"If I may make a suggestion," Modred said, "why not redirect them all toward the Bureau field agent?

Technically, the case is out of your jurisdiction, anyway."

"If I may make a suggestion," Modred said, "why not redirect them all toward the Bureau field agent?

Technically, the case is out of your jurisdiction, anyway."

"Well, I've never been one to pass the buck," said Loomis , "but in this case, I think I'll make an

exception. I keep thinking that if I'd stayed in Chicago, I could've retired by now and this whole thing

could have been someone else's headache." He smiled wryly. "But on the other hand, how many cops

ever get to work on a case involving an immortal serial killer? Hell, I could retire, write a book, sell the

mini-series, and become rich."

"Joe . . ." said Paul.

"Just kidding," Loomis said. He glanced at Modred. "Were you serious about being able to make me

forget all this?"

"Absolutely," Modred said. "It's a relatively uncomplicated spell and quite safe, I assure you. You

wouldn't even know that anything was different. It would be like a form of highly selective amnesia."

Loomis took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "And I suppose there'd be nothing I could do to stop

you."

"No."

"Well . . . we'll cross that bridge when we come to it," said Loomis. "In the meantime, we've got us a

killer to catch."

It was almost six in the morning by the time they returned to Paul's house. Billy was alone, waiting for

them, drinking black coffee, and chain-smoking cigarettes. "Where the bloody 'ellwere you?" he

demanded. "What 'appened?"

Modred had shapechanged back to Wyrdrune on their way home, just to play it safe. By now, in

keeping with the cover story of Modred's having failed to make the meeting, Loomis would have had to

put out an All Points Bulletin on him. Fortunately, Paul hadn't told Loomis about Modred's ability to