Chapter 20

November Twenty-fourth

John Duckworth exited the 7-Eleven carrying a large Slurpee and a quarter pound big bite. Not exactly healthy, but he should have plenty of time for a four or five mile run before he had to be back at the White House for tomorrow's shift. Besides, it was hard to work up the ambition to cook a healthy meal at home when he was working night shift.

There was a police cruiser parked next to his Honda Civic, a uniformed officer seated on the hood. A middle aged man in a suit was sitting in the passenger side of the cruiser. He gave John a broad wink and a crooked smile before the officer greeted John by name.

"Agent Duckworth of the Secret Service?" the officer asked.

"Yes," John answered, mystified by what the local police might want with him.

"I'm Sergeant Ryan of the Washington P.D. Would you be willing to come with us for a few minutes?"

"What's this about?"

"Really, sir, it would be easier to show you than it would be to explain it. You're not in any trouble or anything like that. Something has occurred that is in your area of expertise, and we would like to get your opinion if it's not too much trouble."

John's master's thesis in criminal psychology had been on the obsessive compulsive tendencies of serial killers. He was both intrigued by the officer's request and flattered that someone was actually aware that he had an area of expertise. While he was surprised that his Special Agent in Charge hadn't called to give him a heads up, it wasn't enough to raise his suspicions.

"Sure, why not?" he replied.

He got into the back of the cruiser after Sergeant Ryan opened the door for him.

As he was fastening his seat belt, the middle aged man twisted around and introduced himself through the thick wire screen, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Agent Duckworth. My name is Arthur."