Various papers and television stations also received e–mail from the Carnifice server, describing the manufacturing relationship between Carnifice and Global at the Coolis prison site. Because the source of the report could not be verified, it is not clear whether the information is accurate or whether it comes from a disgruntled Carnifice employee. Efforts to view the prison shop have been rebuffed by Coolis authorities, but state lawmakers are demanding an inquiry.

Mr. Baladine would not return phone calls to this paper, but Global Entertainment spokeswoman Alexandra Fisher says Global is considering the possibility that a local private investigator with a grudge against Baladine may have perpetrated the vandalism. The investigator, V. I. Warshawski, spent a month at Coolis after Mr. Baladine had her arrested on kidnapping charges. Although Ms. Warshawski escaped with what physician Dr. Charlotte Herschel calls brain–threatening injuries, Ms. Fisher says no one actually knows the detective’s whereabouts. Finding the solo investigator is Carnifice Security’s first priority. (See Page B45 for coverage of some of Ms. Warshawski’s investigations into industrial espionage.)

Father Lou was reading the report in the Sun–Times, which gave the story the most attention of any of the Chicago papers. The Herald–Star, as a Global paper, ran a one–paragraph story in the business section that sounded as though there’d been a brief snafu in the Carnifice e–mail server. The Star didn’t mention the Global T–shirt connection at Coolis. The Tribune ran a half column in the middle of Marshall Field’s big Labor Day advertising spread.

“So now what?” Morrell asked when I’d finished reading. “Wait for the Carnifice clients to drop like flies and come running to Warshawski Investigative Services for help?”

I made a face. “They’re busy doing damage control at Carnifice. And the CEO of Warshawski et cetera had better surface if she wants any clients. I think the next thing is a media show. For which we need secure space. That, I think, will get BB so furious that he’s likely to come for me in person. I want to put together a little tape of all my bits and pieces of pictures. Make some bullet–point slides—everyone feels they’ve gotten real information if you give it to them in bullet points. And I want a VCR so I can watch Baladine’s home videos. He was taping himself having sex with Alex Fisher yesterday. It struck me as funny that the guy keeps his old home–security tapes, so I took three.”

Father Lou stared at me in disgust. “Man photographs himself having intercourse? Did the girl know?”

“She tried to get the tape from him, but he wouldn’t let her.” I didn’t feel like explaining that I had it now. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do with it.