Jeffery Deaver - The Broken Window

· Flecks of dried hair spray

· Polyester fibers

· Wool fibers

· Shoeprint of size 9 1/2 Bass walker

Witness reported man in tan-colored vest fleeing to black Honda Accord

EVIDENCE INVENTORY FROM SUSPECT’S HOUSE AND CAR:

· Grease on umbrella on patio, matching what was found at victim’s house

· Pair of 9 1/2 Bass walkers

· Clairol hair spray, matching fleck found at scene

· Knife/Trace embedded in handle:

· Dust matching nothing at either crime scene or suspect’s house

· Flecks of old cardboard

· Knife/Trace on blade:

· Victim’s blood. Positive match

· Suspect owned 2004 black Honda Accord

· One coin identified as coming from the collection of victim

· A Culberton Outdoor Company vest, tan. Polyester fiber found at the scene matches

· A wool blanket in the car. The wool fiber at the scene matches

Note: Prior to trial, investigators canvassed major coin dealers in metro area or on the Internet. No one attempted to fence the particular stolen coins.

“So if our perp stole the coins he’s kept them. And ‘dust matching nothing at either crime scene.’…That means it probably came from the perp’s house. But what the hell kind of dust is it? Didn’t they analyze it?” Rhyme shook his head. “Okay, I want to see the pictures. Where are they?”

“I’m getting them. Hold on.”

Sachs found some tape and mounted printouts on a third whiteboard. Rhyme maneuvered closer and squinted up at the dozens of photos of the crime scenes. The coin collector’s living space was tidy, the perp’s less so. The kitchen, where the coin and knife had been found, under the sink, was cluttered, the table covered with dirty dishes and food cartons. On the table was a pile of mail, most of it apparently junk.

“Next one,” he announced. “Let’s go.” He tried to keep his voice from tipping into impatience.

HOMICIDE/RAPE-APRIL 18

April 18

Crime: Homicide, rape

COD: Strangulation

Location: Brooklyn

Victim: Rita Moscone

Suspect: Joseph Knightly

EVIDENCE FROM VICTIM’S APARTMENT:

· Traces of Colgate-Palmolive Softsoap hand soap

· Condom lubricant

· Rope fibers

· Dust adhering to duct tape, matching no samplars in apartment

· Duct tape, American Adhesive brand

· Fleck of latex

· Wool/polyester fibers, black

· Tobacco on victim (see note below)

EVIDENCE FROM SUSPECT’S HOUSE:

· Durex condoms containing lubricant identical to that found on victim

· Coil of rope, fibers matching those found at crime scene

· Two-foot length of same rope, victim’s blood on it, along with two-inch strand of BASF B35 nylon 6, most likely source a doll’s hair

· Colgate-Palmolive Softsoap

· Duct tape, American Adhesive brand

· Latex gloves, matching the fleck found at the scene

· Men’s socks, wool-polyester blend, matching fiber found at scene. Another identical pair in the garage, containing traces of victim’s blood

· Tobacco from Tareyton cigarettes (see note below)

“The supposed perp saved his socks with blood on them and took them home with him? Bullshit. Planted evidence.” Rhyme read through the material again. “What’s the ‘note below’?”

Sachs found it: a few paragraphs to the prosecutor from the lead detective about possible problems with this case. She showed it to Rhyme.

Stan:

A couple potential glitches the defense might try to bring up:

– Possible contamination issue: Similar tobacco flakes found at crime scene and perp’s home, but neither the victim or the suspect smoked. Arresting officers and crime scene staff questioned, but assured lead detective that they were not the source.

– Found no DNA linking material, other than victim’s blood.

– Suspect has an alibi, eyewitness who placed him outside his own house-about four miles away, at around the time of the crime. Alibi witness is a homeless man who suspect gives money to occasionally.

“Had an alibi,” Sachs pointed out. “Who the jury didn’t believe. Obviously.”

“What do you think, Mel?” Rhyme asked.

“I’m sticking to my story. It all lines up too conveniently.”

Pulaski nodded. “The hair spray, the soap, the fibers, the lubricant…everything.”

Cooper continued, “They’re obvious choices for planted evidence. And look at the DNA-it’s not the suspect ’s at the crime scene; it’s the victim ’s at the suspect’s home. That’s a lot easier to plant.”

Rhyme continued to examine the charts, scanning slowly.

Sachs added, “But not all of the evidence matches. The old cardboard and the dust-those aren’t related to either scene.”

Rhyme said, “And the tobacco. Neither the vic nor the fall guy smoked. That means those might be from the real perp.”

Pulaski asked, “What about the doll’s hair? Does that mean he has kids?”

Rhyme ordered, “Tape up those pictures. Let’s take a look.”

Like the other scenes, the victim’s apartment and the perp’s house and garage had been well documented by the Crime Scene Unit. Rhyme scanned the photos. “No dolls. No toys at all. Maybe the real killer has children or some contact with toys. And he smokes or has some access to cigarettes or tobacco. Good. Oh, we’re on to something here.

“Let’s do a profile chart. We’ve been calling him ‘Mr. X.’ But we need something else for our perp… What’s today’s date?”

“May twenty-second,” Pulaski said.

“Okay. Unknown subject Five Twenty-Two. Sachs, if you would…” He nodded toward a whiteboard. “Let’s start the profile.”

UNSUB 522 PROFILE

· Male

· Possibly smokes or lives/works with someone who does, or near source of tobacco

· Has children or lives/works near them or near source of toys

· Interest in art, coins?

NONPLANTED EVIDENCE

· Dust

· Old cardboard

· Hair from doll, BASF B35 nylon 6

· Tobacco from Tareyton cigarettes

Well, it was a start, he reflected, if a pretty lame one.

“Should we call Lon and Malloy?” Sachs asked.

Rhyme scoffed. “And tell them what ?” He nodded at the chart. “I think our little clandestine operation’d get closed down pretty fast.”

“You mean, this isn’t official?” Pulaski asked.

“Welcome to the underground,” Sachs said.

The young officer digested this information.

“That’s why we’re in disguise,” Cooper added, pointing at the black satin strip on his tuxedo trousers. He might have winked but Rhyme couldn’t tell through his dense glasses. “What’re our next steps?”

“Sachs, call Crime Scene in Queens. We can’t get our hands on the evidence in my cousin’s case. With the trial coming up, all the P.E.’ll be in custody at the prosecutor’s office. But see if anybody at the warehouse can send us the evidence from these earlier crimes-the rape and the coin theft. I want the dust, cardboard and rope. And, Pulaski, you go down to the Big Building. I want you to look through the files of every murder in the past six months.”

“ Every murder?”

“The mayor’s cleaned up the city, didn’t you hear? Be thankful we’re not in Detroit or Washington. Flintlock thought of these two cases. I’ll bet there are others. Look for an underlying crime, maybe theft, maybe rape, ending in homicide. Clear class evidence and an anonymous call right after the crime. Oh, and a suspect who swears he’s innocent.”

“Okay, sir.”

“And us?” Mel Cooper asked.