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he other room； then remember to unbolt it when you leave so the person next door can get in。 This rarely works out right。
I brushed my teeth with the recently purchased items； then went into the bedroom and unwrapped my new shirt； wondering how I was going to get my stuff from Whispering Pines to here without running into the local fuzz。 This was not the first time I'd bee persona non grata in town； and it wouldn't be the last。 Usually； we can straighten things out so I can drive away after I'm finished with a case。 But once； at Fort Bliss； Texas； I had to be helicoptered out and didn't see my car for a few weeks； until someone was detailed to drive it to Falls Church。 I put in for the nineteen cents a mile； but Karl turned it down on a technicality。
Anyway； the jockey shorts were small； not medium。 Women can be petty。 I got dressed； plete with Glock 9mm accessories； and went out into the hall； where I saw Cynthia ing out of the next room。 I asked her； 〃Is that your room？〃
〃No； I'm cleaning it for a total stranger。〃
〃Couldn't you get me a room down the hall or something？〃
〃Actually； this place is full of summer reservists doing their two weeks。 I had to pull my CID routine to get you any room。〃 She added； 〃I don't mind sharing a bathroom with you。〃
We got outside and into her Mustang。 She said； 〃Rifle range six？〃
〃Right。〃 She was still wearing the black pants and white blouse； but had put on running shoes and a white sweater。 The flashlight I asked her to bring was on the console between the seats。 I asked her； 〃Are you carrying？〃
〃Yes。 Why？ Are you expecting trouble？〃
〃A criminal always returns to the scene of the crime。〃
〃Nonsense。〃
The sun had set； a full moon was rising； and I hoped that the conditions at this hour were close enough to those of the early morning hours out on the rifle ranges to get a sense of what may have happened； and to give me inspiration。
We drove past the post movie theater； where a crowd was letting out； then past the NCO Club； where the drinks are better than in the Officers' Club； the food is cheaper； and the women are friendlier。
Cynthia said； 〃I went to the provost marshal's office and saw Colonel Kent。〃
〃Good initiative。 Anything new？〃
〃A few things。 First； he wants you to go easy on Colonel Moore。 Apparently； Moore plained about your aggressive behavior。〃
〃I wonder who Kent plains to。〃
〃Here's more good news。 You had a message from Karl； and I took the liberty of calling him at home。 He's royally pissed…off about someone called Dalbert Elkins； who he says you transformed from a criminal into a government witness with immunity。〃
〃I hope someone does the same for me someday。 Anything else？〃
〃Yes。 Karl； round two。 He has to report to the judge advocate general at the Pentagon tomorrow； and he'd like a more prehensive report than the one you filed earlier today。〃
〃Well； he can wing it。 I'm busy。〃
〃I typed out a report and faxed it to his home。〃
〃Thank you。 What did the report say？〃
〃There's a copy of it on your desk。 Do you trust me or not？〃
〃Of course。 It's just that if this case goes bad； you may be safe if you don't have your name on things。〃
〃Right。 I signed your name to it。〃
〃What？〃
〃Just kidding。 Let me worry about my career。〃
〃Fine。 Anything from forensic？〃
〃Yes。 The hospital sent a preliminary protocol to the provost marshal's office。 Death occurred no earlier than midnight and no later than 0400 hours。〃
〃I know that。〃 The autopsy report； known for some unexplained reason as the protocol； generally picked up where forensic left off； though there was some overlap； which is fine。 The more ghouls； the better。
〃Also； death was definitely a result of asphyxia。 There were internal traumas discovered in her neck and throat； and she'd bitten her tongue。 All consistent with strangulation。〃
I've seen autopsies； and； as you can imagine； they are not pleasant things to watch。 Being murdered and naked is undignified enough； but being sliced up and examined by a team of strangers is the ultimate violation。 〃What else？〃 I asked。
〃Lividity and rigor were consistent with the position of the body as it was found； so it appears that death occurred there； and there was no movement of the body from another location。 Also； there were no other wounds aside from the ligature around her neck； no other trauma to exposed tissue or to bones； brain； vagina； anus； mouth； and so forth。〃
I nodded； but made no response。 〃What else？〃
Cynthia gave me a rundown of stomach contents； bladder and intestine contents； conditions of the internal organs； and anatomical findings。 I'm glad I hadn't finished that cheeseburger； because my stomach was getting jumpy。 Cynthia said； 〃There was some erosion of the cervix； which could be consistent with an abortion； a prior disease； or perhaps insertions of large objects。〃
〃Okay 。。。 is that it？〃
〃That's it for now。 The coroner hasn't done microscopic examinations of tissue and fluids yet； or toxology； which they want to do independent of the forensic lab。〃 Cynthia added； 〃She didn't keep any secrets from them； did she？〃
〃Only one。〃
〃Right。 Also； there were some preliminary notes from Cal。 They finished the serology tests and found no drugs or poisons in the blood； just a trace of alcohol。 They found saliva at the corners of her mouth； running downward； consistent with the position of her body。 They found perspiration in various places； and they found dried tears running downward from the eyes； again consistent with the position of the body。 All three liquids have been identified as belonging to the victim。〃
〃Tears？〃
〃Yes；〃 Cynthia said。 〃Lots of tears。 She'd been crying。〃
〃I missed that 。。。〃
〃That's all right。 They didn't。〃
〃Right 。。。 but tears are not consistent with the lack of wounds； and not necessarily consistent with a strangulation。〃
〃No；〃 Cynthia agreed； 〃but it is consistent with being tied up by a madman and being told you're going to die。〃 She added； 〃What is not consistent with this is your theory that she was a voluntary participant。 So maybe you have to change your theory。〃
〃I'm fine…tuning my theory。〃 I thought a moment； then said； 〃You're a woman。 What made her cry？〃
〃I don't know； Paul。 I wasn't there。〃
〃But we have to get ourselves there。 This was not a woman who would cry easily。〃
Cynthia nodded。 〃I agree with that。 So whatever made her cry was perhaps an emotional trauma。〃
〃Right。 Someone she knew made her cry without even touching her。〃
〃Perhaps。 But she may have made herself cry。 We don't know at this point。〃
〃Right。〃 Forensic evidence is objective。 That is； dried tears were present in large quantities。 The tears belonged to the victim。 They flowed from the eyes toward the ears； indicating that they flowed when the body was in a supine position。 End of statement。 Exit Cal Seiver； enter Paul Brenner。 The tears indicated crying。 Therefore； who made her cry？ What made her cry？ Why did she cry？ When did she cry？ Is this important to know？ Somehow； I thought it was。
Cynthia said； 〃Trace fibers were from her own underwear and from BDUs that are probably her own but could be from another person。 There were no other fibers fo