Page 32 of Evil Bones
“I will.”
I would. Despite knowing Slidell’s tendency to become channeled on theories that appealed to his narrow view of human nature.
“Though I suspect Slidell will be contacting you directly,” I added.
“Happy day.”
We exchanged wry smiles.
“One other thought,” Adina said after a pause. “Driven by some sick perversion or not, from what you’ve said, your doer is escalating, I suspect.”
“His prey are getting larger.”
“Which means he’s growing bolder.”
“Or more skilled.”
“Or that,” she agreed.
I felt a low buzz in my chest. My friend agreed with the unsettlingsuggestion I’d made in my conversation with Slidell. My friend with a doctorate in psychology from Harvard University.
“Shall we thirty-second volley this dolt?”
Adina referred to a sparring game we often played, a shotgun back-and-forth using the known facts of a case.
“You start,” I said.
“The perp is a psychopath driven by feelings of inadequacy and rage.”
“By a sense of powerlessness in controlling factors in his life.”
“That powerlessness makes him angry.”
“But hecancontrol animals, so he takes that anger out on them,” I said.
“Orshedoes.”
I raised a palm, acknowledging Adina’s correction, the same one I’d made to Slidell. “For some reason, that feeling of powerlessness is escalating.”
“The perp sees life spinning out of control.”
“Might this nutcase follow a trajectory similar to John’s?” I asked.
“Nutcase. Nice gender-neutral term.”
“Thank you.”
“My professional opinion?” Adina floated both brows.
I nodded.
“That’s already happening.”
“Do you think he or she might move up to humans?”
“I believe that’s highly likely.”
A moment, then the shadowed eyes locked onto mine.
