conversation between the two ranged from getting to know each other to the preparations of lunch. It wasn't long before it changed.
"So, how do you think things are going in there?"
"Well, Tom was on line with Morris Hospital this morning. It took some time to get to the right person, but he ascertained that Sam had long red hair before they shaved her head. The victimology is the same for all three women...age between 30-40, red-hair, and no known relatives to report them missing. What is Sam going to tell Tom?"
"Let's say it isn't pleasant."
Steve knitted his brow as a looked at Carole.
"It seems she remembers that the abuse happened over several days. The culmination was the rape."
"There was no sign of rape according to the medical reports."
"It wasn't a standard rape if you can call rape standard."
Again, Steve had a questioning look at Carole.
"He used the back door."
"Oh God, what a sicko!" Steve's eyes turned to the living room.
"I think they had enough time. Let's take this spread in."
Carole set the sandwich tray down on the dining room table while Steve carried in the coffee pot.
"Hey, you two come in and get the feed bag on." Carole called.
Tom had his arm around Sam's waist as he supported her walk to the table.
The lunchtime conversation stared out discussing the recent snowfall and the clearing of the Chicago streets; a time honored tradition among Chicago residents. As the meal progressed, Carole felt that sufficient conversation had taken place to address the elephant in the room.
"So Tom, what do you think about the connection between Sam's name and the book's heroine?"
Carole wondered if it was too soon to bring up the topic, but it was too late. Carole looked at Sam who kept staring down at her plate.
"It tells a lot really. It narrows our scope of investigation to Robinson—Williams Publishing."
"How's that?"
"Well, I can't say exactly right now. From what Sam says, the book was just released in January. That means for Sam to have been familiar of the heroine she probably had seen the book before it was released."
"Does that mean Sam is in danger working there?"
"Let's say that it not a healthy environment for her."
Carole turned to Sam who was now pushing her plate to the side, indicating that she was through with eating.
"Sam, you're not going back!"
Sam looked up from the table and turned to Carole. "I'm not a hero, but wouldn't it be easier if I were there? Maybe I can find something out. What about that Rizzo guy?"
Tom gave a little snicker. "I don't think he's the problem."
Sam gave him a questioning look. "Why?"
"It seems Mr. Rizzo is still in the closet."
"Really?" Sam face showed a stunned look.
"I guess some would prefer to keep their private life private."
"But, he had all the women falling all over him."
"An act. And, I might add a very good one."
As they finished up, Steve looked at his watch, signaling to Tom that they better be on their way. They scheduled a meeting with the medical examiner at 2:30.
Inside the car, Steve asked, "So Tom, what's up between you and Sam?"
"Nothing at present. You know I don't get personal with victims. With Sam it’s just different."
"What do you know about Carole?"
"Interested?"
Steve decided not to answer the question and switched to the police band to listen to the various incoming calls for their remaining ride to the Corner's Office.
Although they had an appointment with the corner, the medical examiner they needed to talk to was in the middle of an autopsy. An assistant greeted them and handed Tom the report on the lakefront victim. Tom scanned through the report and handed it to Steve.
"Looks like our perp followed the same pattern as the Kane County victim."
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Against Carole's wishes Sam reported to work Wednesday morning. As she entered the elevator the wisp of men’s cologne again assaulted her
"So, how do you think things are going in there?"
"Well, Tom was on line with Morris Hospital this morning. It took some time to get to the right person, but he ascertained that Sam had long red hair before they shaved her head. The victimology is the same for all three women...age between 30-40, red-hair, and no known relatives to report them missing. What is Sam going to tell Tom?"
"Let's say it isn't pleasant."
Steve knitted his brow as a looked at Carole.
"It seems she remembers that the abuse happened over several days. The culmination was the rape."
"There was no sign of rape according to the medical reports."
"It wasn't a standard rape if you can call rape standard."
Again, Steve had a questioning look at Carole.
"He used the back door."
"Oh God, what a sicko!" Steve's eyes turned to the living room.
"I think they had enough time. Let's take this spread in."
Carole set the sandwich tray down on the dining room table while Steve carried in the coffee pot.
"Hey, you two come in and get the feed bag on." Carole called.
Tom had his arm around Sam's waist as he supported her walk to the table.
The lunchtime conversation stared out discussing the recent snowfall and the clearing of the Chicago streets; a time honored tradition among Chicago residents. As the meal progressed, Carole felt that sufficient conversation had taken place to address the elephant in the room.
"So Tom, what do you think about the connection between Sam's name and the book's heroine?"
Carole wondered if it was too soon to bring up the topic, but it was too late. Carole looked at Sam who kept staring down at her plate.
"It tells a lot really. It narrows our scope of investigation to Robinson—Williams Publishing."
"How's that?"
"Well, I can't say exactly right now. From what Sam says, the book was just released in January. That means for Sam to have been familiar of the heroine she probably had seen the book before it was released."
"Does that mean Sam is in danger working there?"
"Let's say that it not a healthy environment for her."
Carole turned to Sam who was now pushing her plate to the side, indicating that she was through with eating.
"Sam, you're not going back!"
Sam looked up from the table and turned to Carole. "I'm not a hero, but wouldn't it be easier if I were there? Maybe I can find something out. What about that Rizzo guy?"
Tom gave a little snicker. "I don't think he's the problem."
Sam gave him a questioning look. "Why?"
"It seems Mr. Rizzo is still in the closet."
"Really?" Sam face showed a stunned look.
"I guess some would prefer to keep their private life private."
"But, he had all the women falling all over him."
"An act. And, I might add a very good one."
As they finished up, Steve looked at his watch, signaling to Tom that they better be on their way. They scheduled a meeting with the medical examiner at 2:30.
Inside the car, Steve asked, "So Tom, what's up between you and Sam?"
"Nothing at present. You know I don't get personal with victims. With Sam it’s just different."
"What do you know about Carole?"
"Interested?"
Steve decided not to answer the question and switched to the police band to listen to the various incoming calls for their remaining ride to the Corner's Office.
Although they had an appointment with the corner, the medical examiner they needed to talk to was in the middle of an autopsy. An assistant greeted them and handed Tom the report on the lakefront victim. Tom scanned through the report and handed it to Steve.
"Looks like our perp followed the same pattern as the Kane County victim."
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Against Carole's wishes Sam reported to work Wednesday morning. As she entered the elevator the wisp of men’s cologne again assaulted her
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