The Burning Wire

Also, there’s some variation on ascenders and descenders. You get that when a subject is upset, emotional. They’re writing in anger or distress, and broader strokes tend to be emphasized.”
    “Good.” Rhyme nodded at Cooper, who jotted this too onto the profile board.
    “Thanks, Parker. We’ll get to work.”
    They disconnected. “Twelve . . .” Rhyme sighed. He looked over the evidence and profile chart, then the names of the suspects. “Don’t we have any way to narrow it down faster?” he asked bitterly, watching his clock advance one more minute toward the approaching deadline.
    CRIME SCENE: ALGONQUIN
SUBSTATION MANHATTAN-10,
WEST 57TH STREET
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    —Victim (deceased): Luis Martin, assistant manager in music store.
    —No friction ridge prints on any surface.
    —Shrapnel from molten metal, as a result of the arc flash.
    —0-gauge insulated aluminum strand cable.
    —Bennington Electrical Manufacturing, AM-MV-60, rated up to 60,000v.
    —Cut by hand with hacksaw, new blade, broken tooth.
    —Two “split bolts,” 3 / 4 -inch holes in them.
    —Untraceable.
    —Distinctive tool marks on bolts.
    —Brass “bus” bar, fixed to cable with two 1 / 4 -inch bolts.
    —All untraceable.
    —Boot prints.
    —Albertson-Fenwick Model E-20 for electrical work, size 11.
    —Metal grating cut to allow access to substation, distinctive tool marks from bolt cutter.
    —Access door and frame from basement.
    —DNA obtained. Sent out for testing.
    —Greek food, taramasalata.
    —Blond hair, 1 inch long, natural, from someone 50 or under, discovered in coffee shop across the street from substation.
    —Sent out for tox-chem screening.
    —Mineral trace: volcanic ash.
    —Not naturally found in New York area.
    —Exhibits, museums, geology schools?
    —Algonquin Control Center software accessed by internal codes, not outside hackers.
    DEMAND NOTE
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    —Delivered to Andi Jessen at home.
    —No witnesses.
    —Handwritten.
    —Sent to Parker Kincaid for analysis.
    —Generic paper and ink.
    —Untraceable.
    —No friction ridge prints, other than A. Jessen, doorman, messenger.
    —No discernible trace discovered in paper.
    UNSUB PROFILE
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    —Male.
    —40’s.
    —Probably white.
    —Possibly glasses and cap.
    —Possibly with short, blond hair.
    —Dark blue overalls, similar to those worn by Algonquin workers.
    —Knows electrical systems very well.
    —Boot print suggests no physical condition affecting posture or gait.
    —Possibly same person who stole 75 feet of similar Bennington cable and 12 split bolts. More attacks in mind? Access to the warehouse where theft occurred with key.
    —Likely he is Algonquin employee or has contact with one.
    —Terrorist connection? Relation to Justice For [unknown]? Terror group? Individual named Rahman involved? Coded references to monetary disbursements, personnel movements and something “big.”
    —Algonquin security breach in Philadelphia might be related.
    —SIGINT hits: code word reference to weapons, “paper and supplies” (guns, explosives?).
    —Personnel include man and woman.
    —Would have studied SCADA—Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition program. And EMP—energy management programs. Algonquin’s is Enertrol. Both Unix-based.
    —To create arc flash would probably have been or currently is lineman, troubleman, licensed tradesman, generator construction, master electrician, military.
    —Profile from Parker Kincaid, Re: handwriting:
    —Right-handed.
    —High school education at least, probably college.
    —American educated.
    —English first and probably only language.
    —Writes with passive voice, to keep from giving away accomplices?
    —Could match one of 12 Algonquin employees.
    —Emotional, angry, distressed writing the letter.

Chapter 28
    MEL COOPER, IN front of his computer, sat up quickly. “I think I’ve got one.”
    “One what ?” Rhyme asked acerbically.
    “A way to narrow down the list.” Cooper sat up straighter yet and shoved his glasses higher onto the bridge of his nose as he read an email. “The hair. That we got from the coffee shop across from the substation?”
    “No bulb so there’s no DNA,” Rhyme pointed out abruptly. He was still irritated that the analysis wasn’t ready yet.
    “I don’t mean that, Lincoln. I’ve just got the toxchem screening from the hair itself. Vinblastine and prednisone in significant quantities, and traces of etoposide.”
    “Cancer patient,” Rhyme said, leaning his head