Tomasetti gets out and slides on his sunglasses. “If you’re thinking foot-wear impressions or tire treads, we’re a month too late.”

Our gazes meet over the hood of the vehicle. “I know it’s a long shot, but if we can find the initials, it could help.”

He nods, but I can tell he’s not sold on the idea. “If we don’t find the initials, at least we have a good supply of trees to bang our heads against.”

“Pragmatist.”

The Tahoe is parked in gravel. The asphalt ended about a quarter mile back. There’s not much room for parking, but I can tell by the amount of trash on the ground that plenty of people come here. Where the weeds meet the gravel, broken glass shimmers like hot diamonds beneath the sun. I see dozens of tire tread imprints. Candy bar wrappers. A used condom. Most people are pretty good about picking up after themselves. But not the slobs. I’ve been standing in the sun for less than a minute and already I’m sweating beneath my uniform.

“Okay. So we’ve got a few thousand trees to check.” He opens the Tahoe door, digs around for a moment, emerges with two Wal-Mart bags, passes one to me. “Here’s your evidence bag.”

“You’re pretty resourceful, Tomasetti.” I take the bag. “You a Boy Scout?”

“Got kicked out for smoking when I was nine.”

“Figures.” But I smile. “You wouldn’t happen to have gloves, would you?”

He ducks back into the Tahoe and comes out with a handful of tissues. “These’ll have to do.”

“You BCI guys are high tech all the way.” I take a couple of the tissues, tuck them into my back pocket.

Sighing, he works off his suit jacket and tosses it onto the front seat. He is wearing a light blue shirt beneath the jacket. The armpits and back are wet with sweat. He takes a moment to loosen his tie. I see chest hair peeking out of his collar and it reminds me he’s got just the right amount of it.

“Anything else we should be looking for while we’re here?” he asks.

I shake my head. “They came here several times. They drank wine, had sex.”

“The boyfriend smoke?”

“She didn’t mention it, but Evelyn Steinkruger said Mary came back to work once smelling of cigarettes.”

“Even if we find a butt, chances are there won’t be any DNA. Even if there was, it isn’t against the law to smoke out here. Won’t do us any good in terms of the case.”

“Unless the DNA matches the DNA found inside her body.”

“Good point.” He rolls up his shirtsleeves. “Let’s see if they left us anything to work with.”