The Burning Wire

Then he picked up the bolt cutter.
    A comparison of the tool marks showed that both it and the hacksaw were the same tools used to create the trap at the bus stop, and the boots were the same brand and size too.
    But that just confirmed what they already knew: Raymond Galt was the perp.
    They took a look at the paper and the pens the young officer had collected from Galt’s apartment. They could determine no source, but the paper and the ink in the Bics were virtually the same as had been used in the demand note.
    What they discovered next was much more disturbing.
    Cooper was studying the results from the gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer. He said, “Got some trace here. Found it in two separate locations: the lace of the boots and the handle of the bolt cutter in Galt’s apartment. And then the sleeve of the worker who’d been attacked by Galt in the tunnel downtown, Joey Barzan.”
    “And?” Rhyme asked.
    “It’s a kerosene derivative, with minute amounts of phenol and dinonylnaphthylsulfonic acid added.”
    Rhyme said, “It’s standard jet A fuel. The phenol is an antigumming substance and the acid is an antistatic agent.”
    “But there’s more,” Cooper continued. “Something odd, a form of natural gas. Liquefied, but stable across a wide range of temperatures. And . . . get this, traces of biodiesel.”
    “Check the fuel database, Mel.”
    A moment later the tech said, “Got it. It’s an alternative aviation fuel that’s being tested now. Mostly in military fighters. It’s cleaner and it cuts down on fossil-fuel use. They say it’ll be the wave of the future.”
    “Alternative energy,” Rhyme mused, wondering how this piece of the puzzle fit. But one thing he knew. “Sachs, call Homeland Security and the Department of Defense. FAA too. Tell them our boy may have been checking out fuel depos or air bases.”
    An arc flash was bad enough. Combined with jet propellant, Rhyme couldn’t even imagine the devastation.
    CRIME SCENE: BATTERY PARK
HOTEL AND SURROUNDINGS
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    —Victims (deceased):
    —Linda Kepler, Oklahoma City, tourist.
    —Morris Kepler, Oklahoma City, tourist.
    —Samuel Vetter, Scottsdale, businessman.
    —Ali Mamoud, New York City, waiter.
    —Gerhart Schiller, Frankfurt, Germany, advertising executive.
    —Remote control switch for turning on current.
    —Components not traceable.
    —Bennington cable and split bolts, identical to first attack.
    —Galt’s Algonquin uniform, hard hat and gear bag with his friction ridge prints, no others.
    —Wrench with tool marks that can be associated with tool marks on bolts at first crime scene.
    —Rat-tail file with glass dust that can be associated with glass from bottle found at substation scene in Harlem.
    —Probably working alone.
    —Trace from Algonquin worker Joey Barzan, assault victim of Galt.
    —Alternative jet fuel.
    —Attack at military base?
    CRIME SCENE: GALT’S APARTMENT,
227 SUFFOLK ST.,
LOWER EAST SIDE
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    —Bic SoftFeel fine-point pens, blue ink, associated with ink used in demand letter.
    —Generic 8 1 / 2 × 11 white computer paper, associated with demand letter.
    —Generic No. 10 size envelope, associated with envelope containing demand letter.
    —Bolt cutter, hacksaw with tool marks matching those at initial scene.
    —Computer printouts:
    —Articles about medical research on cancer linked to high-power electric lines.
    —Blog postings by Galt Re: same.
    —Albertson-Fenwick Model E-20 boots for electrical work, size 11, with treads the same as prints at initial scene.
    —Additional traces of alternative jet fuel.
    —Attack at military base?
    —No obvious leads as to where he might be hiding, or location of future attacks.
    CRIME SCENE: ALGONQUIN
SUBSTATION MH-7,
E. 119TH STREET, HARLEM
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    —Molotov cocktail: 750-ml wine bottle, no source.
    —BP gas used as accelerant.
    —Cotton cloth strips, probably white T-shirt, used as fuse, no source determined.
    PROFILE
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    —Identified as Raymond Galt, 40, single, living in Manhattan, 227 Suffolk St.
    —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.
    —Galt’s involvement unknown.
    —Cancer patient;