Free Until Dark by Mariah Stewart Page B

have some fun with it. Still do, actually.” Miranda grinned. “Just because we’re mature, responsible individuals entrusted by our government to carry guns doesn’t mean we’re above sometimes impersonating each other when circumstances dictate.”
    “Well, as one who fell victim to the infamous ‘Cahill switch,’ I suggest we change the subject.” Adam pulled out a chair for Miranda, then one for himself.
    “Oh, forgot about that one.” Miranda turned to Lieutenant Barker and explained, “Portia, Adam, and I were at the Academy together.”
    Lieutenant Barker nodded slowly, contemplating the havoc two beautiful, identical women could create if they set their minds to it.
    “Miranda’s part of the posse, sent to help us out,” Adam explained. “She’ll be visiting with the families of the victims over the next few days to see if there are any common threads.”
    “Kendra.” Miranda turned to her. “I’ve seen your sketch. I’d like to take it with me.”
    Kendra hesitated. “I’m not certain it’s complete.”
    Adam frowned. “What do you think you’re missing? All of the descriptions we’ve gotten so far have been the same. Dark shock of hair falling over the forehead. Face partially covered by dark glasses. Height, build, age, all the same . . .”
    “I guess I was hoping to lock into a few distinguishing facial features.” Kendra tapped her pencil on the table.
    “You can’t draw what no one has seen.”
    “Well, I keep hoping to find someone who has seen him up close and personal.”
    “Three did,” Lieutenant Barker reminded her. “Part of what we’re trying to do here is to prevent him from getting that close to anyone else again.”
    “All right. But could you not release it publicly until we’ve spoken with the witnesses here? Someone might give us something that can help me refine the sketch.”
    “I’ll check back with you at the end of the day,” Miranda agreed.
    Kendra handed over her sketch. “Can you have some copies made?”
    “I’ll be right back with them.” Barker took the drawing that Kendra had completed the day before and left the room.
    “I take it there’re still no leads?” Miranda asked after the trooper had left the room.
    “Nada.” Adam shook his head. “But he’s sure left his DNA everywhere.”
    “Now why would he do that?” Miranda pondered. “Why would he be so careless about leaving DNA when he’s gone to so much trouble to set up his kills so carefully? From what you’ve told me, Adam, he’s invested a good deal of his time just studying his victims. So why leave behind something that could potentially lead right to his door?”
    “Maybe he’s confident enough to believe we’ll never catch him. If we can’t catch him, we can’t positively match him to the DNA that’s been recovered.”
    “How often does that happen? That a killer like this is never caught?” Kendra looked up at Adam over the notes she’d taken the day before.
    “You would not want to know the answer to that question.” Adam looked grim.
    “Another thing,” Miranda noted, “he’s going to have to dump that van soon and look for something else, if he hasn’t already done so.”
    “The state police are, as we speak, responding to a report of an abandoned van about seven miles from here.” Adam passed on the information he’d been given.
    “Then we can probably expect to hear about another stolen vehicle real soon.”
    “True enough. He’ll need transportation. Unless, of course, he has something hidden away somewhere.” Adam considered the possibilities.
    “Do you think he’s from this area?” Kendra asked.
    “He’d almost have to be. If he’s not, he’s studied it pretty damned thoroughly,” Miranda offered. “You know, killers all have a comfort zone. It’s pretty clear he’s in his here. He’ll stay as long as it’s comfortable for him.”
    “Well, since we haven’t even come close to him, I doubt he’s left the area,” Adam