Chapters 18 through 28 Summary

Margo, D'Agosta, Frock, Waxie, Pendergast, and two detectives gather at Linnaeus Hall in the Museum to hear Brambell's presentation on the case. He says that he has been working on identifying the second victim by means of an orthopedic device Margo discovered on an x-ray. He says the bites appear to be human, that the victims appear to have been bitten while alive, and that the bites are not from Mbwun. The officers are torn, with Waxie saying that it's bound to be a single killer while others believe there are more than one. Pendergast clashes with D'Agosta's boss, who is impatiently demanding answers and who personally believes that there's a psychotic homeless person at the root of the killing. As the meeting breaks up, Smithback leaves the projection room where he's bribed himself a spot.

Waxie announces to D'Agosta that...