She ignored him and continued to rummage.

The man cuffed him.

The woman completed the search of his bag and said nothing. The man searched his pockets, taking his wallet and leaving everything else. He found three unopened condoms and held them up. The two officers shared a look. Everything the man took he placed in an evidence bag.

Each taking an arm, they led him up the street to an unmarked car.

“What’s this all about?” he repeated stridently. They were silent. “I haven’t done anything!” He switched to Italian and said, in a desperate voice, “Non ho fatto niente di sbagliato!”

Still no response. He snapped, “Qual è il crimine?”

“The charge is battery and rape. It is my duty to inform you that, as you are now under arrest, you have the right to an attorney and an interpreter. Signor, please, get into the car.”

Chapter 22

Rhyme and Sachs examined the evidence chart that Beatrice and Ercole had assembled.

Rossi and Spiro stood behind them, also scanning, scanning, scanning.

Beatrice had done a solid job, isolating and identifying the materials.

“Do you have a geological database?” Rhyme asked Rossi. “Where we can narrow the source of that clay-based soil?”

Rossi summoned the woman from the crime lab.

When posed the question, Beatrice answered. The inspector’s translation: “She has compared the soil with a number of samples but it is common with those found in hundreds of areas and can’t be narrowed down more.”

Rhyme asked, “Can we canvass stores that would sell duct tape, wooden rods and buckets?”

Rossi and Spiro regarded each other with amusement. It was for Rossi to say, “That is beyond our resources.”

“Well, at least can we see if the tobacco store where he bought the phone has a video camera?”

The inspector said, “Daniela and Giacomo have that assignment, yes.”

Ercole Benelli appeared in the doorway and entered cautiously, almost as if worried he’d be physically assaulted by Dante Spiro.

“Sir, no, Ali Maziq has not had electroconvulsive treatment. He does not know what that is. And he has taken no medication. Well, I am not accurate. He takes Tylenol for his pains.”

“That’s not relevant, Forestry Officer.”

“No, of course, Procuratore.”

Spiro said, “Electroconvulsive, antipsychotic drugs, anti-anxiety drugs. So the Composer was surely a patient at some mental facility recently. Have you searched mental hospitals?”

Rhyme wondered if the question was calculated to be a barb to counter what he might perceive as Rhyme’s criticism of the Italians’ inability to search for the sources for the wooden rod, tape and bucket, which it was not.

“There are too many hospitals and doctors to check. And the theft of a small amount of the sedative wouldn’t be reported in the national database. Our NCIC shows no similar crimes. Ever.”

Beyond our resources…

Spiro regarded the evidence chart. “And no clue as to where he’s holed up.”

Surprised at the old-time American expression.

“Holed up?” Ercole asked tentatively.

“Where he’s staying. Where he took the victim right after the kidnapping.”