The Steel Kiss (Lincoln Rhyme 12)

"Right."

Arson produces very distinct patterns as flames start and spread. It's at the origin site that investigators can expect to find the best evidence about the perp.

He read from the GC/MS monitor. "Traces of wax, low-octane gasoline--not enough to link it to a particular maker--and cotton, plastic, matches."

"Candle bomb."

"Right."

A simple improvised explosive device can be made from a jug of gasoline, using a candle as a fuse.

Cooper confirmed that the trace was so minimal he couldn't source any of the other ingredients in the unsub's IED. As Rhyme had suspected.

Sachs got another call, coughed a bit before taking it. "Hello?" Nodding, listening. "Thanks."

It wasn't good news, Rhyme could tell.

She finished up the call and turned to the others in the room. "Full canvass of the neighborhood. No one saw him. He must've left just after setting the bomb."

A shrug. Nothing other than Rhyme had expected.

A moment later another call. Rodney Szarnek's name flashed onto caller ID.

Ah, let's hope for the best.

"Answer," Rhyme commanded.

The rock music was back. But only momentarily. Before Rhyme could say, "Shut the damn music off, please," the officer downed the volume.

"Lincoln."

"Rodney, you're on speaker here with... a bunch of people. No time for roll call. Was Todd Williams's computer salvageable?"

A pause, which Rhyme took to be one of surprise. "Well, sure. A fall like that is nothing. You can drop a computer out of an airplane and the data'll survive. Black boxes, you know."

"What do you have?"

"Looks like the relationship between this Williams and your unsub is recent. I found some emails between them. I'll send them to you."

A moment later a secure email popped up on the screen. They read the first of the attachments accompanying it.

Hello, Todd. I read you're blog and I feel the same way, what society is coming to is not good and electronics and the digital world are making it a much more dangerous place then it needs to be. Their has to be some way to change the system. Money is the root of it of course as you suggest, I would like to try to help in you're cause. Can we meet?

P.G.

Archer said, "Ah. We have initials."

"Maybe," Rhyme said. "Go on, Rodney."

Szarnek continued, "Your unsub used an anonymous email account. Logged in from an untraceable IP. They set up a meeting for the day of the murder."

Cooper looked over the email. "Not particularly smart. Look at the mistakes, commas, and the homonyms. Y-O-U apostrophe R-E instead of 'your.' And 'Their' too."

Rhyme corrected, "Heteronyms. Same pronunciation, different spelling and meaning. Homonyms have the same pronunciation and same spelling but different meaning."

Staring at the screen, Archer provided the classic examp

le: "Bark--what a dog does and a covering on a tree. Homonym." She then added, "But I don't think he's stupid. I think he's pretending to be. Run-on sentences, the heteronyms--they're obvious. But he uses the clause 'as you suggest' correctly. Not 'like you suggest.'"