"By Uriel and by Raziel... powers, principalities, thrones and dominions..." "I bind and command you, stand." "I, Sammiel, bound by his will... command you... depart." "Die, you son of a bitch." "There's a summoner's circle on the floor." "The body is on an altar." "Blood drained into a chalice... ceremonial candles, signs of Lucifer on the wall... inverted crosses." "There's a grimoire." "There's not much that isn't here, Frank." "You've had experiences with these kind of situations before." "Some, yeah." "Not like you've had." "This doesn't seem to be the type I've seen before." "If you're asking, Peter, I'm not ready to come back to work yet." "I can probably handle this myself." "If I get in trouble, I'll give you a call." "You take care." "Okay." "Is the victim the only occupant of the residence?" "Yes, sir." "He, uh..." "He lived here by himself." "He was a deacon at the First Emmanuel Church... active in Promise Keepers." "There's no way he would have been involved in anything like this." "No way." " Did anybody see that?" " See what?" "The kid out here on the ledge, lookin' in." " Hey." " Hey." "Peter asked for your help, didn't he?" "Yeah." "But he doesn't need it." "You knew it was coming." "I'm not ready." "Not yet." "You knew it was just a question." "Something you've been asking yourself." "A question?" "Of when." "You can't deny who you are, Frank." "To yourself or to me." "I've lost my concentration." " After Bob..." " You have to come to terms." "You know, I forget sometimes." "I think I'll give him a call." "And then I remember." "Bob's dead." "Murdered here, in our house." "You have to go back to work." "I don't see any other choice for you." "If we let things go on this way, it..." "it's only a matter of time." " Until what?" " Until something gives." " Daddy?" " In here, honey." "Are you staying home from work today again, Daddy?" "What do you have to say about it?" "I don't know." "Are you?" "No." "But I won't be far away." "And I'll come home for dinner, okay?" "Okay." "Mr. Black?" "We're not, uh, how should I say... accustomed to the nature of this style of homicide." "Our perpetrator eviscerated his victim... gutted him and stowed his organs in clay pots." " Lungs, heart and brain in separate pots." " Yes." "They're called canopic jars." "Used by ancient Egyptian embalmers to store and preserve the organs of their clients." "All this filth came from the kill site." "Eddie, the victim, ran the lighting store down on Bayne Street." "The way he was killed..." "There are rumors going around." "People are pretty upset." "I..." "I think we need to move very quickly on this." "Yes, I understand." "And I'd like to give the public some guidelines on how best to protect themselves... and-and their families." "I'd say as little as possible for now." "Okay." "After you see the remains, uh, perhaps you could give me some guidance." "I'd really appreciate it." "You do understand?" "Mr. Watts." "I feel confident the cause of death was the knife wound to the neck." "With the carotid artery severed, the blood flow to the brain... would cause the victim to lose consciousness very quickly." "Death would follow from the massive hemorrhaging." "That would fit with the preparation of the organs." "The Egyptians preserved their distinguished dead in similar fashion... with mineralized salts, other compounds." "Your knowledge of these things..." "they're of professional interest to you?" "I've studied their techniques." "Phil's the undertaker, but he's been county coroner now for the last five years." "I'm not a doctor, understand." "I'm in mortuary science." "Anyway..." " You think Eddie knew what was happening to him?" " Possible." "The brain can live for a few minutes without oxygen." "Excuse me." "I have to go to the restroom." "It may be too soon, Peter." "I pushed you." "Should I find somebody to drive you back to the city?" "No." "I want to take a walk, collect myself." "I didn't tell you, Frank." "There's something I need your head on." " Something I saw after we got off the phone." " What?" "I saw a kid lookin' into the second-story window of the crime scene." "No ladder." "No trace of him." "That was strange to me." "But there's something else." "Yeah." "Spectators at the crime scene." "That's the guy I saw." "You always hope for a break." "That maybe the killer will return to the scene for his thrills." "But you don't think so this time." "I don't feel I should even try to comment." "My clarity on this is not what I'd hoped." "Mr. Black, I can't wait." "I need to tell the people of this town something... or you've got to give me a good reason not to." "We don't think this man has killed before, or not often." "He'll be excited, high on his success." "He'll want to enjoy the sensation that he's caused." "It's unlikely he'll feel the need to kill again soon." "Soon?" "Well, how long is soon?" "One week?" "One month?" "chief?" "." "we got a homicide." "Babysitter in Park Verdun playground." "Some guy cut her throat in broad daylight." " Did we get him?" " He's in custody." "Miller and Trautman are bringing him in now." "Well, I guess my question's been answered." "We've got the witnesses." "We've got the murder weapon." " We got you, Martin." " I want a lawyer." "Oh, he's coming." "Did you use the same knife on Eddie Pressman you used on the girl?" "We got our guy, Frank." "There's no reason for you to stay around if you'd rather leave." "I think that would be better." "Anybody can be wrong, Mr. Black." "Guy left his prints all over Pressman's house." "The important things accomplished." "We got him." "Thank you." "Ask him about the man in the window." "I will." "I'm Al Pepper." "Counsel for the accused." " Frank Black." " I'll see you when you get back." " How'd everything go today?" " Strange." "I shouldn't have gone back." "Now I'm wondering why I did it." "You said they had a suspect?" "They arrested somebody for the crime?" "You don't have to go back, do you?" "No." "But you're going back anyway." "This case..." "I have a feeling it involves me in some way." "Some way I'm not clear about yet." "Are you gonna be able to sleep?" "I'll be up in a bit." "The Greek word phaestos." "On the open page of the grimoire." " Do you know what that is?" " No, but it's not meaningless." "It may have been to the killer, but it's significant apart from him." " I'm not sure I understand." " It's a signature, I think." "Whose?" "The killer's?" "Unlikely." "The ritual elements at the murder scene... were drawn from a wide variety of different mystic traditions." "Stage dressing." "The work of a schizoid fantasist, lacking any spiritual seriousness." "Then who wrote it?" "Someone who states his presence nearby." "It's intended as a message." " To whom?" " To me, I think." "You want to run that by me, Frank?" "Before I run it by him?" "I'm not so sure you have the right guy, Peter." "It's pretty well checked out." "I was just about to go home, actually." "You want me to hold off?" "Would you mind?" "I'm here as long as you need me." " What are you doing here, Mike?" " Got a call." "Heard you could use some help." " From whom?" " Frank." "Frank?" "Well, he told me he'd meet us back here in the morning." "He told me the case would take an unexpected turn." " Is it Bob?" " He was trying to say something." "It seemed so real." "It was so real." "It's an unconscious influence to be expected." "You're gonna filter everything through your emotions for a while." "This was different." "I felt it yesterday when we were interviewing the suspect." "You felt Bletcher?" "It's as if he knew him." "He knew something about him." "Unless I'm losing my ability." "Is that what you think?" "I think I've lost my trust in it." " Frank." " Hey, Mike." " You didn't call me, did you?" " Call you?" "Somebody's been impersonating you, Frank." "Asked mike to meet us out here." "Said the case was turning." " The strange thing is it's true." " What do you mean?" "The two motorists who claimed to have seen martin attack and kill the nurse... failed to identify him in the lineup, and they were certain that they could." "What about the physical evidence?" "Martin's bloodstained jacket was sent to the lab in Seattle." "When it arrived, they couldn't find any bloodstains on it." "We've established with a fair degree of certainty that the same knife... that was used in the satanic killing of Pressman was used on the babysitter here." "Martin did the killings?" "Every piece of evidence that links him directly with either killing... is lost, tainted or otherwise compromised... including martin's fingerprints on the knife... which was wiped clean after it was admitted to the property room." " Why?" " Most people would be asking how." "You told Peter this involved you." "What did you mean?" "There may be a link between Bob Bletcher's murder and these killings." "Do you think Martin killed Bletcher?" "What about Martin's attorney?" "What do we know about him?" "Not much yet." "But he's been asking to see you." "Alistair Pepper, representing the accused." " Just call me Al, Mr. Black." " Alistair." "The name carries some notoriety in certain circles." "Please." "I find the association distasteful." "I go by Al." "I see." "I was hoping to talk to you earlier, but you were unavailable." "In the interim, things have changed." "I'm not privy to all the details." "But I understand there have been certain evidentiary problems... concerning both of my client's pending matters." "I won't discuss it." "I am confident that I can defend my client, Mr. Black." "Almost certainly see him set free." "I am also very aware that it is very likely... that he committed the crimes of which he's accused." "Yes." "It might better serve him... to concede a degree of guilt in these current matters... accept his sentence and serve his time." " Why?" " Why?" "In an institutional setting..." "Mr. martin might avail himself of therapeutic services." "He might be rehabilitated." "I have no authority to bargain on the court's behalf, or anyone's." "Except your own, Mr. Black." "I have a very successful law firm." "I'm looking to expand." "I need an investigator." "Someone with your abilities." "You remind me of someone." "Have we met before?" "I seem to be blessed with a familiar face." "Ah." "I am offering you a partnership." "Name your salary, name your hours... design your own benefits package." "I'm not interested." "I know that you are unhappy... in your current circumstances, Mr. Black." "That would all change." "You and your loved ones would be safe... well out of harm's way." "I can't make the legal advice I give to Martin... contingent upon your accepting my offer." "Unethical." "But you think about it." "I know you'll have many questions." "I will be happy to answer all of them." "Anytime." "Why?" "Except that one." "Did Martin's lawyer have access to the evidence?" "Could he have seen this?" "No, I don't see how he could have." "You've asked the court to deny bond." "Your Honor, Mr. Martin is charged in connection... with two crimes of extreme ferocity." "He constitutes a continuing menace to society." "I hope to be able to provide the court very promptly... with compelling evidence supporting the state's opinion." "Until you do, Mr. Fisher, defendant martin's prior... petty criminal convictions... suggest he's more likely to present society with an inconvenience than a hazard." "Mr. Martin... you've stolen a large number of car batteries." "Sorry." "All right." "Before I set bail, Mr. Pepper... do you have anything to say that would bear on the amount of bail?" "My client has instructed me... he is not seeking bail at this time... preferring to await his vindication and release." "Can I confess something, Your Honor?" "Mr. Pepper?" "We should discuss any statement that you're planning to make." "I cut a detective's neck in Seattle." "I left him hanging on a basement wall." "Bletcher." "Bob Bletcher was his name." "I don't know why, but it's been bothering me." "Martin's attorney's agreed to his being moved to Seattle." "I think the victim was ritualistically slaughtered... to get the Millennium Group involved, to get me involved." "The kid's a punk, Frank." "What you're suggesting is a sophistication beyond his intelligence or competence." "Someone turned his limited wit to their purpose." " He's being controlled." " Who are you talking about?" "Martin's lawyer." "He knew I was coming back." "He said so." " The evidence disappearing made sure of it." " This guy, Pepper?" "Why are you here?" "Who called you, Mike?" " This kid, martin?" " Nope." "I don't think so." "I think you should be leaving." "Soon." " Why is that?" " I'm not certain... but I think there's a process going on which could be dangerous." "I'm staying, Frank." "There isn't even a discussion." "Will you find out everything you can about Martin's lawyer?" "Sure." "What are your plans?" "Spend some time with Martin." "Get a feel for him." "He likes to talk." "Thanks for coming." "I wanted to see the son of a bitch." "Look him in the eyes." "All we have is a confession." "We still have to prove it out." "Martin's on his way from Holding." "This him?" "This little snotball?" "I'll be riding back to the city with you and the prisoner." "Looks like we have a welcoming committee." " Come on, folks." "Let's move it." " Lieutenant, let me out." " Mr. Black." " Are you going to give us an indictment?" "He was in town during the right time period." "Got a bus ticket." "Driver saw him get on and off." "We'll be able to get an indictment off of Martin's confession." "But there's no evidence linking him to Bletcher's killing." "He may recant his confession." "His attorney may argue that... the manner in which he confessed is proof of unreliability." "Detective Geibelhouse says that he's sure this guy killed Bletcher." " He says you're sure of it too." " I'm not so sure." "What?" "Well, that is the picture, Mrs. Black." "I know you want to do some checking, and of course you'll want to talk to Frank... but uh, how does it sound?" " Catherine." " Frank." "I'm so glad you're home." " Hi, Daddy." " Hi." "How's my girl?" "Hello, Frank." "I hope, uh..." "I hope you don't mind, Frank... but I was in the neighborhood, and I just dropped by on the chance that you might be in." "And I met your lovely wife." "Mr. Pepper said you and he were working together." "Catherine, why don't you take Jordan upstairs." "There's something I want to discuss with Mr. Pepper." "Oh, Daddy, do I have to?" "Yes, we're just talking boring business." "Come on." "I'll give you your bath." "Good night, Mrs. Black." "A pleasure." "Huh." "What a lovely, lovely family." "Frank, you must be very happy." "Don't ever come to my house." "Stay away from my family." "I'm..." "I'm sorry, Frank." "I, uh..." "I meant no offense." "I'll leave at once." "I would never have come if I had any idea that this would upset you." "Sincerely, Frank, that's the last thing..." "Oh, martin." "You'll be a free man." "You're gonna take the midnight special out of this wicked place soon." "See that big light coming?" "Hear the steel wheels on the rails?" "Oh, yes." "You free, martin." " Hey!" " Come on." "Get it open, for God's sake!" "I'm trying!" "The keyhole's plugged up or something!" "I can't get the key in!" "Martin!" "Listen to me, Martin!" "Can you speak up?" "I can't hear you, man." "Has anyone determined who passed him the blade?" "He was clean into the cell block." "That's the information we got." "It came from another prisoner, is what I'm hearing." "The razor blade has produced understandable conclusions about the cause of death." "But Mr. Martin here didn't die from self-inflicted injuries." " He sure as hell bled from them." " What did he die of?" "Well, he missed the carotid artery in the neck... and the wounds are nothing more than messy scratches." "You see this dark area here in the midbrain?" "That indicates a massive hemorrhage." "You're saying the kid tried to ice himself but screwed it up?" "He died of an aneurysm." "Of natural causes." "That's what you'll put in your report?" "You disagree?" "What killed this man was anything but natural." "Frank!" "I wasn't expecting you, but I'm glad you stopped by." "Would you like to take a look at the offices that I've set aside for you?" "I've just seen your show of good faith." " Really?" " Your client's dead." "But you know that." "Yeah." "The, uh, department notified me last night." "What I want to know is how you did it." "Fortuitous and timely, hmm?" "Our minor conflict of interest has been resolved." "I don't think so." "As I've said to you before, you needn't make up your mind now." "My offer remains open for as long... as is necessary." "You've come to me before." "So you've said." "You killed that kid, and I'm gonna connect you to it." "Frank." "You understand... that life for you and your wonderful family... can only become more difficult, more dangerous." " Don't threaten me." " Join me." "I can wait, Frank." "Your situation may not allow you that luxury." " Hey, Mike." " Where are you, Frank?" " On my way home." " Have you heard from Watts?" " No." " He called me an hour ago... said he was gonna meet me here with you." " Where are you?" " At my hotel." " I've got something you both should see." " I'm on my way." " Frank." " Peter." " He's not here." " He just called me." " He called you?" " Yeah." "He told me to meet him here." " He made it sound urgent." " Who called me?" "I thought you did." "No." "Mike?" "Mike!" " Go after him!" "Go after him!" " Do what you can for him!" "Hang on, Mike." "By Uriel and by Raziel... powers, principalities, thrones and dominions..." "I bind and command you, stand." "I, Sammiel... bound by his will... command you... depart." "Die, you son of a bitch." "Mike had been doing some background work." "He spoke about it briefly." "Said he'd found out some things about the attorney, Pepper." "I asked him to do that." "Before he passed, he told me that he didn't want you blaming yourself." "That... you told him to go home, that he was in danger." "I did." "I read what he put together on Pepper, if now's any time." "Pepper had a successful practice in the city..." "mostly conveyancing, real estate law." "Six months ago he had a heart attack." "Apparently, he was technically dead for a brief period of time." "The medical team managed to revive him, and after his recovery... he changed the focus of his legal work." "Martin was his first serious criminal client." "We've got a confession." "Nothing as to motive." "The kid admits to killing Pepper... but claims no part in the death of your associate, Atkins." "I'm sorry." "We're done with him for now." "Do you want some time with him before he's locked down?" "You didn't shoot Pepper, did you?" " I didn't see it that way." " You have a unique perspective." "All along, my question has never been..." ""how"... or "who"... but "why"." "Why did you act?" "Why stop Pepper?" "His own actions made it possible." "The murders?" "The babysitter and Mike Atkins?" "No." "His future actions." "He would not have stopped with Atkins." "My family." "You must understand." "You were not saved." "He was not prevented from doing harm to anyone." "He suffered the consequence of his own error." "Any benefit to you, to your family, was incidental." "What you did..." "had nothing to do with me?" "No." "There's not that kind of action." "I know you grieve deeply at the loss of your friends." "Yes." "We weep for ourselves." "Don't worry about me." "What happens here can only pain me, not harm me." "Good-bye, Frank." "I would like to talk to you again sometime." "Another time." "I'm sorry." "You have no idea how painful it is for me to be here." "Who is he?" "I don't know." "Maybe he's part of something all of us are otherwise unaware of." "Mike said something like that." "It made no sense to me." "He said something else." "He said... you should love your family as much as you can... and be prepared for the possibility that it may not be enough." " Peter." " Hi." "Frank." "It has to be enough." " What?" " Nothing." "I want to take you home." "Revision:" "Thor"