Taking the mink-lined raincoat from the closet, she shrugged into it. And maybe, just maybe, she could help the police find the man who was splashed across the headlines day after day. She could help them find him, stop him, so that he in turn could get the help he needed.

She picked up her purse and the briefcase, which was fat with files to be sorted through that evening. “Kate.” Stepping into her outer office, Tess turned up her collar. “I’m on my way to Captain Harris’s office. Don’t pass anything through unless it’s urgent.”

“You should have a hat,” the receptionist answered.

“I’ve got one in the car. See you tomorrow.”

“Drive carefully.”

Already thinking ahead, she walked through the door while digging for her car keys. Maybe she could grab some take-out Chinese on the way home and have a quiet dinner before-

“Tess!”

One more step and she would have been in the elevator. Swearing under her breath, Tess turned and managed a smile. “Frank.” And she’d been so successful at avoiding him for nearly ten days.

“You’re a hard lady to pin down.”

He strode toward her. Impeccable. That was the word that always leaped to Tess’s mind when she saw Dr. F. R. Fuller. Right before boring. His suit was pearl-gray Brooks Brothers, and his striped tie had hints of that shade and the baby pink in his Arrow shirt. His hair was perfectly and conservatively groomed. She tried hard to keep her smile from fading. It wasn’t Frank’s fault she couldn’t warm to perfection.

“I’ve been busy.”

“You know what they say about all work, Tess.”

She gritted her teeth to keep herself from saying no, what did they say? He’d simply laugh and give her the rest of the cliche. “I’ll just have to risk it.” She pressed the button for down and hoped the car came quickly.

“But you’re leaving early today.”