Summary

In Chapter 11, Ballard goes for a walk around Carpenter's neighborhood while waiting for forensics to arrive. From the previous cases, they assumed the attackers chose a neighborhood with easy access and picked a victim at random. The Dell is a different kind of topography without easy access. She now considers that Carpenter was specifically targeted. Ballard believes this means the attackers encountered her somewhere in her daily life. The forensics technician arrives in an almost silent electric car. He introduces himself as Reno. He promises to be fast considering Carpenter's fragile state. Ballard begins talking to neighbors. One older woman is frightened and wants Ballard's reassurance, but she has no information. Ballard examines a couple of doorbell videos but finds nothing useful. Reno also gets nothing. Ballard talks to Carpenter who is upset that the neighbors now know about the attack. Ballard assures...