“In Murder, if you put someone away, anyone else he would’ve killed stays alive. You’re fighting one killer at a time, instead of the whole worst side of human nature, and you can beat one killer.”

Conway explains why the Murder Squad is different than other branches of police work. It doesn’t destroy hope because it offers a single achievable goal; they can at least stop one killer. 

“The slit-open eyes give her face a sly look, like a kid cheating at hide-and-seek.” 

Conway’s first impression of Aislinn is prophetic. Aislinn is playing a “sly” game: To get at McCann, she cheats by manipulating perceptions of who she is. 

“Murder isn’t like other squads. When it’s working right, it would take your breath away: it’s precision-cut and savage, lithe and momentous, it’s a big cat leaping full-stretch.”

Conway frequently uses a hunting analogy to describe the work she does. She also views herself as a top predator hunting other predators lower down on the food chain.