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seem to be a pattern. Two of the women reported they thought they were being stalked. Notes left in their mailboxes, dead flowers delivered, et cetera.” He scratched his nose with the back of his wrist, then said, “But really, the only connection between the victims that anyone could find was the doll and the note.” He looked over his glasses. “Really bad poetry most of the time, mocking the police, saying he was going to kill again and the police, the FBI, could do nothing about it. He was on a real power trip for a while there.”
    Dominic winced and Serena felt her skin crawl. Dominic shook his head. “I should remember this one. We would have studied it at the academy.”
    â€œMaybe.” Rick shrugged.
    She looked back at the article and asked, “So is this killer back? Could he have killed Leslie?”
    Rick shook his head. “Can’t be him. He’s still in prison.” His lips twisted. “Trust me, I checked.”
    â€œThen we have a copycat,” Serena said.
    â€œLooks like.” Dominic blew out a breath. “I need to call my boss.”
    Serena looked at him. “Will the FBI get involved after one killing? Doesn’t the FBI usually wait until after the second death before they will identify the killer as a serial?”
    He nodded. “Usually, but if this is a serial copycat, and it’s definitely looking like it, I’m going to ask to be assigned this case. Now.” His eyes narrowed. “I don’t want to wait for a second death to happen. We have to catch this guy before he goes after his next victim.” His attention zeroed in on the doll and the note. “The killer’s made it clear. There’s going to be a next victim.”

    Who would get to play next? Waiting on the phone call was annoying. But necessary. Only HE had the names. Only HE would know who would be the best players.
    Waiting was necessary.
    Waiting could be fun. Anticipation of the coming game caused shivers of delight to dance up and down the killer’s neck.
    Eager eyes roved over the names in the book. So many to choose from. Who would it be?
    Was it her? Beth Hollister? Or maybe Stacy Hathaway?
    The killer shut the book with a snap and placed it back on the shelf.
    It didn’t matter.
    The phone would ring soon.
    And the game would begin again.

    Dominic hung up the phone and felt a grim satisfaction. Localauthorities had agreed to let the FBI take this one and run with it while offering their cooperation.
    His boss, Deputy Director Zeb Tremaine, had given Dominic the go-ahead to take over the case as the lead investigator. A task force was being assembled and would be dispatched to the Columbia office within hours.
    He walked back into Rick’s office and said, “We’re treating this as a copycat killer. The package, the note, everything indicates the killer is out there right now stalking his next victim. We’re going to jump on this and try to stop him before he strikes again.”
    Serena looked at him, then back at the doll. “Why would he leave a note? Why taunt us?”
    â€œIt’s part of his game,” Dominic said.
    â€œI don’t like this game and I don’t want to play.”
    Dominic tilted his head. “Not sure we have a choice.”
    Rick said, “If he’s a copycat—and it’s sure not Drake Lindell—he’s sticking to the MO, an MO the FBI and police never could figure out.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?” Dominic asked.
    â€œWith each body, the Doll Maker Killer would leave the doll, but it was never determined who the doll was supposed to represent. Sometimes she was dressed like the victim. Sometimes she looked completely different. There wasn’t any pattern, nothing to pull from the dolls to help figure out who the next victim would be. The authorities were sure it was a message, but they couldn’t decipher it.”
    Dominic saw Serena’s lips