Everyone settled back in their seats and Stabler looked at Goren. "Ok, Goren, tell us why this perp is going to take the weekend off."

"I don't know why yet. But we won't get another call until after midnight Sunday."

"And if you're wrong?"

He shrugged. "Then we get woken up tomorrow morning, or Sunday morning, but I don't think we will."

Eames looked from her partner to Stabler. Bobby might always think he's right, but he was never arrogant about it. Insistent maybe, but never arrogant. And when he was wrong, though it wasn't often, he would get frustrated and rethink his profile, adjusting and compensating to accommodate the new information. Profiling was not an exact science, but he was better at it than most.

"Forgive me if I don't believe you."

Goren raised his hands in surrender. "Either you want my opinion or you don't. If you really don't, then don't ask for it."

Fin was studying the crime scene reports. He looked up at Benson and Eames, then shifted his gaze to Stabler before letting it finally come to rest on Goren. "I don't see a whole lot of variation among the crime scenes."

"No variation at all, really," Goren commented. "Not with what he left or his methodology. The crime scenes are almost interchangeable."

"But the DNA's not back yet," Stabler commented. "So we can't be sure if it's the same perp or not."

"Look at the evidence, Stabler. No copycat is that good…not when the details are not released to the media. You know that. Are you arguing with me because you think I'm wrong, or because you don't want me to be right?"

Stabler's eyes narrowed. "What makes you think it's either?"

Eames stepped away from the table she was leaning against. She stood by her partner and rested a hand on his shoulder. "Enough, okay? It doesn't matter. We have what we have. Now—has the word gone out to the precincts for any officers with little girls to be on their guard?"

"It should have," Benson answered.

Goren raised his eyebrows. "Should have?" He felt Eames' hand tighten on his shoulder and he pressed his lips together in a tight line. "How do we find out for sure?"

Munch got to his feet. "I'll ask the captain."

Eames leaned down and spoke softly into her partner's ear. Goren nodded and seemed to relax. Munch returned after a few moments. "Captain says yes. Hopefully the information will get disseminated quickly. Geez…you can cut the tension in here with a knife."

"Does anyone have anything else to add?" Benson asked, pushing the meeting toward a close.

"What about the dog?" Stabler asked.

Goren frowned. "What about him?"

"You still planning to use him?"

"Yes."

"What dog?" Munch asked before his partner could.

Stabler and Benson looked at Goren, who explained, "The dog belongs to my last partner from narcotics. He's a great tracker, and we're going to see if he can track this asshole down."

"You're sure he'll strike again, aren't you, Bobby?" Benson asked.

He met her eyes steadily. "He will."

"And if he doesn't?" Stabler challenged.

"Then we have three little girls who are likely to never see justice because we have jack shit to go on here," Goren snapped, frustration and irritation beginning to turn to anger.

"I think we've gone as far as we can go today," Eames said. "Let's go, guys."

She didn't have to say that twice. Logan and Barek were halfway to the door before Goren even stood up. He looked at his partner, silent communication passing from her eyes to his. He left the room without another word. Before following him, Eames rounded on Stabler and Fin. "I have no idea what your problem is, but you'd better check it at the door next time we get together. I really don't care what you think of us because what really matters is those little girls and catching their killer. If you hinder this investigation one iota, there's going to be hell to pay." She leaned closer. "And that goes double if you don't leave my partner alone."

She left the room, slamming the door behind her. Munch laughed. "What a fireball. I wouldn't call her on that threat if I were you."

Fin's eyes narrowed at his partner. "How come you're so fond of Goren?"

"It's not a matter of liking him or not liking him. I've known cops like him before. He's unconventional but he's smart. Nothing he said today was unreasonable. He knows what he's talking about, and I'd listen to him if I were you. It might just get this case solved if you all work together instead of trying so hard to disprove Goren. That's going to come back to bite you in the ass."