Chapter Three
Nathan, Ben, and Annie signed in and checked their sidearms, then followed an officer down the hallway past the secured double-doors until they reached a visitation room. Several minutes passed before Mark Steward was brought in and seated across from them.
“Mr. Steward, I’m Nathan Thomas, a profiler with the FBI. I trust you remember Ben and Annie,” he began, gesturing toward them.
“I do, barely,” Mark said softly, holding Annie’s gaze. “I think they came to see me at my house not long after Elaine and Timmy…”
His voice trailed off to silence as large tears began to fall once more.
Annie extended her hand across the table and Mark wordlessly accepted the tissue she offered him.
After a few minutes he sighed heavily, and muttered, “So I guess you’re here to ask me why I
