WHAT I ASKED JOANNA WADE was whether Nicholas Jenks was capable of murder. I couldn't tell her the reason, but it didn't matter. Joanna was a quick study. I saw the shock in her eyes. After she calmed, I watched her go through a thoughtful evaluation. Finally, she looked at me and asked again, "Have you ever read his books, Inspector?" "One, Fatal Charm. Tough book." "He lives with those characters, Inspector. Sometimes I think he forgets it's only what he does for a living." I saw the self-judging look in her eyes. I leaned in closer. "I don't mean to hurt you. But I have to know." "Could he kill? Is he capable of murder? I know he's capable of completely debasing another human being. That's murder, isn't it? He's what they call a sexual sadist. His father used to beat his mother in their bedroom closet as an aphrodisiac. He preys on weakness. Yes, the famous Nicholas Jenks humiliated me… But let me tell you the worst thing, the very worst. He left me, Inspector. I didn't leave him." Joanna leaned back and gave me sort of a compassionate smile. "I've seen Chessy around a few times. Luncheons, benefits. We've even spoken a bit. He hasn't changed. She knows I know exactly what she's going through. But it's something we can't share. I see the fear. I know how it is. When she looks in the mirror, she no longer recognizes the person she once was." My blood was at the boiling point. Through the tough veneer, I saw a glimpse of the woman Joanna Wade had been- young, needing, confused. I reached out and touched her hand. I had my answer. I closed my pad, ready to get up, when Joanna surprised me. "I thought it was him. Not really. But I thought of Nick when I heard about those terrible crimes. I thought about his book, and I said, It could be him." I stopped Joanna. "What book?" "That first thing he wrote. Always a Bridesmaid. I figured that's what brought you here, what connected him to the murders." I stared at her, confused. "Just what are you talking about?" "I barely remember it. He wrote it before we met. I was lucky enough to come in for the second unpublished one, which, I'm told, he recently sold for two million. But this book I'd totally forgotten about until recently. It was about a student in law school who discovers his wife with his best friend. He kills them both. Ends up going on a rampage." "What kind of rampage?" I asked. What she said next made me gasp. "He goes around killing brides and grooms. A lot like what happened."