Chicago Business

Issue date: 2/16/06 Section: Arts & Entertainment

Frank and Michael stood together in shock. Before them sat the small vile that contained a nearly microscopic blood sample taken from the Langley crime scene. This was the only DNA evidence connected to their unknown suspect. It was also the only remaining piece of evidence from this entire investigation. The single hair, pictures from the crime scene, and everything else related to the case had been stolen by the mystery woman Frank fawned over the previous night. Although the feeling of stupidity continued to plague him, Frank now breathed a little easier knowing that at least something connected to the killer had been spared.

"Good thing DiPrimo is a control freak," offered Michael as he picked up the vial to examine it.

"Yeah," added Frank, "nobody gets stuff out of this lab…not even us." He smiled and looked at Michael for support. Michael replaced the vial and gave Frank a pat on the shoulder. Frank nodded.

"I still feel really stupid," said Frank.

"The only good thing is that it means we're getting somewhere," replied Michael.

"How so?"

"It means we made somebody nervous enough to break in and mess with the evidence," reasoned Michael, "which seems pretty desperate to me." Frank nodded and they both walked towards the door.

"Now we just have to figure out how the bitch that messed with me is connected," asserted Frank as he slammed the lab door closed and checked the lock.

Stephen shifted uncomfortably in a chair he had sat in many times before. The leather groaned subtly as he uncrossed his legs and scanned the room. Two empty bottles of champagne lay next to the fireplace where he had spotted them earlier, but now they seemed somehow sinister in the grey morning light that pushed through the windows. Father Thomas stood behind Stephen with a heavy rope clutched in his right hand. Stephen did not even dare glance at his supposed mentor because Ruth lounged on the sofa across from his chair with her small pistol pointed directly at his forehead. Time had moved slowly for Stephen since watching his pair of captors kiss in the parking lot. First he was stunned, then frightened as they burst into the vestry with guns, and finally angry as he was held captive in the apartment.

"What now?" asked Stephen.

"Don't talk," said Ruth sternly.

"Ruth please," responded Father Thomas, "Stephen would never try anything crazy, right Stephen?" He took a step towards Stephen to emphasize his point.

Continued...

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