Portland PD, has qualified personnel working hard on both cases. We—”
    â€œBut has progress been made anywhere? ”
    â€œYes, of course.”
    â€œOn Zuma, or the Do Unto Others killer?”
    â€œBoth,” she said. “I’m sure