“Sometimes the best answers to puzzles are the simplest ones,” Gunnar said. “Don’t forget, Frederics’ DNA was found at the kill site.”
“I know. It’s just a feeling. If it’s okay with you guys, I’m going to go have lunch with Talbot.”
“Of course it is. Are you going out?”
“No, we brown-bagged it today. He wants to show me something he’s been working on that might make data links in my filing system easier to set up.”
“That sounds…fascinating,” Bryn said, pleased at managing to sound sincere.
“You’re such a liar, Bryn!” Emmett grabbed his satchel. “I’m going to go play computers and leave the detecting to you guys.”
Emmett scurried out of the office. Bryn exchanged a look with Gunnar. “You know, he has good instincts. Maybe thiswastoo straightforward.”
“Let’s think about it. What are the reasons for believing Frederics is the killer? First is opportunity. His job gave him the perfect chances to spot people and take them without him being missed.”
Bryn nodded. “Second, he had no alibis for any of the dates that victims went missing, or the night that Betty-Jo was killed.”
“Third—he has the right build for the person you read in the checkout line.”
“True, but all of those things could equally be applied to Drake Romano.”
“They could. So consider the evidence from truth reading Romano today. We know that Frederics had an interest in the tunnels, that he found an entrance and went inside. The picture he took of the symbol on the wall proves he was in the section used as the kill site and his DNA was found all over the place down there.”
“Yeah. It’s pretty damning.” Bryn frowned. “But…it also gave Romano a reason for knowing about the tunnels and recognizing the symbol. It’s possible he went there too, if Frederics told him exactly where the entrance was, and Bell didn’t specifically ask him that question.”
“Now I think about it, Bell didn’t ask Romano anything that would incriminate him. His answers pointed everything at Frederics.” Gunnar paced theoffice. “You were exhausted and we stopped the questions thinking we had enough.”
“Sorry.”
“Not your fault at all. We could have kept Romano there, asked him more after you’d eaten and rested. We didn’t.”
“But the DNA…are we reaching for something that isn’t there?”
“Maybe, but you saw a bare hand on a knife and no knives have been found. Let’s have some lunch and think on it some more. How about grilled cheese and tomato soup?”
“Yes please! My housemother made that whenever anyone was sick or feeling down.”
“It’s a great American tradition, plus it involves cheese and therefore has to be good.”
Within half an hour they were sitting at the table eating. “This makes me stupidly happy,” Bryn said, scraping the last of the soup from his dish.
“Sometimes the simple things make all the difference.” Gunnar crunched the remaining crust from his second grilled cheese.
“As simple as a kiss?”
“Yeah. As simple as that.” It seemed like Gunnar might say something else but before he could, Emmett burst into the kitchen closely followed by Talbot.
“We need to tell you something!”
“I’d never have known,” Gunnar said. “Sit down both of you. Breathe.”
“This is a really nice place.” Talbot looked around, wide-eyed. “Can I smell grilled cheese?”
“You can,” Gunnar said with a grin.
“Talbot!” Emmett exclaimed. “Focus!”
Talbot blinked. “Sorry, yes…we did a thing.” He put his laptop on the table.
