Page 35 of Cold Threat

River and Tony had already discussed the situation, and they both believed that, as Beth said, the Snowman was incapable of abandoning his self-assigned mission just to go after Ray. But at the same time, River had to wonder if Ray was seen as someone trying to stop him from carrying out his destiny. Could he have added Ray to the group he’d judged and planned to execute? She didn’t want to believe that, but maybe ignoring the possibility was a mistake.

“I hope we can give him what he wants,” Tony said, “but as we told him, profiling is really just educated guessing. And if Dad really does have a way to find out who the Snowman is, he might not even need us.”

“I think you’re more valuable to him than you think,” Beth said. “There are a lot of evil people in prison because of you. Even if he doesn’t need your profile, you can help him in other ways. If he can’t get Des Moines to cooperate, he’ll need to find a way to connect the murders without using the files he has.”

“I hope we can assist him if he needs us,” Tony said. “But behavioral analysts really don’t put people in prison, Mom. Besides, how would Dad know about our cases? It’s not common knowledge who works what case. The FBI doesn’t share that information.”

Beth laughed lightly. “Your father is a detective, son. Even though you couldn’t always tell him about the cases you worked, you’re pretty easy to read. He could almost always tie your reactions to crimes around the country to cases that included anFBI presence. When you were really intense and busy, he knew you were concentrating on something important. Then when you were relaxed, laughed, and were in a good mood, he’d connect it to the capture of someone really bad.”

“So, my father is profilingme?” Tony shook his head. “Great. And here I thought I was complicated and deep.”

His comment made Beth and River both laugh.

“Not even a little,” River said.

Tony took a sip of his coffee and then let go a long, dramatic sigh. “A prophet is without honor in his own family.”

“So now you’re a prophet?” River said, grinning.

“No. I just...”

Tony stopped when they all heard a noise from outside. The next sounds were clearly car doors being shut. Then the front door opened, and cold air swept down the hallway. After that, a pause and a series of beeps. It was Ray, coming inside and resetting the alarm. No one talked until he came around the corner and into the kitchen where they all waited. He looked surprised to find them all sitting at the kitchen table. From behind him, another man walked into the room. He was tall, with graying hair and a matching beard.

“I told Tony not to wake everyone up,” Ray said to Beth.

“It’s not Tony’s fault,” Beth said. “I’d gone back to sleep after you left, but then I heard his phone ring and figured it was you. Who else would be phoning at two o’clock in the morning? Tony woke River because he was certain she’d want to know what was going on.”

Ray shook his head. “I should have known.” He pointed to the man next to him. “This is Bobby Truman,” he said to Tony and River. “He used to work with me in Des Moines. My son, Tony, and his partner, River Ryland.”

“Nice to meet you.”

“You too,” Tony said.

“Hi, Bobby,” Beth said with a smile.

“Hello, Beth. I won’t stay long. I just wanted to make sure Ray got home okay. It’s slick out there.”

“Bobby only lives a few blocks from here,” Ray said to Tony and River.

“At least have a cup of coffee with us?” Beth asked Bobby.

“If you’re sure it won’t be any trouble. Just black, please.”

“No trouble at all. Ray?”

“No, thanks, honey. I’m beat. I just need to sleep.”

“Not before you tell us what’s going on,” Tony said.

Ray slumped down into a chair. River could see how tired he was and felt a little guilty about making him talk to them now. But the truth was, she was itching to know what had happened. It was hard to disconnect from a case like this.

Even though he was clearly weary, Ray smiled. “Something went wrong tonight,” he said. “The Snowman’s plan failed. For the first time, we have a witness.”

CHAPTER

TWENTY-ONE

What do you mean?” Tony asked. “Someone saw him?”

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