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“It’s not even like you’re killing him. Just a cut.”

“Okay. Don’t tell Kat.”

“Tell Kat what?”

“Exactly.”

Gav twirled the scalpel in his hand and then lowered the blade to the skin. Bob’s muffled cries turned to a high-pitched scream as Gav ran the scalpel across his hairline. Blood ran down both sides of the man’s face. I pushed the gag into his mouth farther, and he choked on the scream.

“God, that’s good,” Gav said. Beads of sweat glistened on his upper lip. He looked down at the scalpel which was dripping blood and offered it to me. I smiled and shook my head.

“Don’t stop. We need a chest incision.”

“I can’t do it all.” He wanted to, I could tell. Oh, he wanted to.

“I have another couple coming in tomorrow afternoon,” I said, waving the scalpel away. “Please.”

“Are you sure?”

“Of course.”

“What’s that?”

“This?” I asked, holding up the saw. “Los Angeles Police-grade forensic bone saw. Jake got it for me.”

“Is he still in the game?”

“Everyone’s still in the game, Gav. Everyone but you.”

“Yeah, yeah, I know. Shut up.”

Gav moved down to the man’s bare chest, ignoring his screams. As he cut into the skin, I used forceps to pull back the skin and clamped down the retractor to hold the incision open. The man’s heart was beating quickly. Almost in time with the high hats in the song. Maybe with a few more cuts, we would get there.

I waited as Gav worked his magic, cutting back the tendons and fat. He was a delicate surgeon. Almost as good as me. It was a shame he’d given up working. On one level, though, I understood it. After so many victims, sometimes you needed a break to rekindle the passion for the work, so to speak. I doubted he would retire completely, though. He was too good a murderer to give it up.

“Here, take it,” Gav said, setting the scalpel down onto the plastic sheet. “I can’t finish him.”

“Aw, really?”

“Really,” he sighed.

“This girl really has her claws in you,” I said, picking up the scalpel and twirling it between my fingers. “Making you quit cold turkey like that.”

“She’s an angel,” Gav said. Sincerity bloomed on his face. He was such an innocent serial killer. I could read his face like a medical textbook.

“An angel? Really?”

“I love her. I trust her.”

I laughed.

“You can’t trust anyone. Even a woman.Especiallya woman.”

“She saved my life.”

“Oh? So I have her to blame for your continued friendship.” I grinned. “When do I get to meet her?”

Gav looked at me uncertainly.

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