Byrne stopped for coffee in North Philly. He washed his face and hands in the bathroom. Fatigue was a shambling monster within. When he slipped back into the van he turned on his cellphone and saw that he had five messages. All from Jessica. He called her. 'Where are you?' Byrne asked.

    'I'm at Jefferson Hospital,' Jessica said.

    Jefferson? Why?'

    'I ran into an old friend of mine today.'

    'What are you talking about? Who?'

    'Lucas Anthony Thompson.'

    'What? How?'

    Jessica gave him a brief recap, starting with the suicide of Joseph Novak, the voicemail from the dead, the existence of Novak's journal, and the assault by Lucas Thompson on her. Byrne took a moment to absorb it all.

    'Man, I leave the city for one minute,' he said.

    'Tell me about it.'

    'Is Thompson in custody?'

    'No,' Jessica said. 'He's dead. And Novak's journal is gone.' She filled him in on the rest of the details.

    'Where did it happen?'

    Jessica told him.

    'That was the Kimmelman crime scene, wasn't it?' 'Yeah.'

    'Have they moved him yet?'

    'Yeah. CSU is all over the place.'

    'I'm going to stop there,' Byrne said. 'When did they say you could get out of there?'

    'About an hour or so. Vincent is with Sophie. Can you pick me up?' 'I'll be there.'