• Freelance copywriter.

• No known enemies.

• No warrants, state or federal.

• Checking for a connection with buildings around alley. None found.

Perp:

• The Watchmaker.

• Male.

• No database entries for the Watchmaker.

M.O.:

• Dragged from vehicle to alley, where iron bar was suspended over him. Eventually crushed throat.

• Awaiting medical examiner’s report to confirm.

• No evidence of sexual activity.

• Time of death: Approximately 10:15 P.M. to 11 P.M. Monday night. Medical examiner to confirm.

Evidence:

• Clock.

• No explosives, chemical- or bioagents.

• Identical to clock at pier.

• No fingerprints, minimal trace.

• Arnold Products, Framingham, MA.

• Sold by Hallerstein’s Timepieces, Manhattan.

• Poem left by perp at both scenes.

• Computer printer, generic paper, HP LaserJet ink.

• Text:

The full Cold Moon is in the sky,

shining on the corpse of earth,

signifying the hour to die

and end the journey begun at birth.

—The Watchmaker

• Not in any poetry databases; probably his own.

• Cold Moon is lunar month, the month of death.

• $60 in pocket, no serial number leads; prints negative.

• Fine sand used as “obscuring agent.” Sand was generic. Because he’s returning to the scene?

• Metal bar, 81 pounds, is needle-eye span. Not being used in construction across from the alleyway. No other source found.

• Duct tape, generic, but cut precisely, unusual. Exactly the same lengths.

• Thallium sulfate (rodent poison) found in sand.

• Soil containing fish protein—from perp, not victim.

• Very little trace found.

• Brown fibers, probably automotive carpeting.

Other:

• Vehicle.

• Probably Ford Explorer, about three years old. Brown carpet.

• Review of license tags of cars in area Tuesday morning reveals no warrants. No tickets issued Monday night.

• Checking with Vice about prostitutes, re: witness.

• No leads.

INTERVIEW WITH HALLERSTEIN

Perp:

• EFIT composite picture of the Watchmaker—late forties, early fifties, round face, double chin, thick nose, unusually light blue eyes. Over 6 feet tall, lean, hair black, medium length, no jewelry, dark clothes. No name.

• Knows great deal about clocks and watches and which timepieces had been sold at recent auctions and were at current horologic exhibits in the city.

• Threatened dealer to keep quiet.

• Bought 10 clocks. For 10 victims?

• Paid cash.

• Wanted moon face on clock, wanted loud tick.

Evidence:

• Source of clocks was Hallerstein’s Timepieces, Flatiron District.

• No prints on cash paid for clocks, no serial number hits. No trace on money.

• Called from pay phones.

CRIME SCENE THREE

Location:

• 481 Spring Street.

Victim:

• Joanne Harper.

• No apparent motive.

• Didn’t know second victim, Adams.

Perp:

• Watchmaker.

• Assistant.

• Probably man spotted earlier by victim, at her shop.

• White, heavyset, in sunglasses, cream-colored parka and cap. Was driving the SUV.

M.O.:

• Picked locks to get inside.

• Intended method of attack unknown. Possibly planning to use florist’s wire.

Evidence:

• Fish protein came from Joanne’s (orchid fertilizer).