Twisted Minds

Takiawase

RIVER - DAY-

Nimble fingers tie the lines of leader and tippet, wrapping the end of one line around the other. "Wrap the leader around the tippet. Four, five, six times. Tuck the end between the lines. Tighten. Trim." The fingers produce a small pair of scissors and trim. WILL GRAHAM wearing waders, thigh deep in water. Will finishes tying the leader and the tippet together.

"It's called a blood knot." Will is talking to ABIGAIL HOBBS, also wearing waders, standing next to him, watching him complete the knot. "Your father taught you how to hunt. I'm going to teach you how to fish."

"Same thing, isn't it? One you lure, the other you stalk?"

"One you catch, the other you shoot."

"What are you trying to catch?"

"The one who caught you... and didn't let you go."

"The one that got away."

"Catch a fish once and it gets away, it's a lot harder to catch again."

"Have to be smarter than the fish."

"You have to connect to the fish. The fish is in the current, you're connected to the river. Have to be still. Have to be close. Have to think clearly, control your emotions and act efficiently. Never let the fish know you're fishing."

"Don't fishermen always lie about what they catch? Or don't catch. Everybody thinks you're lying about the one that got away."

"That's why I have to catch him."

"I hope you do." Will gathers up his pole, ready to cast his line. "Last thing before casting a line:

name the bait on your hook after somebody you cherished."

"So you can say good-bye?

"If the person you name it after cherished you, as the superstition goes, you'll catch the fish." Will casts the line and watches it plunk in the distance. "What did you name it?"

"Abigail."

BSHCI - WILL GRAHAM'S CELL - DAY-

Will stands in the middle of his cell, or figuratively in the currents of the river of his mind. The RIDGES OF HIS IRIS look like sand dunes. A KLAXON SOUNDS down the corridor and Will's PUPIL FLUCTUATES. Will Graham holds the HUMAN MURAL CRIME SCENE PHOTO on one side of the bars, while BEVERLY KATZ and DR. CAROLINE BAILIE stands on the other.

"You both were right. Killer was in the mural. Just where you said he'd be." Bev says as she looks between us. "The lion among the lambs." I say softly as I look into Will's eyes.

"His name was James Gray. Found his vehicle near the farm. Enough DNA in the bed of his truck for us to be confident he's the Muralist." Bev says as Will glances at a REPORT in the same file as the mural photo. "You found as much evidence on him as you did on me." Says Will as He glances up from the report. "I'm glad you said it." Beverly says with a nod.

"Who sewed him into the mural?" Will asks as he continues to gaze upon the Report.

"We don't know. But clearly, he didn't do it himself. He may have had a partner. Another killer. Maybe they had a suicide pact." Bev says as I shake my head, "There was no partner. This Muralist acted alone right up until he was sewn into his own mural." I say just as I had before.

"No signs of a struggle." Beverly says as she points to the man in the mural.

"Whoever he is, this second killer understood the Muralist well enough to find his canvas. Well enough to convince him to be part of it. He's charming and he's insightful." Will says as he looks at me with a knowing soft smile. We both know. He finally Knows that I know too.