The Burial Hour (Lincoln Rhyme 13)

Obvious: that she would become another hunter's prey.

Chapter 34

Later that evening, ten o'clock, the Composer team reconvened at the Questura.

All except Dante Spiro, the man who kept his own hours...and his own counsel.

Rhyme kept glancing impatiently into the lab, at Beatrice, who was silently plodding away in her analysis of the evidence. Her fingers were stubby, her hands small. Yet even from here Rhyme could see a deftness about her movements.

Rhyme was also aware of Thom, who'd glanced pointedly at his watch twice in the past few minutes. Yes, yes, I get it.

But Rhyme was in no mood to leave, certainly in no mood to sleep. He was exhilarated, as always when on a thorny case. Tired from the travel, yes, but sleep would remain evasive, he knew, even back in the luxurious hotel.

Sachs said, "But the killing: Intentional? Or because the snatch--the kidnapping--went bad? Somebody showed up. Or the victim saw him and fought back. After he was dead he left the noose as a concession to his plan."

"Or," Ercole offered, "his psychosis took over and he is becoming more homicidal. He doesn't want to take the time to make more compositions."

Beatrice Renza walked into the room, carrying a yellow pad with her notes. "Here, finally, is the things I have. For the board." She nodded to an easel. "And I have included the report from the notes by one of the present officers."

Ercole handed her the marker, conceding the handwriting issue without a fight.

She said, "Fammi la traduzione."

He nodded and he both spoke and spelled some of entries for her in English, correcting her errors as she wrote.

Capodichino Reception Center

--Victim: --Malek Dadi, 26.

--Tunisian national, lived in Libya, economic not political refugee.

--Causa di morte: loss of blood due to lacerated jugular vein and carotid artery (see medical officer's report).

--No murder weapon recovered.

--Crime scene trampled, largely destroyed.

--Individual spotted observing the camp within past day or two, fitting the Composer's description. No further information.

--Traces of amobarbital (anti-panic drug) found in soil beside victim, in suspect's footprint.

--Miniature noose, made from musical instrument string, no manufacturer determined. Probably cello. 32cm in length.

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

--Footprints: Converse Cons, Size 45, same as at other scenes.

--Witnesses report suspect drove large black or navy-blue vehicle.

--Post-it note, yellow. --Unable to determine source.

--Address written in blue ink (unable to determine source of ink): Filippo Argelati, 20-32, Milan.

--No readable fingerprints.

--Located under victim but unclear whether he or Composer or someone else was source.

--Camp officials presently searching for other witnesses.