Once again, I only own the characters that I've created.

Geographical note: San Mateo is located on the San Francisco Peninsula, about 20 miles south of SF. There is also San Mateo County, but we're talking about the city.

Codes & Heretics-Chapter 4-The Third Body

Previously...

"Terry," Don started.

"Don't worry. I won't go anywhere without having anyone with me," she assured him, and then reassured him for a second and third time. "I know what's going on, and I know what I should do. Don't worry so much."

But Don was worried. The two women closest to him in his life, Terry and Amita, were in as much danger as every other woman in the city & county.

He was taken out of his worried state of mind by Terry telling him that there was a third body. "Where?"

"The university."

Don & Terry hurried out of the SUV and were greeted, once more, by Detective Williams.

"Dena Richards, 21," the older man said. "It looks like the same guy."

"Find anything interesting?" Don asked as Terry left the two men to go speak with an officer.

"As a matter of fact, yes." He led the younger man to a spot a few yards from the body.

"What have we got?" Don asked as he crouched down to see what the detective was pointing at.

"Someone from the crime lab said it might be the murder weapon."

"Murder weapon? But there wasn't anything at the last two scenes. Forensics reported that the guy used his jacket to suffocate them."

"Yeah, well, this one wasn't suffocated. It looks like he strangled her with that rope."

"Strangled?" David questioned as he walked towards the two men.

"Yeah, with this rope," Don answered as he pointed to the object slightly obscured by the shade of the late afternoon.

"Well, it sounds like this guy has been busy and isn't particular with how he kills. I just had an interesting conversation with a Detective Morris from San Mateo. She said three girls were found strangled in there apartment. The guy hanged them after they were dead."

"This just keeps getting stranger every time I here it." Another male voice said. The three men turned around and were greeted by Don & David's boss, Special Agent Walt Merrick.

"Detective Chris Williams," the detective introduced himself.

"Assistant Director Walt Merrick." The two men shook hands.

"So, we seem to have a serial killer on our hands."

"And a serial rapist," David added.

"This guy is sick," another detective, introduced as Detective Michael O'Connor, said.

"Let's just hope we catch this guy in time."

Cal Sci University. Prof. Charlie Eppes' office.

"Charles, are you sure we're safe?" Prof. Larry Fleinhardt asked the math professor.

"Don said we are. This guy is interested in women. Which is why," he said as he looked over at his thesis advisoree, Amita, before lowering his voice, "I don't want her alone. Is it okay with you if she helps you for the time being until the FBI has caught him?"

"Of course! Maybe she can check some of my equations in your absence."

"I would be happy to," she answered. "And Charlie, don't worry. I'm going with Melissa Armstrong to her parents' house as soon as she gets out of class."

Charlie nodded in understanding. Melissa Armstrong was one of his students & her family lived less than an hour from the school. He trusted both young women and that they would look out for each other.

"Alright, I-"

His sentence was cut off by the ringing of his cell phone. He glanced at the display and saw that it was Don.

"Hold that thought," he said before answering. "Yeah, Don? What? When? Yeah, I'll be there as soon as I can." He quickly hung up. "I've got to go," he said as he got his things and left.

He was greeted in the hall by Melissa, "Hello Professor Eppes. I'm just on my way to get Amita."

"She's in my office," he said as he passed her and hurried in the direction of the crime scene. "Be careful!" He yelled back.

"We will!"

Dena Richards's crime scene.

There were police and FBI agents milling around the courtyard where the murder had occurred. Charlie was stopped by the guard on duty, but was allowed through when Terry saw him.

"Where's Don? I've got another equation."

She directed him to the tree Don, David, Detectives Williams & O'Connor, and A. D. Merrick were standing under.

"He's still out there," Don said as Charlie walked up to the five men.

"It would be nice to know what the next move is going to be."

"He's going after the Druidess," Charlie interjected.

"The Druid-what?" Detective O'Connor asked.

"The Druidess. The chief priestess for these girls."

"And how do you know that, Mr.-"

"This is my brother, Prof. Charlie Eppes. Do you know who this Druidess person is?" He asked his younger brother.

"No, but from what you've given me about the case, and from what I learned from reading those books Karolin and Tasha lent me, this guy is going after whoever is in the group's hierarchy."

"So, that can be anyone."

"Not just anyone. And wait, I thought Katherine Martin wasn't in with the other Druid's at Cal Sci?" David said.

"She wasn't, but she was still found the same way as Trisha & now Dena."

The group of men was interrupted by Terry.

"What've you got?" Don asked.

"Another 'wand,'" she answered.

"A wand?" the younger detective asked.

"Yeah. It looks like it's him."

"But his method of murder has changed."

"It looks that way."

"I want everyone back to work," Merrick said. Everyone knew what he meant.

Well, is it getting any better? Please review!