Sachs asked, “Garry’s story?”

“He admits that he and Frieda were drinking wine downstairs. And, again, making out. They went upstairs for more privacy. There were people at the smoking station, so they went around the corner to a deserted area and sat down and did more making out. But she grew tired and bored and less interested. About one thirty, he was tired too and he went downstairs and left the party. She was on the bench on the roof, drowsing, when he did.”

“Tired too,” Sachs suggested, “because he took a sip of her wine, which was spiked. His DNA was on her glass.”

“Suggesting he didn’t know about the roofie!” Ercole said, enthusiastic for just a moment, lost in the case. Then he went back to being guilty and nervous.

Rhyme said, “One problem with the government’s case: The DNA found in Frieda’s vagina. It wasn’t Garry’s.” He looked at Ercole uncertainly. He wondered if the graphic aspects of the crime would trouble a young officer who’d never worked an assault before, much less a rape.

The Italian officer glanced at Rhyme and caught his concern. “Capitano Rhyme, last month I ran an undercover operation to arrest men passing off inferior bull semen as that from prize animals. I surreptitiously videoed the collection process. I am someone who has made bull porn, so such matters are not bothering to me, if that’s your question.”

Rhyme nodded in amused concession. He observed that one line in the report was crossed out—bold strokes and a written note beside it. “What’s that?”

“The words translate: ‘Inappropriate and irrelevant, reprimand the interviewer.’”

“What’s crossed out?” Sachs asked.

It took a moment to discern the words beneath the thick marker. “It is a note from one of the Flying Squad officers interviewing party attendees. The officer wrote that the victim was considered by some at the party to be quite the flirt.”

“Ah. That offended the inspector,” Sachs said. “Or Spiro. As it should have.”

Blaming women for their own sexual assault was unforgivable…and a lapse that seemed to transcend national barriers.

Sachs said, “So what’s the scenario, if he’s innocent?”

Rhyme said, “Some man, Mr. X, has his eye on Frieda. He gets close and spikes her drink but it’s crowded and dark, so the witness thinks it’s Garry. Before X can move in and get Frieda to a bedroom or a deserted part of the flat, she and Garry go upstairs. X follows and watches them. Frieda starts to go under and Garry gets bored and leaves. When the roof is deserted, Mr. X carries Frieda to the roof of the building next door and rapes her.”

Ercole asked, “Ah, but the drug residue on Garry’s jacket in his apartment? How is that explained?”

Rhyme responded, “One way: being close to the man who did drug her. But remember, read the chart, Ercole, there was drug residue on other clothing too.”

“Yes, what are the implications of that?”

“We don’t know yet. It could be that Garry is guilty and frequently carries around date-rape drugs. Or that he is innocent and someone broke in to implicate him, scattering drugs on other items of his clothing, not remembering or knowing what he wore to the party.”