“Polymerase chain reaction,” Jack said. “It’s a way of augmenting a tiny piece of DNA so that it can be analyzed.”

“Right!” Lou said, pretending he understood.

“Anyway this technique is fantastic,” Ted said eagerly. “It involves putting a specific enzyme in the PCR reaction mix. What the enzyme does is gobble up single strands of DNA like that old video game PacMan. Remember that?”

Both Jack and Lou nodded.

“The slick thing is that when it hits an attached probe for whatever it is you’re looking for, the enzyme signals. Isn’t that sharp? So you can quantify what was in the sample originally by knowing the number of doublings the reaction has gone through, since that’s time-related.”

Both Jack and Lou looked blankly at the excited DNA expert.

“So you want me to do it?” Ted asked.

“Yeah, sure,” Jack said. “That would be great.”

“I’ll get right on it,” Ted said. He disappeared as quickly as he’d appeared.

“Did you understand that?” Lou asked.

“Not a word,” Jack admitted. “Ted’s in his own world up there. That’s why they put the DNA lab on the top floor. We all think the results are coming from heaven.”

“I’ve got to learn more about that DNA stuff,” Lou admitted. “It’s becoming more and more important in law enforcement.”

“The trouble is the technology is changing so rapidly,” Jack said.

“What’s this about a blue star?” Lou asked. “Is that the same blue star you were mumbling about when I came in?”

“One and the same,” Jack said. He went on to tell Lou the story of the tiny, glittering star, including the fact that it was the only thing in the Corinthian Rug Company office that was contaminated with anthrax spores.

“I’ve seen little stars like you’re describing,” Lou said. “In fact, just this year the invitation I got to the Police Ball had them inside the envelope.”

“You’re right!” Jack said. “I once got an invitation with them in it as well. I’d been wondering where I’d seen them.”

“It’s a curious thing to find in a rug office,” Lou said. “I wonder if they’d had a party.”

“Let’s get back to your question,” Jack said. “How are you going to make this decision whether to tell Laurie or not about her new boyfriend’s criminal record?”

“I don’t know,” Lou said. “I suppose I was hoping you’d offer to tell her.”

“Oh, no, you don’t,” Jack said. “This is your ball game. You got this information, and it’s up to you to decide what to do with it.”

“Well, there is more,” Lou said.

Jack’s ears picked up. “I’m listening.”

“I found out what kind of business he’s in.”

“That’s in his police record?” Jack questioned.

Lou nodded. “He’s an arms dealer.”