The Cold Moon

connections, no investigations ongoing. He himself had no warrants or arrests, except a speeding ticket last year.”
    “Any suspects in his death?”
    “No.”
    “What house ran the case?”
    “The One Three One.”
    “He was in Queens when he died, not Manhattan?”
    “That’s right.”
    “What happened?”
    “The perp got his wallet and cash then shot him three times in the chest.”
    “The St. James? Did she ever hear him say anything about it?”
    “Nope.”
    “Did he know Creeley?”
    “The wife wasn’t sure, didn’t think so. I showed her the picture and she didn’t recognize him.” He grew quiet for a moment and then added, “One thing. I think I saw it again, the Mercedes.”
    “You did?”
    “After you dropped me off I crossed the street fast to beat a light and I looked behind me to see if there was traffic. I couldn’t get a good look but I thought I saw the Merc. Couldn’t see the tag. Just thought I’d mention it.”
    Sachs shook her head. “I had a visitor too.” She told him about the break-in to her car. And added that she believed she’d seen the Mercedes as well. “That driver’s been a busy boy.” She then looked at his hands, which held only his thick notebook. “Where’s the Sarkowski file?”
    “Okay, that’s the problem. No file, no evidence. I went through the entire evidence locker in the One Three One. Nothing.”
    “Okay, this’s getting funky. No evidence?”
    “Missing.”
    “The file was checked out?”
    “Might’ve been but it’s not in the computer log. It should’ve been there if somebody took it or it got sent somewhere. But I got the name of the case detective. He lives in Queens. Just retired. Art Snyder.” Pulaski handed her a sheet of paper with the man’s name and address on it. “You want me to talk to him?”
    “No, I’ll go see him. I want you to stay here and write up our notes on a whiteboard. I want to see the big picture. But don’t do it in the lab. There’s too much traffic.” Crime scene and other officers routinely made deliveriesto Rhyme’s. With a case involving crooked cops, she didn’t want anyone to see what they’d learned. She nodded toward Rhyme’s exercise room, where his ergometer and treadmill were located. “We’ll keep it in there.”
    “Sure. But that won’t take long. When I’m done, you want me to meet you at Snyder’s?”
    Sachs thought again about the Mercedes. And she heard Sellitto’s words looping through her head: . . . The trunk of a car at JFK long-term parking . . .
    “Naw, when you’re through, just stay here and help out Lincoln.” She laughed. “Maybe it’ll improve his mood.”
    THE WATCHMAKER
----
    CRIME SCENE ONE
    Location:
    • Repair pier in Hudson River, 22nd Street.
    Victim:
    • Identity unknown.
    • Male.
    • Possibly middle-aged or older, and may have coronary condition (presence of anticoagulants in blood).
    • No other drugs, infection or disease in blood.
    • Coast Guard and ESU divers checking for body and evidence in New York Harbor.
    • Checking missing persons reports.
    Perp:
    • See below.
    M.O.:
    • Perp forced victim to hold on to deck, over water, cut fingers or wrists until he fell.
    • Time of attack: Between 6 P.M. Monday and 6 A.M. Tuesday.
    Evidence:
    • Blood type AB positive.
    • Fingernail torn, unpolished, wide.
    • Portion of chain-link fence cut with common wire cutters, untraceable.
    • Clock. See below.
    • Poem. See below.
    • Fingernail markings on deck.
    • No discernible trace, no fingerprints, no footprints, no tire tread marks.
    CRIME SCENE TWO
    Location:
    • Alley off Cedar Street, near Broadway, behind three commercial buildings (back doors closed at 8:30 to 10 P.M. ) and one government administration building (back door closed at 6 P.M. ).
    • Alley is a cul-de-sac. Fifteen feet wide by one hundred and four feet long, surfaced in cobblestones, body was fifteen feet from Cedar Street.
    Victim:
    • Theodore Adams.
    • Lived in Battery Park.
    • Freelance copywriter.
    • No known enemies.
    • No warrants, state or federal.
    • Checking for a connection with buildings around alley. None found.
    Perp:
    • The Watchmaker.
    • Male.
    • No database entries for the Watchmaker.
    M.O.:
    • Dragged from vehicle to alley, where iron bar was suspended over him. Eventually crushed throat.
    • Awaiting medical examiner’s report to confirm.
    • No evidence of sexual