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about you all the time? That was the truth but not something she wanted to admit.
    Will moved the conversation on for her. “So, do you have anything for me?”
    “ Not much yet. I should have a preliminary profile by this evening. Don’t worry, it’s by a real psychologist and you can use him in court and all that. Other than that, my main finding has been on those symbols on the walls.”
    “ What do they mean?” he asked sipping his coffee.
    “ Nothing. Each symbol has a meaning - most have more than one - but in this instance they had nothing to do with the girls' murders.”
    “ So these girls weren’t killed as part of a ritual or a sacrifice?”
    “ They weren’t killed for a ritual but sacrifice is still a possibility.”
    “ Then what are you saying?”
    “ I’m saying that these symbols have nothing to do with the murder. The murder was the goal. The killer obviously knows magic, understands it but he wasn’t performing a spell when he killed these girls. Drawing the symbols afterwards is just theatrics.”
    “ Then why?”
    “ Either to scare you or to show you what a kick arse witch he is.”
    “ So he’s a witch?”
    “ Almost certainly.”
    Will groaned. “Oh come on, Frankie, don’t tell me you still believe in all this weird crap?”
    “ Excuse me but I read two books on psychic interactions while we were together, and whether I believe it or not is irrelevant. Your killer believes he has magic powers; that’s the important point.”
    “ So you don’t believe in magic?”
    “ I believe most things have a rational explanation,” she evaded. After all when you’d seen magic first hand, there was no other rational answer but to believe in it.
    “ So we should probably check out local wiccan groups. I don’t suppose they have a handy website or something?”
    Frankie smiled and handed him a printed sheet. “You’d be surprised how open witches can be when there’s no threat of being burnt at the stake.”
    “ Wiccanweb.com, huh? I’ll run through these groups, see if any of them have a criminal record.”
    “ Okay, if you want me to check some of them out, give me a call.”
    “ Thanks, I’ll hold you to that.”
    “ Do you have any other leads?”
    “ Not a lot to go on. The press has started calling it Satanic Slayings and the killer the Satanic Slaughterer.”
    “ Not the sort of headlines you need.”
    “ No. Anyway, I’d better get back to work. Call me if you find anything else out.”
    “ Will do.”
    He headed for the door, turning back just before he reached it. “Frankie.”
    She looked up at him.
    “ Thank you.”
    Frankie forced a smile. Why did he have to be nice? It would only make her feel like an even bigger tool when she betrayed him.
     
    Just after lunch Will called with the name and address of a witch he wanted Frankie to interview for him. He didn’t have the manpower to spare an officer to follow up on a hunch and he thought Frankie’s interest in supernatural things might help the witch open up to her.
    Clara Covey was a beautiful young woman who looked like a school teacher, warm, homey and bright. Her home was neat and tidy and most of all, typical.
    “ Hi, I’m Francis Wright, I’m working with the police on the recent killings, I wondered if I could have a word with you?” She handed over her forged psychologist’s identification.
    “ They think I’m crazy?” Clara smiled, handing the ID back.
    “ Not exactly. I believe the exact words were that I was more likely to get something out of you. The police can be rather close-minded when it comes to the supernatural.”
    “ But you aren’t?”
    “ I’ve seen too much not to believe.”
    Clara looked her over for a moment, before deciding to trust her. She stepped back from the doorway, inviting Frankie in.
    “ You’ll have to excuse the mess, it’s laundry day.” Clara led her back into the kitchen at the rear of the house. “Would you like a coffee?”
    “ Please. White, two