She looked at her partner, noting the sallow color of his normally tanned skin, and shrugged tiredly. "Better than yours. You get anything?"

"Not much--same perp--blood type O, semen matches, and he did her up the as--uh, sodomy, just like the first two."

Rebecca took a deep swallow of her coffee, wincing at the cardboard aftertaste. "Yeah, well, the rest of it fits, too. A jogger again, same time of day--early evening, not yet dark. No pattern to the location though--nothing suspicious in the area either. Theres miles of park along the river; we cant possibly cover it all."

Jeff slumped into the plastic seat beside her, shaking his head. "Somethings funny, Reb. The park isalwayscrowded--kids on bikes, runners, not to mention cops--and nobody sees nothing. Nobody notices anyone just hanging around, or in a hurry to get somewhere--he just comes and goes without a trace." He laughed sourly at his own joke.

Rebecca shook her head, as frustrated as her partner. "Theres a lot of brush along those trails, Jeff. Once he grabs someone, he can just pull them off into the scrub. Then theyre invisible." She had been to her Captain twice since the first assault, pleading for extra patrols to stake out the River Drives. His answer had been the same each time--yes, this was a nasty crime; yes, he cared about catching the son of a bitch; and, no, he couldnt spare the people to beef up surveillance. They had to do the best they could with what they had, and Rebecca was haunted by the knowledge that it wasnt enough.

"Well,hesstill got to get out," Jeff observed. "He has to leave on foot, or maybe on a bicycle.

"Maybe somebodydidsee something--maybe Janet Ryan did."

He sighed deeply and closed his eyes. "Maybe."

"Theres something were missing, Jeff, I agree with you," Rebecca mused aloud, not even sure if Jeff was awake. "Serial criminals--rapists, murderers--they follow some pattern. At least a pattern that makes sense to them. We just have to find it."

"Youre probably right," Jeff answered, his eyes still closed. "But whatever it is, it isnt simple. Different days of the week, no set time interval, no physical resemblance between the victims, and nothing symbolic left behind. Did you get anything out of the shrink?"

"Still waiting. Shes in there with the witness now."

"Whos the other one?" Jeff asked, craning his neck to see through the small windows in the double doors marked "Hospital Personnel Only". "Blond, early twenties, nice body?"

"The roommate, I think. I havent had a chance to talk with her yet." Rebecca didnt add that she hadnt had the heart to question the girl earlier. The young woman with Janet Ryan was clearly distraught and probably didnt know anything anyway. Thered be time enough to talk to her once shed had a chance to see her girlfriend.

Jeff looked at his watch and groaned. "Shit, its almost eleven. Shelleys gonna have my balls if I dont get home before midnight again tonight."

Rebecca stood and stretched. "Why dont you go ahead. I want to see what the shrink gets anyhow. You can write up what weve got so far in the morning--deal?"

Jeff grinned happily, all vestiges of fatigue gone. He rose beside her, wishing for the thousandth time that he was as tall as his good looking partner. He didnt let on that it bothered him that she was half a head taller, but he couldnt help noticing the admiring glances she got, from menandwomen. She never seemed to notice, though. Oh, well, his wife thought his body was spectacular, so what the hell. He thumped her affectionately on the arm and sprinted for the elevator.

"I got the best part of this deal!" he called over his shoulder.

Rebecca didnt doubt it. There was no one waiting for her at home, and there hadnt been for a long time. She had forgotten what it felt like to open her door on anything other than the cold emptiness of her apartment, and she didnt want to remember now. She closed her eyes on the thought, adjusting her long frame into a more comfortable position for the wait ahead of her.

Chapter Four

Catherine wearily pushed the doors of the intensive care unit open and stepped out into the quiet corridor. It took her a moment to adjust to the dimness after the bright lights inside, and when she could see again, she noted Rebecca asleep down the hall. Even in repose, she didnt appear relaxed. Her right hand twitched slightly as it rested against her thigh. Her jacket lay abandoned on the chair beside her, and the silk shirt she wore stretched over the tight muscles of her arms and outlined her firm breasts. Catherines pulse quickened as her eyes wandered from Rebeccas face down the sensuous planes of her body. She smiled slightly at the unbidden response and reminded herself why they were both there.

"Detective," she called gently as she approached.

Rebecca sat up immediately, rubbing her face briskly with both hands. She looked up at the psychiatrist who somehow managed to look fresh despite the hour. Rebecca grinned a little sheepishly, taken off guard by the welcoming softness in Catherines eyes.

"Sorry," Rebecca said, "I tend to fall asleep wherever I can."

Catherine laughed. "I know what you mean. When I was a resident, we had a saying`See a chair, sit in it; see a bed, lie in it; see food, eat it!"

Rebecca stood, stretching to her full six feet. "Im sorry," she said, "I have to talk with you. I know its late. If theres someone you need to call"

"No, there isnt," Catherine replied. "But I have no intention of saying one more word to you unless Im fed first. Can you wait that long?"

Rebecca regarded the elegant, composed woman before her, sensing the smile in her voice, and felt suddenly energized.

"Im on my own time now, anyhow," Rebecca offered. "Theres a diner up the street"

"Arnies? Not at this hour! My digestive system would never survive," Catherine exclaimed in mock horror. "My apartment isnt far. Could we finish up there? It will just take me a minute to fix something."

Rebecca was momentarily surprised, and then realized she would like nothing better than to have a late dinner with Catherine Rawlings.

"Sounds fine. I cant take one more burger anyhow."

**********

The address Catherine directed her to was in an old brownstone, recently renovated, in a gentrified part of the city that bordered the sprawling university area. Catherines was a large ground floor apartment that opened onto a private rear garden. Rebecca couldnt see much of the patio through the sliding glass kitchen doors, but the rest of the apartment was decorated in warm earth tones that Rebecca found soothing. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, and Rebecca finally began to unwind. She decided she liked the doctors style. She wandered into the large living room and perused the titles on the floor-to-ceiling bookcases that lined one wall. Many of the titles were recent novels and biographies. Rebecca noted several she had been meaning to read but kept putting off. Something usually came up at the station that devoured what little spare time she had. She reminded herself she still had work to do as Catherine came through the archway from the kitchen with a bottle in one hand.

"Glass of wine?" she asked.

"Just seltzer and lime, if you have it," Rebecca replied.

Catherine had changed into a loose white cotton blouse over black brushed silk trousers. Rebecca was suddenly aware of what a beautiful woman she was. Her angular face, framed by wavy, richly highlighted auburn hair and accentuated by prominent cheekbones, was just short of perfect. Her wide-set green eyes and generous mouth bestowed a human quality to her beauty that made her even more attractive. Rebecca found herself really appreciating another woman for the first time in months. She realized she was staring when Catherines full lips parted in a soft playful smile.

"No drinking on duty?"

"No drinking for me any time--at least not for the last four years," Rebecca said evenly.Four years, three months, and two days.

Catherine heard the tension in her voice and asked, "Will it bother you if I drink?"

Rebecca smiled then herself. "Most of the world still drinks--and honestly, it rarely bothers me now. It would be harder if you didnt drink because of me."

"Well, then, come into the dining room so I can feed you," Catherine said.

**********

Rebecca pushed back her chair with a sigh. She had forgotten how pleasant it was to sit down at a table and enjoy a meal. And to enjoy the company of a warm, intelligent woman.

"Thank you," she said, "it was wonderful."

Catherine smiled at her, unaccountably pleased by the compliment. She felt almost rewarded by Rebeccas pleasure.

"I take it you dont cook much."

Rebecca shrugged ruefully. "Never did. Its worse when you live alone. I just dont think about eating as something to enjoy any more." She stopped, suddenly embarrassed.Christ, Frye, why dont you tell her all your problems!"At any rate, it was great."

Catherine sensed Rebeccas discomfort. It was apparent that her charming guest felt awkward discussing herself. Catherine was not surprised. She found people in Rebeccas line of work reluctant to reveal intimate details and slow to trust. She wasnt sure if it was the work that made them that way, or if those pre-existing traits were what made them so good at their jobs. It was something that suddenly interested her very much. Rebecca interested her. Catherine wondered what lay beneath that cool, controlled exteriorfor she was certain that there were depths to Rebecca that the woman herself was unaware of. She remembered the barely contained rage in Rebeccas voice when she described the rapists last attack and her passionate declaration to stop him. Oh, yes, there was much more to this woman than she revealed to the world.

Catherine knew intuitively that Rebecca would not confide anything easily, and she sensitively changed the subject. "What do you need to know, Detective?" she asked. She poured the last of the wine into her glass and leaned back, waiting.

"Probably more than you can tell me. Does Janet Ryan have any memory for the last eight hours?"

"Not much. She remembers pulling into a drive-off on the River Drive about five forty-five. There was a regatta and she stopped to watch. She left her car and headed toward the water. The next thing she remembers is waking up in the ICU."

Rebecca frowned. "Does she recall any one else around? Anything out of the ordinary?"

"I dont know. I didnt specifically ask her. She was pretty disoriented, and frightened. I was trying to establish the extent of her amnesia and get her calmed down."

"Of course," Rebecca said tersely. She couldnt expect a psychiatrist to think like a cop. Shed planned to interview the girl in the morning anyhow. "Anything else? Anything at all?"

"Im sorry--her amnesia is total for the time in question."

"And you have no doubt that shes telling the truth?"

"None at all."

"How long will it last?"

"I dont know," Catherine said regretfully. "I wish I did."

Rebecca stood up, her jaw set with determination. "I cant wait for her to remember. The time between attacks is getting shorter. Ive got to find some other way to get to him." She thanked Catherine absently, her mind already planning her next move.

Catherine watched her as she walked to the door, thinking it would be a long time before Rebecca Frye let herself rest again.

Chapter Five

Rebecca let herself into her apartment and tripped over a gym bag she had left lying on the floor several days earlier. The air had the musty, close smell of an unoccupied house. She pushed a window open and stood looking out. The night air held just the hint of a breeze, and she leaned against the window ledge, hoping to wash away the depression that had settled over her the moment she got home. The empty apartment was too clear a reminder of her own empty life, an aching emptiness she tried hard to ignore. Usually she was successful. The demands of her work left her little time for reflection, and when she did have a spare moment, she spent it at the gym, lifting weights until the fatigue in her body blocked out any other thought. The interlude with Catherine Rawlings had unsettled her. The quiet intimacy of the doctors apartment, the shared meal, the soft, but insistent strength she sensed in the woman, touched some chord in Rebecca. She didnt want to think about it, but she couldnt ignore the loneliness she had felt as Catherines door closed gently behind her.