Stuart Woods_Stone Barrington 14

Thomas; you’re about to have visitors.”
    â€œWho?”
    â€œThe local police and a Colonel duBois, who is Croft’s replacement. Be careful in dealing with him.”
    â€œI will,” Dino said. He looked up to see a car stopping outside. “They’re here; thanks, Thomas.” Dino got his and Genevieve’s passports and his NYPD ID from their room and went outside. Genevieve was looking up with big eyes at two uniformed policemen and a civilian. “Gosh,” she said. “Are you the police?”
    Dino walked to the table. “Good afternoon, gentlemen,” he said. “May I help you?” He gave them a little smile.
    â€œYes, indeed, you may,” said the civilian, who was wearing a sharply cut tan suit that set off his cafe-au-lait coloring. “What is your name?”
    â€œI am Lieutenant Dino Bacchetti, of the New York City Police Department,” he said, handing the man his badge wallet.
    The man inspected the badge and ID card closely.
    â€œMay I know your name?” Dino asked pleasantly.
    The man looked up at him. “I am Colonel Marcel duBois, of the Home Office.”
    Dino offered his hand. “How do you do?”
    DuBois shook it hastily. “May I see your passports.” It wasn’t a question.
    â€œOf course,” Dino replied, handing them over. He waved a hand at the table. “Would you like some lunch or a glass of iced tea? It’s always interesting to meet a colleague.”
    DuBois looked at him sharply. “Colleague?”
    â€œWe are both police officers, are we not?”
    DuBois ignored the question. “What is your business on St. Marks?”
    â€œWe are here on vacation.”
    â€œFor how long?”
    â€œWe had planned to leave tomorrow, but I understand travel has been interrupted because of a murder.”
    â€œWhat do you know of this murder, Lieutenant Bacchetti?”
    â€œOnly that it occurred and that the victim was Colonel Croft. I assume you are his replacement?”
    â€œThat is so. What other details do you have of this murder?”
    â€œNone whatever, I’m afraid. In my work in New York I have specialized in homicides for many years. If I can be of any assistance, I would be happy to do so.”
    â€œThank you, that will not be necessary. We have the required skills and experience in our own department.”
    â€œI’m sure you do; I just thought that an outside opinion might be helpful.”
    â€œOpinion of what?”
    â€œInterpretation of the evidence.”
    â€œWe do not share evidence of crimes with outsiders.”
    â€œAs you wish.”
    Now duBois seemed intrigued. “What would you say of this, Lieutenant? Colonel Croft was shot while sitting in the central courtyard of the St. Marks Police Station.”
    â€œFrom inside the station?”
    â€œFrom outside.”
    â€œA rifle shot, then.”
    â€œThat is our assumption.”
    â€œThen the shooter would have needed elevation.”
    â€œQuite.”
    â€œAnd a rifle with sufficient muzzle velocity to be accurate at a distance.”
    â€œQuite.”
    â€œI would first look for the shooter’s location, and when I found it I would isolate the scene and look for evidence, such as cartridge casings and fibers from the shooter’s clothing. I would also look for fingerprints.”
    â€œOf course; that will be done.”
    Dino waved duBois to a chair and sat down himself. “Someone loading a rifle would leave fingerprints on the cartridge casings, unless he was careful to wear gloves or wipe them clean.”
    â€œYes,” duBois said. “Go on.”
    Dino was beginning to get the impression that duBois had never investigated a homicide. Probably, with his Haitian police background, he was more accustomed to committing than solving them.
    â€œHave you located the shooter’s firing point?”
    â€œWe believe it to be an abandoned fire tower on a hill not far from the police station.”
    â€œThen I would also look for tire tracks and footprints, and if the tower is accessed by a ladder or stairs, I would look for prints on the rungs or banisters. I would also look for DNA evidence, if the shooter, perhaps, spat or left a coffee cup or cut himself while climbing the tower. Hairs would be helpful, too.”
    â€œAll of that will be sought, of course,” duBois replied.
    Dino was surprised he wasn’t taking notes. “Do