Jack preceded Lou into his office and snapped on his light. “Where the hell is Chet? I haven’t seen him since this morning. It’s not like him to just disappear.”

Lou sat down while Jack picked up a sheet of paper from the center of his desk.

“Hmmm,” Jack voiced after reading the note. “This is from Ted Lynch, the DNA guru. It seems that the tiny blue star from the Corinthian Rug Company office was heavily contaminated with anthrax spores. Considering the surface area, he estimates that there wouldn’t be room for one more spore. Now that’s curious.”

“What does it mean?” Lou asked.

“Beats me,” Jack said. He tossed the paper onto his desk. “I suppose it’s telling me something, but I haven’t the foggiest notion what it is. It sounds almost as if the star had been dropped into a bowl of anthrax.”

“Let’s hear about this case you wanted to tell me about,” Lou said.

Jack told the story of Connie Davydov. Lou listened intently and smiled about the part involving the funeral home. “Had Warren ever been in that kind of place before?” Lou questioned. Lou knew Warren through Jack.

Jack shook his head.

“He must have squirmed when he had to see the guy getting embalmed.”

“He said it was the worst experience of his life.”

“I can imagine,” Lou said.

“But it couldn’t be helped,” Jack said. “I needed him there to intimidate the funeral director. Actually, I’m surprised I got away with doing what I did.”

“Why are you telling me this story now?” Lou questioned. “Can I help somehow?”

“I’m wondering if you can do something about the body,” Jack said. “I’ve no idea what the plans are concerning embalming or cremation, but I’d like it to stay intact. I’d really like to do a full postmortem. Is there a way you could intervene?”

“Not without some involvement of this office,” Lou said.

“That’s what I was afraid of,” Jack said. “Well, no harm in asking. I’m going to wait around tonight for the results of the assay. If it’s positive for some kind of poison or overdose, I’ll give you a call.”

“I’ll be available via my cell phone,” Lou said. He stood up and took a few steps into the hall. He looked down toward Laurie’s office. “Do you think I should go back and say anything to our friend?”

“I think we’ve said about all we could,” Jack said. “Now she’s got to mull it over and decide its importance.”

“I suppose you’re right,” Lou said. “See you around.”

“Take care,” Jack said.