The Burial Hour (Lincoln Rhyme 13)

A half hour later Beatrice Renza walked from the sterile portion of the lab and joined them, clipboard in her grip. She handed it to Ercole without comment and picked up a marker. He translated and she wrote.

Capodichino Reception Center Kidnapping

--Victim: --Khaled Jabril, Libyan citizen, 36. Asylum-seeker. Tripoli.

--Eurodac: No criminal/terrorist connection.

--Tire print Michelin 205/55R16 91H, same as at other scenes.

--Perpetrator's shoe recovered in struggle. --Converse Con, Size 101/2 (m)/13 (f)/45 (European) --Minimum wear.

--No fingerprints, but evidence of latex glove prints present.

--DNA evidence collected. --Matches Composer's.

--Gamma hydroxybutyric acid.

--Triacylglycerols, free fatty acids, glycerol, sterols, phosphatides, dark-green pigment. Microscopic fragments of what appears to be organic material.

--Miniature noose, from musical instrument string, as at other scenes. --Cello.

--No fingerprints.

--No DNA.

--Trace collected from clothing of Fatima Jabril. --Soil from Capodichino area.

--Nothing else distinctive.

"No fingerprints on his shoe?" Rhyme muttered. "What the hell does he do? Wear gloves in his sleep?" Then, frowning. "That entry: the gamma hydroxybutyric. The hell is that doing there?"

Spiro said, "Yes, how can that be?"

Ercole had a conversation with Beatrice. He said, "It was recovered from soil in the tread of the Composer's shoe."

"Impossible. It's not from this case. It's from the Garry Soames case. That's the date-rape drug. There's been cross-contamination. Hell."

Rossi now explained this to Beatrice, who replied in an even tone, not in the least defensive. The inspector said, "She says she too was surprised to find the drug on the shoe. She was very careful with the evidence. There was no contamination in the lab. Garry Soames's clothing was processed in a different part of the lab and by a different examiner."

All eyes were now on Ercole. Spiro said, "You picked it up, Forestry Officer. And you collected the drug trace at Garry Soames' apartment."

"Yes. And I wore gloves. Then and now. And the shoes were in a sealed evidence bag."

"Still, there is obvious contamination."

"If I am responsible for this, then I'm sorry. But I do not believe I am."

Beatrice turned her round, stony face his way.

Rhyme saw the dismay in the young man's eyes. Lesson delivered. "It's not the end of the world, Ercole. The problem will be at trial. A defense lawyer could get the evidence from the shoe thrown out on those grounds. But we can ignore it for the moment. Our goal is to find him. The contamination'll be the U.S. attorney's problem at trial in the Southern District."

Spiro chuckled. "You mean, Lincoln, it will be my problem in the Tribunale di Napoli."

Rhyme shot him a wry look.

The Wolf Tits Rule...

Reading again, Rhyme said, "Now, those triacylglycerols, free fatty acids, pigment."