A Hide and Seek Killer

From Special Agent James Morrison of the Philadelphia FBI, from Sheila Connolly's Monument to the Dead (Museum Mystery #4), coming June 5th

Nell Pratt, President of the Pennsylvania Antiquarian Society and, uh, someone I'm seeing, has an uncanny ability to get involved with odd criminal cases.  This time she's outdone herself:  she thinks she's found a serial killer at work.  Of course she shares that information with me, but the problem is, in this case I can't do anything about it.

I don't want to disillusion you, but the FBI does not involve itself in every known crime.  We have guidelines.  We also have heavy caseloads, which makes it even more difficult for us to look into potential cases, whether or not we have a gut feeling about it.  The FBI does not acknowledge gut feelings, at least not officially.

But this case…I have to admit I agree with Nell.  Something is going on, and someone smart is behind it.  I took the maybe-case to my immediate superior, and he…declined to involve the FBI.  I see his point of view, but naturally I'm frustrated.  So is Nell, who is continuing to watch for this unseen killer and to find a way to convince the FBI that he's real.  And she's also dragged my cousin Martha Terwilliger into it, although Marty has a habit of sticking her nose in no matter what. I guess I have to say Marty's smart and knows a lot of useful people, but she's also darned lucky that she hasn't gotten herself killed yet.

And worse, this killer—assuming there really is a killer, which nobody has proved yet—seems to be getting closer and closer to home.  He's very good at what he's doing.  All I can say is, I hope we find him before he kills someone again.