She glanced at the press, then at the body.No doubt pictures of the dead man’s mutilated face were going to appear on a plethora of unscrupulous news sites within minutes.If they weren’t already uploaded.
“It’s a good thing he doesn’t have a family to notify,” Faith said.“I wouldn’t want them to see him like this.”
“Yeah,” Franklin agreed.He shivered slightly.“Poor guy.”He chuckled nervously and scratched his shiny bald head.“You know, it never gets easier.Fifteen years on the force, and I still get goosebumps when I have to see people like that.You know what I mean?”
Faith lowered her eyes briefly, then said, “Make sure we get the coroner’s report ASAP.I want the composition of that epoxy.”
“Sure,” Franklin said.“We’ll have to coordinate with Metropolitan PD about the epoxy from this victim, but we have the report on Hayes.It’s an industrial-strength insulated filling designed to lend rigidity to flow-form structures.”
“I don’t know what that means.”
“Neither do I, but they showed a picture of a windmill when I looked it up.Not an old farm windmill.Like the ones on those big wind generating stations in California.”
“Right,” Faith said.“Got it.Is that kind of thing easy to get?”
“Hell, if I know.I wouldn’t be surprised if it is.I was on a case once where a guy was poisoned with a type of pesticide that’s not even legal in the United States.Turned out to be his ex-wife.She bought it online with her own credit card.Got it shipped to her house in four business days.”
Faith nodded.“Well, hopefully this stuff is a little more unique.We really need a solid lead.”
Behind her, a familiar female voice called, “Agent Bold!Are you saying you have no leads in this case?Are you stumped?”
Faith turned around and saw the female reporter from the night before, the first one who had sprinted ahead of the others.She grinned at Faith with a malevolent triumph that didn’t look far off from that worn by some of the serial killers Faith had hunted.
Faith considered ignoring her, then had a better idea.The press was annoying, but they had their uses.
She turned around and said, “Our killer uses an industrial-grade insulating epoxy to freeze his victims in the prayer position.We’re currently investigating to determine if any suspiciously small quantities of that substance have been stolen or sold recently.”
Another thought came to her, but she kept her eyes on the reporter and didn’t let it show in her face.She didn’t want the press following her.
The reporter’s eyes widened.She looked at Faith with something approaching love.She even mouthed, “thank you” before asking, “Do you believe this is a campaign against religious leaders?”
Aaand, now the press had lost its usefulness.“No further comment.”
She walked away, ignoring the cacophony of questions from that reporter and others.She called Turk to her and approached Jessica, who sat on the rim of the fountain with her head in between her knees.
“Sorry, Faith,” she mumbled.
“Don’t be sorry,” Faith said.“It just means you’re human.”God knows what that says about me.“Come on.I might have another lead.”
Jessica’s head popped up.“Really?What?”
Faith glanced up at the reporters throning the police cordon.“I’ll tell you in a minute.Follow me.”
The three agents made their way out of the police cordon and away from the thronging masses of press.Faith glanced back at Cruz on her way out, hoping to feel at least an inkling of the revulsion Jessica felt.
She felt grief for his loss, anger at the killer who had murdered him, frustration at their lack of progress in this case, excitement for the possibility of a lead that could provide some answers.
She felt no revulsion.No disgust.No horror.Death had become an inescapable part of her life.She hardly thought about it anymore.
She sighed and turned away, moving patiently away from the looky-loos trying to slake their morbid fascination at Daniel Cruz’s expense.
CHAPTER TEN
Faith had to lead Jessica on a six-block detour that included several meanders through the other side of the National Mall, but eventually, they reached the construction project on 17thStreet without being spotted by enterprising reporters.Jessica looked around the site, brow furrowed.“What are we looking for here?”
“Maybe nothing,” Faith admitted, “but I’m trying to figure out how this killer has access to the epoxy he’s using on the victims.Speaking of that, can you check the coroner’s report and figure out what it is exactly?”
“Uh, sure.”Jessica pulled out her phone and pulled up the coroner’s report for Hayes’s death.“According to the report, it’s a reaction product of a polyether with toluene diisocyanate.”
