Each of the stickers was marked with a capital letter, two with an A, one with a B. Whatwas that all about?

Page had already briefed me on the companion case to this one. Another woman in themovie business, Patsy Bennett, a successful production head, had been shot dead in amovie theater in Westwood six days prior. There were no witnesses. Bennett was the onlyvictim that day, and there had been no knife work. But the stickers at that scene had alsobeen marked with capital A's and a B.

Whoever was doing this certainly wanted to take credit for the murders. The murdersweren't improvisatory but the killer's methods were dynamic.And evolving, of course.

“What are you thinking?” Page asked. “Do you mind if Iask? Or am I getting in the way?”

Before I could tell him, another agent interrupted the two of us. If it was possible, shewas tanner and maybe even blonder than Agent Page. 1 wondered if maybe they'd beenput together at the same factory“We've got another e-mail at the L.A. Times,” she said.

“Same editor, Arnold Griner, and the same Mary Smith.”

“Has the paper reported on the e-mails yet?” I asked. Bothagents shook their head. “Good. Let's try to keep it that wayAnd keep a cap on these kids' stickers, too. If we can. And theA's and B's.”

I checked my watch. Already 5:30. I needed at least another hour at the Schifmanproperty; then I wanted to speakwith Arnold Griner at the Times. And I would definitely have to meet with the LAPDbefore the day was ovet James Truscott was probably still prowling around outside, too.

At home in D.C., I missed meals as often as not. Nana and the kids were used to it,andJamilla would probably understand, but none of that was an excuse. This had been asgood a time as any to break one of my very worst habits in life: missing dinner with myfamilyBut it wasn't going to happen, was it? I called Nana at the hotel first, and then I calledJamilla. Then I thought about the poor Schifman and Bennett families, and I went back towork.