Spiro said, “How this is in harmony with the businessman in New York?”

“Correct, Procuratore.”

“There will be a way to incorporate that, I believe. Patterns are not always symmetrical. We are not sure yet. We are, however, advancing.”

Sachs then said, “You mentioned the director, Rania Tasso. One thing she told me that was interesting. I’m not sure what to make of it. She said the Composer didn’t kill Malek Dadi. He tried to save him.”

“Is this true?” Rossi asked.

Spiro was frowning but said nothing.

“She was sure,” Sachs continued.

“Who then was the killer?”

“Muggers, thieves. Some refugees in the camp. They got to him before the Composer did and when Dadi fought back, the Composer ran toward them to stop them. But it was too late.”

Ercole said, “Odd. A curious element to his profile.”

Rhyme, however, wasn’t interested in profiles. “Two lions going after a gazelle. Neither wants to give up his prey, which is going to end up as a main course one way or the other. Nothing remarkable about that. Let’s see what the evidence tells us.”

Rossi placed a call and, after a conversation in Italian, disconnected. “No video yet has been posted online.”

A half hour later Beatrice Renza walked from the sterile portion of the lab and joined them, clipboard in her grip. She handed it to Ercole without comment and picked up a marker. He translated and she wrote.

Capodichino Reception Center Kidnapping

• —Victim:
  • —Khaled Jabril, Libyan citizen, 36. Asylum-seeker. Tripoli.
  • —Eurodac: No criminal/terrorist connection.
• —Tire print Michelin 205/55R16 91H, same as at other scenes.
• —Perpetrator’s shoe recovered in struggle.
  • —Converse Con, Size 10½ (m)/13 (f)/45 (European)
    • —Minimum wear.
    • —No fingerprints, but evidence of latex glove prints present.
    • —DNA evidence collected.
      • —Matches Composer’s.
    • —Gamma hydroxybutyric acid.
    • —Triacylglycerols, free fatty acids, glycerol, sterols, phosphatides, dark-green pigment. Microscopic fragments of what appears to be organic material.
• —Miniature noose, from musical instrument string, as at other scenes.
  • —Cello.
  • —No fingerprints.
  • —No DNA.
• —Trace collected from clothing of Fatima Jabril.
  • —Soil from Capodichino area.
  • —Nothing else distinctive.

“No fingerprints on his shoe?” Rhyme muttered. “What the hell does he do? Wear gloves in his sleep?” Then, frowning. “That entry: the gamma hydroxybutyric. The hell is that doing there?”

Spiro said, “Yes, how can that be?”

Ercole had a conversation with Beatrice. He said, “It was recovered from soil in the tread of the Composer’s shoe.”

“Impossible. It’s not from this case. It’s from the Garry Soames case. That’s the date-rape drug. There’s been cross-contamination. Hell.”

Rossi now explained this to Beatrice, who replied in an even tone, not in the least defensive. The inspector said, “She says she too was surprised to find the drug on the shoe. She was very careful with the evidence. There was no contamination in the lab. Garry Soames’s clothing was processed in a different part of the lab and by a different examiner.”

All eyes were now on Ercole. Spiro said, “You picked it up, Forestry Officer. And you collected the drug trace at Garry Soames’ apartment.”