She dipped her brush in the powder and swirled it over the plastic for several seconds.
“There,” she pointed at what looked like a thumbprint now visible in the powder. “Nice and clear. Should be a good one to run through AFIS.”
“AFIS?” Mia asked.
“Automated Fingerprint Identification System,” Russ answered. “A database of fingerprints for criminals and others that we can submit this print for comparison.”
“So it could give us the name of who handled the wallet?”
“Yes, it could.” Sierra ripped off a long section of tape. “But it could also just be the owner’s print.”
“If so,” Russ said. “It’ll be in AFIS because he’s a licensed PI. That means the ME’s prints should get a hit too, and we’ll have a positive ID of our victim.”
Mia winced, and Ryan resisted taking her hand.
“Exactly.” Sierra pressed the tape over the print then placed it on a small white card. She looked at Russ. “Where’s the nearest AFIS terminal?”
“We have one at lockup,” he said. “If you give me the card, I can have someone run it.”
“Let me add it to the evidence log for you to sign out and then you’re good to go.” She got out the log and filled it in.
Russ signed the paperwork and soon had the card in hand. “I’ll let you know what I learn.”
Ryan nodded. “No point in us standing around here bugging Sierra when she has to get back to Orrin’s place.”
“Thanks, Sierra,” Mia said. “When this is all over, I’d like to come up to Portland and take you out for a nice meal.”
“We both would enjoy that.” Sierra rested her hands on her belly and chuckled.
Ryan liked seeing her humor, but likely identifying the body in the barn didn’t leave him feeling like laughing. He escorted Mia up to the lodge and held the door for her. “I’ll give Bandit a quick clean and be right in.”
The little fella squirmed under the water, but Ryan made quick work of it so he could get inside to check on Mia. She sat at the counter, looking sad.
“I’ll make you some tea.” He busied himself with making her favorite Earl Grey tea.
When the water was hot, he put the mug on the counter in front of her then brewed some coffee for himself. When the nutty scent snaked into the air and he’d poured a large mug, he turned to look at her.
She leaned on her elbows and stared ahead, leaving the cup untouched. Maybe she was thinking about what he’d said about God. If only she would come to trust Him with her life. She’d still be in pain, but God would give her the strength to bear it.
Might be good to follow up and see if she had any additional questions.
“Anything you want to talk about?” he asked in a soft tone so he didn’t startle her.
She offered a wan smile. “I keep wondering why Fuzzy was up here, and I can’t come up with a reason.”
Not at all what Ryan was thinking. “Maybe he wanted to visit the place where his friend was always so happy.”
“If it was that simple, then why would Verna kill him?”
Ryan didn’t like how Mia had jumped to the conclusion of Verna being the killer and stuck with it, but he understood her reasons. The evidence was clear. The wallet pointed to Verna’s guilt. But a killer. Nah. That was unlikely. He was all set to tell Mia as much when a car pulled up outside.
Ryan set down his mug and went to the window. Russ climbed from his patrol car.
“Russ is back already. Maybe he’ll have some insight on all of this.” Ryan crossed the room and opened the door.
Carrying Chuck’s damaged camera, Russ took the stairs two at a time. With a grunt as a greeting, he charged past Ryan and over to Mia, where he set the camera on the counter. “Sierra retrieved the card, and she’s getting it to their IT expert to review. You can give the camera back to the owner.”
“Wait, what about the fingerprint and that AFIS thing?” Mia asked. “Aren’t you going to share those results?”
