“At least all the girls were named,” said Seth. “For a while there, I was wondering if we would to have a repeat of the old scene. If the media hadn’t picked up the story, I suspect we’d still have some unidentified kids.”

Callahan nodded. “It’s amazing how some parents don’t know what their teens are up to.” An odd look flashed on Callahan’s face, and Seth wondered if the detective had kids.

Do you know where Eden is right this minute?

He didn’t. That was part of going to college. He wasn’t supposed to wonder about her whereabouts, because college freshman knew how to use a little common sense and look out for themselves. Supposedly. Seth shifted his weight on his barstool, and he fought an overpowering need to call his daughter. Just to hear her voice.

“Christ. My son’s in his freshman year in college all the way down in North Carolina. He could go missing for days, and I’d never know he was gone. All I get is an occasional text. Usually asking for money,” Callahan commented. “I’ve called him twice today and he hasn’t answered.”

“Kids that age don’t call. When I want to talk to my daughter, I have to send a text asking if this is a good time to call.” Seth frowned. “I should call her tonight.” He glanced at his watch. “But she’s got a dance class on Monday nights. I don’t think she’s home yet.”

“Yeah, I’d want to touch base with my daughter after days like these, too.”

“Do you think it’s a copycat killing?” Seth asked.

Callahan frowned and concentrated on dropping the level of his beer for a few moments. He wiped at his mouth with the back of his hand. “I don’t know what the hell it is. My mind’s been all over the map. If I assume this was orchestrated, and this group didn’t decide to commit mass suicide, it doesn’t point to a serial killer. Not yet. Not in the textbook sense anyway.”

“Textbook?”

“Serial killers often hunt humans for the sexual thrill it gives them. And they want to do it over and over again, believing they can outwit police. Did this scene give someone a sexual thrill? Possibly.” He eyed Seth. “According to you guys, none of the girls were touched in a sexual manner.”

“No evidence of any sort,” agreed Seth.

“So I ask myself, does that mean he’ll do it again?” He turned on his stool toward Seth, his face earnest. “Did this thrill him in a way such that he’ll want to outdo himself and take it to another level?”

Seth cringed. What would outdo that scene?

“Or was he a spree-type killer? That means he’ll kill a number of people in different locations, enjoying the journey. But those typically happen in a short period of time. Will he give us another scene tomorrow? Or has he already done it, and we haven’t found it?”

The detective was on a roll, the words flowing out of his mouth. Seth wondered how the man stayed sane with the multitude of twisted possibilities surging through his brain. No doubt Callahan questioned how Seth kept his sanity while staring at death all day long.

“Some people would say this was the work of a mass murderer. But those guys usually kill themselves at the scene or hope to go out with suicide by cop.” Callahan looked grim. “You guys are pretty sure it’ll be a phenobarbital overdose, right?”

“We’re waiting on the lab results. But that’s what it looks like. They had the remains of a dairy-based liquid in their stomachs and small intestines. We found the same thing in each stomach. There were no injection sites on any of them.”

Callahan nodded as Seth spoke. The detective knew all this. Seth was repeating what Dr. Campbell had told the police earlier.

“Last one to drink might be the one who’s still alive,” stated Callahan.

“Or maybe she had a smaller dose for some reason. It would lessen the effect of the drug in her system.” Seth shook his head in wonder. “But what does this tell you about the first set of deaths?”

Callahan snorted. “You see my problem. Two crimes. Decades apart. Who did it? And are they even fucking related?”

“I wish we had good autopsy notes on those old deaths.”

The detective nodded in agreement. “You don’t know how frequently I’ve wanted the same thing. But the women were well on their way to decomposition by the time they were found during the hot summer.”

“That’s one difference,” Seth muttered. “The time of year was different. And these were found so much quicker. Was that deliberate? What happened with the hiker who found this second set?”

“He’s a student at Portland State,” Callahan snorted. “Poor kid’s gonna be traumatized for the rest of his life. Didn’t seem to have too many sharp tools in his shed to begin with, but now he’s nearly a blithering idiot.”

“I take it your interview went well.”

“We’ll talk to him again. He was so shook up he could barely get a word out.”

“He’s a suspect?” Seth asked.

“He’s pretty low on the list.”

“Why? I’d think first on the scene would be an automatic high-level suspect.”

Callahan took a long drag on his beer and raised a brow at Seth. “I don’t recall questioning your slicing and dicing abilities.”

Seth’s hackles rose. “I’m not questioning how you’re doing your job. I’m just trying to understand your process.” He felt like he’d had his wrist slapped. Maybe he could have phrased his question better.