The Cold Moon (Lincoln Rhyme 7)

* Drinking more than usual, taken up gambling; trips to Vegas and Atlantic City. Losses were large, but not significant to Creeley.

* Not clear why he was depressed.

* Kessler didn't recognize burned records.

* Awaiting list of clients.

* Kessler doesn't appear to gain by Creeley's death.

* Sachs and Pulaski followed by AMG Mercedes.

FRANK SARKOWSKI HOMICIDE

* * *

* Sarkowski was 57 years old, no police record, murdered on November 4 of this year, survived by wife and two teenage children.

* Victim owned building and business in Manhattan. Business was doing maintenance for other companies and utilities.

* Art Snyder was case detective.

* No suspects.

* Murder/robbery?

* Was shot to death as part of apparent robbery. Weapon recovered on scene--Smith & Wesson knockoff, .38 Special, no prints, cold gun. Case detective believes it could have been a professional hit.

* Business deal went bad?

* Killed in Queens--not sure why he was there.

* Deserted part of borough, near natural gas tanks.

* File and evidence missing.

* File went to 158th Precinct on/around November 28. Never returned. No indication of requesting officer.

* No indication where it went in the 158th.

* DI Jefferies not cooperative.

* No known connection with Creeley.

* No criminal record--Sarkowski or company.

* Rumors--money going to cops at the 118th Precinct. Ended up someplace/someone with a Maryland connection. Baltimore mob involved?

* No leads.

Sachs stared at the chart for a half hour until her head began to nod. She returned upstairs, stripped, stepped into the shower and let the hot water pulse down on her, hard, stinging, for a long time. She dried off, pulled on a T-shirt and silk boxers, and returned to the bedroom.

She climbed into bed beside Rhyme and rested her head on his chest.

"You all right?" he asked groggily.

She said nothing but reached up and kissed his cheek. Then she lay back and stared at the bedside clock as the digital numbers flipped forward. The minutes passed slowly, slowly, each one an entire long day passing, until finally, close to 3 A.M., she slept.

II