He is free while she is in prison. But she has control over him body and soul.  As a result of his experience he has been left divorced, tormented and addicted to painkillers.  In exchange for her cooperation in giving up the location of the bodies of some of her victims Gretchen insists she will only give her confession to Sheridan.

Now another killer is seizing young teenage girls.  He is called "The After School Strangler".  The bodies of the tortured girls, which have all been soaked in a tub of bleach, are dumped around the Portland area. Sheridan is head of a task force investigating the murders and turns for help to Gretchen for her insight about the murderer.  Young reporter Susan Ward is assigned to profile Sheridan to make up for the mix-up in the media in the "Beauty Killer" case.  A competitive atmosphere develops between her and Gretchen.  Sheridan must capture the killer and save himself, and free himself from Gretchen.

Heart Sick is reminiscent of The Silence of the Lambs and Hannibal Lector. It is well crafted.   The story shifts from the recent search for the killer to Sheridan's twisted relationship with Gretchen.  The plot is a compelling one with outstanding characters.  The pace is unrelenting...a real page turner.  The descriptions of Gretchen's treatment of Sheridan are graphic and horrific.  The damp Portland locale adds to the chilling atmosphere of the story.