cpatricia.unnaturalexposure-第13部分

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　in　hand　that　might　send　someone　to　court　for　murder。　We　greeted　each　other　without　slowing　down　as　I　headed　to　the　fibers　and　trace　evidence　lab；　which　was　big　and　quiet。　More　scientists　in　white　coats　were　bent　over　microscopes　and　working　at　their　desks；　black　counters　haphazardly　arranged　with　mysterious　bundles　wrapped　in　brown　paper。
　Aaron　Koss　was　standing　in　front　of　an　ultraviolet　lamp　that　was　glowing　purple…red　as　he　examined　a　slide　through　a　magnifying　lens　to　see　what　the　reflective　long　wavelengths　might　tell　him。
　'Good　morning；'　I　said。
　'Same　to　you。'　Koss　grinned。
　Dark　and　attractive；　he　seemed　too　young　to　be　an　expert　in　microscopic　fibers；　residues；　paints　and　explosives。　This　morning；　he　was　in　faded　jeans　and　running　shoes。
　'No　court　for　you；'　I　said；　for　one　could　usually　tell　by　the　way　people　were　dressed。
　'Nope。　Lucky　me；'　he　said。　'Bet　you're　curious　about　your　fibers。'
　'I　was　in　the　neighborhood；'　I　said。　'Thought　I'd　drop　by。'
　I　was　notorious　for　making　evidence　rounds；　and　in　the　main；　the　scientists　endured　my　intensity　patiently；　and　in　the　end　were　grateful。　I　knew　I　pressured　them　when　caseloads　were　already　overwhelming。　But　when　people　were　being　murdered　and　dismembered；　evidence　needed　to　be　examined　now。
　'Well；　you've　granted　me　a　reprieve　from　working　on　our　pipe…bomber；'　he　said　with　another　smile。
　'No　luck　with　that；'　I　assumed。
　'They　had　another　one　last　night。　I…195　North　near　Laburnum；　right　under　the　nose　of　Special　Operations。　You　know；　where　Third　Precinct　used　to　be；　if　you　can　believe　that？'
　'Let's　hope　the　person　sticks　with　just　blowing　up　traffic　signs；'　I　said。
　'Let's　hope。'　He　stepped　back　from　the　UV　lamp　and　got　very　serious。　'Here's　what　I've　got　so　far　from　what　you've　turned　in　to　me。　Fibers　from　fabric　remnants　embedded　in　bone。　Hair。　And　trace　that　was　adhering　to　blood。'
　'Her　hair？'　I　asked；　perplexed；　for　I　had　not　receipted　the　long；　grayish　hairs　to　Koss。　That　was　not　his　specialty。
　'What　I　saw　under　the　scope　don't　look　human　to　me；'　he　replied。　'Maybe　two　different　types　of　animal。　I've　sent　them　on　to　Roanoke。'
　The　state　had　only　one　hair　expert；　and　he　worked　out　of　the　western　district　forensic　labs。
　'What　about　the　trace？'　I　asked。
　'My　guess　is　it's　going　to　be　debris　from　the　landfill。　But　I　want　to　look　under　the　electron　microscope。　What　I've　got　under　UV　now　is　fibers；'　he　went　on。　'I　should　say　they're　fragments；　really；　that　I　gave　an　ultrasonic　bath　in　distilled　water　to　remove　blood。　You　want　to　take　a　look？'
　He　gave　me　room　to　peer　through　the　lens；　and　I　smelled　Obsession　cologne。　I　could　not　help　but　smile；　for　I　remembered　being　his　age　and　still　having　the　energy　to　preen。　There　were　three　mounted　fragments　fluorescing　like　neon　lights。　The　fabric　was　white　or　off…white；　one　of　them　spangled　with　what　looked　like　iridescent　flecks　of　gold。
　'What　in　the　world　is　it？'　I　glanced　up　at　him。
　'Under　the　stereoscope；　it　looks　synthetic；'　he　replied。　'The　diameters　regular；　consistent　like　they　would　be　if　they；　were　extruded　through　spinnerettes；　versus　being　natural　and　irregular。　Like　cotton；　let's　say。'
　'And　the　fluorescing　flecks？'　I　was　still　looking。
　'That's　the　interesting　part；'　he　said。　'Though　I've　got　to　do　further　tests；　at　a　glance　it　looks　like　paint。'
　I　paused　for　a　moment　to　imagine　this。　'What　kind？'　I　asked。
　'It's　not　flat　and　fine　like　automotive。　This　is　gritty；　more　granular。　Seems　to　be　a　pale；　eggshell　color。　I'm　thinking　it's　structural。'
　'Are　these　the　only　fragments　and　fibers　you've　looked　at？
　'I'm　just　getting　started。'　He　moved　to　another　countertop　and　pulled　out　a　stool。　'I've　looked　at　all　of　them　under　UV；　and　I'd　say　that　about　fifty　percent　of　them　have　this　paint…type　substance　soaked　into　the　material。　And　although　I　can't　definitively　say　what　the　fabric　is；　I　do　know　that　all　of　the　samples　you　submitted　are　the　same　type；　and　probably　from　the　same　source。'
　He　placed　a　slide　in　the　stage　of　a　polarizing　microscope；　which；　like　Ray…Ban　sunglasses；　reduced　glare；　splitting　light　in　different　waves　with　different　refractive　index　values　to　give　us　yet　another　clue　as　to　the　identity　of　the　material。
　'Now；'　he　said；　adjusting　the　focus　as　he　stared　into　the　lens　without　blinking。　'This　is　the　biggest　fragment　recovered；　about　the　size　of　a　dime。　There　are　two　sides　to　it。'
　He　moved　out　of　the　way　and　I　looked　at　fibers　reminiscent　of　blond　hairs　with　speckles　of　pink　and　green　along　the　shaft。
　'Very　consistent　with　polyester；'　Koss　explained。　'Speckles　are　delusterants　used　in　manufacturing　so　the　material　isn't　shiny。　I　also　think　there's　some　rayon　mixed　in；　and　based　on　all　this　would　have　decided　what　you've　got　here　is　a　very　mon　fabric　that　could　be　used　in　almost　anything。　Anything　from　blouses　to　bedspreads。　But　there's　one　big　problem。'
　He　opened　a　bottle　of　liquid　solvent　used　for　temporary　mountings；　and　with　tweezers；　removed　the　cover　slide　and　carefully　turned　the　fragment　over。　Dripping　xylene；　he　covered　the　slide　again　and　motioned　for　me　to　bend　close。
　'What　do　you　see？'　he　asked；　and　he　was　proud　of　himself。
　'Something　grayish　and　solid。　Not　the　same　material　as　the　other　side。'　I　looked　at　him　in　surprise。　'This　fabric　has　a　backing　on　it？'
　'Some　kind　of　thermoplastic。　Probably　polyethylene　terephthalate。'
　'Which　is　used　in　what？'　I　wanted　to　know。
　'Primarily　soft　drink　bottles；　film。　Blister　packs　used　in　packing。'
　I　stared　at　him；　baffled；　for　I　did　not　see　how　those　products　could　have　anything　to　do　with　this　case。
　'What　else？'　I　asked。
　He　thought。　'Strapping　materials。　And　some　of　it；　like　bottles；　can　be　recycled　and　used　for　carpet　fibers；　fiberfill；　plastic　lumber。　Just　about　anything。'
　'But　not　fabric　for　clothing。'
　He　shook　his　head；　and　said　with　certainty；　'No　way。　The　fabric　in　question　is　a　rather　mon；　crude　polyester　blend　lined　with　a　plastic…type　material。　Definitely　not　like　any　clothing　I've　ever　heard　of。　Plus；　it　appears　to　be　saturated　with　paint。'
　'Thank　you；　Aaron；'　I　said。　'This　changes　everything。'
　When　I　got　back　to　my　office；　I　was　surprised　and　annoyed　to　find　Percy　Ring　sitting　in　a　chair　across　from　my　desk；　flipping　through　a　notebook。
　'I　had　to　be　in　Richmond　for　an　interview　at　Channel　Twelve；'　he　innocently　said；　'so　I　thought　I　might　as　well　e　by　to　see　you。　They　want　to　talk　to　you；　too。'　He　smiled。
　I　did　not　answer　him；　but　my　silence　was　loud　as　I　sat　in　my　chair。
　'I　didn't　think　you　would　do　the　interview。　And　that's　what　I　told　them；'　he　went　on　in　his　easy；　affable　way。
　'And　so　tell　me；　what　exactly　did　you　say　this　time？'　My　tone　was　not　nice。
　'Excuse　me？'　His　smile　faded　and　his　eyes　got　hard。　'What's　that　supposed　to　mean？'
　'You're　the　investigator。　Figure　it　out。'　My　eyes　were　just　as　hard　as　his。
　He　shrugged。　'I　gave　the　usual。　Just　the　basic　information　about　the　case　and　its　similarities　to　the　other　ones。'
　'Investigator　Ring；　let　me　make　this　very　clear　yet　one　more　time；'　I　said　with　no　attempt　to　hide　my　disdain　for　him。　'This　case　is　not　necessarily　like　the　other　ones；　and　we　should　not　be　discussing　it　with　the　media。'
　'Well；　now；　it　appears　you　and　I　have　a　different　perspective；　Dr　Scarpetta。'
　Handsome　in　a　dark　suit　and　paisley　suspenders　and　tie；　he　looked　remarkably　credible。　I　could　not　help　but　recall　what　Wesley　had　said　about　Ring's　ambitions　and　connections；　and　the　idea　that　this　egotistical　idiot　would　one　day　run　the　state　police　or　be　elected　to　Congress　was　one　I　could　not　stand。
　'I　think　the　public　has　a　right　to　know　if　there's　a　psycho　in　their　midst；'　he　was　saying。
　'And　that's　what　you　said　on　TV。'　My　irritation　flared　hotter。　'That　there's　a　psycho　in　our　midst。'
　'I　don't　remember　my　exact　words。　The　real　reason　I　stopped　by　is　I'm　wondering　when　I'm　going　to　get　a　copy　of　the　autopsy　report。'
　'Still　pending。'
　'I　need　it　as　soon　as　I　can　get　it。'　He　looked　me　in　the　eye。　'The　monwealth's　Attorney　wants　to　know　what's　going　on。
　I　couldn't　believe　what　I'd　just　heard。　He　would　not　be　talking　to　a　C。A。　unless　there　was　a　suspect。
　'What　are　you　saying？'　I　asked。
　'I'm　looking　hard　at　Keith　Pleasants。'
　I　was　incredulous。
　'There　are　a　lot　of　circumstantial　things；'　he　went　on；　'not　the　least　of　which　is　how　he　just　so　happened　to　be　the　one　operating　the　Cat　when　the　torso　was　found。　You　know；　he　usually　doesn't　operate　earth…moving　equipment；　and　then　just　happens　to　be　in　the　driver's　seat　at　that　exact　moment？'
　'I　should　think　that　makes　him　more　a　victim　than　a　suspect。　If　he's　the　killer；'　I　continued；　'one　might　expect　that　he　wouldn't　have　wanted　to　be　within　a　hundred　miles　of　the　landfill　when　the　body　was　found。'
　'Psychopaths　like　to　be　right　there；'　he　said　as　if　he　knew。　'They　fantasize　about　what　it　would　be　like　to　be　there　when　the　victim　is　discovered。　They　get　off　on　it；　like　that　ambulance　driver　who　murdered　women；　then　dumped　them　in　the　area　he　covered。　When　it　was　time　to　go　on　duty；　he'd　call　911　so　he　was　the　one　who　ended　up　responding。'
　In　addition　to　his　degree　in　psychology；　he　no　doubt　had　attended　a　lecture　on　profiling；　too。　He　knew　it　all。
　'Keith　lives　with　his　mother；　who　I　think　he　really　resents；'　he　went　on；　smoothing　his　tie。　'She　had　him　late　in　life；　is　in　her　sixties。　He　takes　care　of　her。'
　'Then　his　mother　is　still　alive　and　accounted　for；'　I　said。
　'Right。　But　that　doesn't　mean　he　didn't　take　out　his　aggressions　on　some　other　poor　old　woman。　Plus　　and　you　won't　believe　this　　in　high　school；　he　worked　at　the　meat　counter　of　a　grocery　store。　He　was　a　butcher's　assistant。'
　I　did　not　tell　him　that　I　did　not　think　a　meat　saw　had　been　used　in　this　case；　but　let　him　talk。
　'He's　never　been　very　social；　which　again　fits　the　profile。'　He　continued　spinning　his　fantastic　web。　'And　it's　rumored　among　the　other　guys　who　work　at　the　landfill　that　he's　homosexual。'
　'Based　on　what？'
　'On　the　fact　he　doesn't　date　women　or　even　seem　interested　in　them　when　the　other　guys　make　remarks；　jokes。　You　know　how　it　is　with　a　bunch　of　rough　guys。'
　'Describe　the　house　he　lives　in。'　I　thought　of　the　photographs