Page 22 of Silent Ritual

"Ms. Jenkins,” Sheila began, “it seems to me that you already have the inside track.”

Jenkins stared at her, not batting an eye. “What are you talking about?”

“The speed at which you responded to the news of the third murder, not to mention the specific details you knew of the crime scenes…” Sheila paused, thinking about how to say what she was trying to say. “It’s baffling, to say the least. Makes me wonder how you could know so much before the rest of the public did.”

Jenkins watched her carefully. “What are you implying, ma’am?”

"I think you know what I'm implying, Ms. Jenkins," Sheila replied, her gaze steady and relentless. "You knew things you shouldn't have known. How is that?"

"I..." Jenkins began, her face pale under the harsh office lighting. “I think I’m done talking. I’d like you both to leave now.”

Sheila glanced at Finn.

“I’m sure there must be a reasonable explanation,” Finn said in a polite, friendly tone. “Are you friends with a local reporter, perhaps? Got the inside scoop?”

“I said,” Jenkins repeated, “I’d like you both to leave. Don’t make me call security.”

The sudden defensiveness caught Sheila off guard. Was it possible that Jenkins was the murderer or had been involved in the murders somehow? She knew intimate details of the killings, and she was highly familiar with astrology and the occult.

What might she be hiding?

“You know what?” Sheila said. “I don’t see any reason why we can’t involve you in the investigation. From the sound of it, your feedback could be invaluable. Can we trust you not to leak anything to the press?”

“Of course,” Jenkins said, her demeanor shifting instantly. She visibly relaxed, leaning back in her chair, no longer intent on throwing them out. "I wouldn't dream of it, Sheriff Stone."

"Great," Sheila said, masking her unease with a thin smile. "We'll be in touch."

She rose and left Jenkins’ office, followed closely by Finn.

“So,” Finn said as they walked down the university hallway, “that went…strangely.”

“She’s hiding something,” Sheila murmured. “Maybe a lot of somethings.”

“You think she’s involved?”

“It’s not uncommon for a serial killer to want attention.”

"But why the astrology? Why kill based on celestial events?" Finn asked, rubbing his chin.

"I don't know," Sheila admitted. "It doesn't make sense yet, but there's a pattern here. We just need to figure it out."

“So how do we get to Jenkins? If we go back in there and ask more questions, she’ll just clam up, probably ask for a lawyer.”

"We need to find a way to make her feel safe, like she's in control," Sheila mused, massaging her temples. "And that means playing into her ego. If she is involved, then she thinks she's smarter than us."

"And if she's not?" Finn asked.

"Then we're back at square one. But it's a risk we have to take." Sheila paused and looked at him. "Believing she's smarter than us might be exactly what gets her to slip up."

Finn’s mouth twisted in a wry grin as he studied Sheila. “If I ever commit a crime, I sure hope you’re not the one who investigates me.”

Just then, Sheila noticed a group of administrative staff chatting near a water cooler. "Let's see if we can get some inside information," she murmured to Finn.

Sheila put on a friendly smile as she approached the group. "Good morning, ladies," she said.

A woman with a bright floral blouse smiled politely. "Good morning. Need help finding your way around, Officers?"

"Is it that obvious?" Finn chuckled.

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