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He turned to the loading dock manager and said, “I’ve got an idea.”
The burly manager turned and said, “Anything’s gotta be better than taking the tires by hand one at a time.”
Daniel grabbed two tires and walked down the pedestrian ramp to the street. He had the driver back up a few feet, then open the side door to his truck. He set both of the tires down, one on the ground and the other propped on top of it and leaning against the truck.
When he hurried back up the ramp, the entire loading dock crew watched with anticipation. Ott thought he had it right. But what if his idea failed? He would feel like an idiot.
The loading dock crew watched silently as he ran back and grabbed two more tires. He looked up at the group staring at him. “If it doesn’t work, I’ll help you load the tires by hand.”
He released one of the tires and watched it roll in a straight line down the ramp. By the time it hit the tire lying on the ground, it was really moving. It bounced up and off the tire that was upright against the side of the truck. It landed exactly where it needed to.
The entire loading dock erupted in applause. The manager moved his massive body toward Ott and said, “How in the hell did you figure that out?”
Ott smiled. “Simple physics. It dictates everything in our lives. I just know how to use it to my advantage.”
Chapter 34
When I got back to my office, Dr. Jill St. Pierre, the forensic scientist, was sitting at my desk, reading my copy of Men’s Health. As I walked through the squad bay, her dark eyes rose from the pages of the magazine. The fact that she didn’t smile when she saw me told me her new information wasn’t good.
Since St. Pierre was sitting in my leather office chair, I took the hard wooden chair next to my desk. I purposely didn’t say anything as I prepared for the bad news. Whatever it might be.
She said, “I heard you had to make a trip to One Police Plaza. I decided it was better to wait here in case they were sending you back to clean out your desk.” Her sly smile made me laugh.
“Technically, I didn’t have to make the trip. Only Harry Grissom did. I met him down there for support.”
“Anything change on the investigation?”
I shook my head. “We have to keep the mayor’s office better informed.”
“Isn’t that the same rule they give every time?”
“Seems like it.” I glanced around to make sure no one was close by. “C’mon, Jill, you didn’t come all the way up here to chat with me about my morning. Whatcha got?”
She started slowly. “I have a preliminary profile of the second blood sample from the Elaine Anastas scene.”
“Could you match it to anything?”
“Yes.”
I sat up straight and almost clapped. “You think it’s the killer’s blood?”
“Nope,” she said, dashing my hopes. “But there is a connection. The second sample? It matches a homicide victim killed in Atlanta eight months ago. Hollis tipped us off to the connection and we’ve been working with Atlanta PD.”
I was baffled by what she’d just revealed. Finally I said, “How is that possible?”
St. Pierre shrugged. “I provide the scientific data. Detectives usually do the interpretation.” She handed me a manila envelope.
“What’s this?”
“Atlanta PD gave us all the reports from the case. They are scanning photographs to email us. They even offered to send a detective up here. And just like here, they think this homicide could be related to several others in the Atlanta area. Apparently these cases have been bugging them for the last eight months.”
I leaned back in the chair, thinking about what she’d just told me. When I looked up, the forensic scientist was glancing over one of the reports from Atlanta.
“What do you think this means?” I asked her.
“That’s your area, not mine,” St. Pierre said. “But I’d theorize that if your killer is getting cute like this, it’s probably a sign he’s bored. He has to make things more interesting. And that could be extremely dangerous.”
Chapter 35
