The Cold Moon

for a DNA profile. The hair that Pulaski found, though, had no follicle.
    Rhyme knew it was too long to be the Watchmaker’s—the EFIT picture, according to Hallerstein, depicted medium length. It might have been from a wig—the Watchmaker could be using disguises—but Cooper could find no adhesive on the end. His assistant had worn a cap and itcould have come from him. Rhyme decided, though, that the hair had probably come from someone else—a passenger riding in the SUV before the Watchmaker stole it. A nine-inch hair could be a man’s or a woman’s, of course, but Rhyme felt that it was probably a woman’s. The gray suggested middle age and nine inches was an odd length for a man of that age to wear his hair—shoulder length or much shorter would be more likely. “The Watchmaker or his assistant may have a girlfriend or another partner but that doesn’t seem likely. . . . Well, put it on the board anyway,” Rhyme ordered.
    “Because,” Pulaski said, as if reciting something he’d heard, “you just never know, right?”
    Rhyme lifted an eyebrow. Then he asked, “Shoes?”
    The only footprint Pulaski had found was from a smooth-soled, size-thirteen shoe. It was just past a pool of water the wearer had stepped in; he’d left a half dozen prints on the way to the exit before they faded. Pulaski was pretty sure it was the Watchmaker’s or his partner’s, since it was on the most logical route from the Explorer to the nearest exit. He’d also noted that there was some distance between the prints and only a few of them displayed the heel. “Means he was running,” Pulaski said. “That wasn’t in your book. But it made sense.”
    It was hard to dislike this kid, Rhyme reflected.
    But the print was only marginally helpful. There was no way to determine the brand because the leather had no distinctive tread marks. Nor were there any unusual wear patterns, which might indicate podiatric or orthopedic characteristics.
    “At least we know he’s got big feet,” Pulaski said.
    Rhyme muttered, “I missed that statute where it says someone with size-eight feet is prohibited from wearing size-thirteen shoes.”
    The rookie nodded. “Oops.”
    Live and learn, thought Rhyme. He looked over the evidence again. “That’s it?”
    Pulaski nodded. “I did the best I could.”
    Rhyme grunted. “You did fine.”
    Probably not very enthusiastic. He wondered if the results would’ve been different if Sachs had been walking the grid. He couldn’t help but think they would be.
    The criminalist turned to Sellitto. “What about the Luponte file?”
    “Nothing yet. If you knew more it’d be easier to find.”
    “If I knew more, I could find it myself.”
    The rookie was staring at the evidence boards. “All this . . . and it comes down to we hardly know anything about him.”
    Not exactly true, Rhyme thought. We know he’s one goddamn smart perp.
    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