" What do we got?" he asked getting down to business.

" Possibly similar m.o. to the others. Victim was being dragged from the house. Perp began to repeatedly stab victim, but was startled by our witness."

" Where is our witness?"

" Over there," Terry pointed towards the ambulance," He's pretty shaken."

Don nodded heading towards the vehicle. He was barely aware that Charlie had joined him.

The younger Eppes watched everything around him, though his eyes seemed far away. He had seen scenes like this before, while helping his brother, but not everyone was the same. The ratios of personel to vehicles, men to women, the pattern of the water drops from neighborhood sprinklers, and the formation of houses, it was always different. Slowly Don's voice pulled him back to reality.

" Hello, I'm Agent Don Eppes of the FBI. THis is my brother Charlie."

Charlie gave a slight wave of greeting to the pale teenager. The kid was visibley shaking. His eyes were red and blotchy as though he had been crying and his voice was barely a whisper.

" Nice t-to meet you," he said nodding to Charlie.

" Alright," Don started soothingly," We need you to tell us everything that happened. As well and as accurately as you can."

The boy nodded, closing his eyes.

" I was going for my regular walk," he started, " The neighborhood's normally quiet during this time of day. I, um, have been working out and I needed to relieve some stress."

The teenager smiled. His eyes seemed to glimmer with tears.

" As I was rounding the corner I thought I heard this...this scream. It startled me and I, stupidly, went over to investigate. I ran next to the bushes and I saw it... He was on the ground...yelling...holding his hand up," the boy covered his face, " Then that...that...that," the boy froze.

" It's alright," Don replied placing a reassuring hand on the boy's shoulder, " You've given us enough."

The boy smiled, and suddenly lost it. Grabbing a bucket next to him he began to throw up. Don held him and the bucket steady. Charlie made a motion to help but paused at a warning look from Don.

Finally the boy replied, " Thanks."

" No problem."

Don motioned for Charlie to follow him. When they were a safe distant from the kid he said, " So what do you think?"

" I think we're after another killer," Charlie replied honestly.

"What!" Don yelled incredously, " You can't be serious!"

" I am, Don, look. Whoever did this... His m.o's different. He..."

" No, Charlie, it's the same guy. It has to be."

" How can you be sure?"

" Because I am. I know this guy's m.o.. I've been studying these murders a lot longer then you have."

" It doesn't fit the pattern!" Charlie protested, " From what I can tell the real killer wouldn't have left a witness. He just wouldn't!"

Don felt the anger rise in him. Breathing in he tried to calm down.

" Okay, okay," he said, " We don't know if this is the same guy or not. We need to get back to the office and you can do...you can figure out this pattern. Okay?"

" Okay," Charlie agreed.

Silently the two got into the car. The same silence stayed with them the rest of the way.