This victim exhibited approximately 35 lacerations in various sites of the chest, abdomen, arms, face and thighs, primarily anterior, presumably caused by shards of glass from a window that was shot out at the crime scene. These lacerations varied in size but the majority were approximately 3–4mm in width and 2 to 3 centimeters in length. Six of said lacerations were in this victim’s carotid and jugular vessels and femoral artery, resulting in severe hemorrhaging.

Rhyme was aware of faint breathing on the other end of the line. Then: “Captain Rhyme, is everything all right?”

“I have to go.”

“Is there anything more you need me to do?”

Rhyme’s eyes were on Nance Laurel, who was scanning quizzically, looking from the autopsy report to the photos to Rhyme himself. He said to Poitier, “No, thank you, Corporal. I’ll call you back.” He disconnected and wheeled closer to the screen, studying it more closely. Then he turned his attention to the whiteboards.

“What is it, Rhyme?” Sachs asked.

He sighed. When he spun around he looked to Laurel. “I’m sorry. I was wrong.”

“What do you mean, Linc?” Sellitto asked.

“De la Rua wasn’t collateral damage at all. He was the target.”

Laurel said, “But, still, Lincoln, we know Shales intended to shoot Moreno. It was the glass shards from the bullet Shales fired that killed de la Rua.”

“That’s the point,” Rhyme said softly. “No, it wasn’t.”

Chapter 80

CHAPTER 80

UAV EIGHT NINE TWO TO FLORIDA CENTER. Target identified and acquired. Infrared and SAR.”

“Roger, Eight Nine Two…Use of LRR is authorized.”

“Copy. Eight Nine Two.”

And six seconds later Robert Moreno was no more.

Barry Shales was in the holding cell, alone, hands together, sitting hunched forward. The bench was hard, the air stifling and sour-human smelling.

Recalling the Moreno task, thinking particularly of the disembodied voices from Florida Center. People he’d never met.

Just like he’d never actually seen the UAV he’d flown on that mission, never run his hand over its fuselage the way he had his F-16. He never saw any of the UAVs in person.

Remote.

Soldier and weapon.

Soldier and target.

Remote.

Remote.

“There seem to be two, no, three people in the room.”

“Can you positively identify Moreno?”

“It’s…there’s some glare. Okay, that’s better. Yes. I can identify the task. I can see him.”

Shales’s thoughts were in turmoil. Like an aircraft in a spin: The horror of learning that he’d killed three innocent men, then being arrested for the murder of one. And then finding that Shreve Metzger had brought in a specialist to clean up after the operation, killing witnesses, setting that bomb.

Which all brought home to him that fundamentally what he was doing for NIOS was wrong.