"What?" Rhyme asked.

Sachs told him, "Found some ash in the clothes that were in the trunk of Baker's car."

"And?" Sellitto asked.

Cooper added, "Identical to the ash found in the fireplace at Creeley's. Places him at that scene."

They also found a fiber from Baker's garage that matched the rope used in Benjamin Creeley's "suicide."

"I want to link Baker to Sarkowski's death too," Rhyme said. "Get Nancy Simpson and Frank Rettig out to Queens, that place where his body was found. Take some soil samples. We might be able to place Baker or one of his buddies there too."

"The soil I found at Creeley's, in front of the fireplace," Sachs pointed out, "had chemicals in it-like from a factory site. It might match."

"Good."

Sellitto called Crime Scene in Queens and ordered the collection.

Sachs and Cooper also found samples of sand and some vegetation that turned out to be seaweed. These substances were found in Baker's car. And there were similar samples in his garage at home.

"Sand and seaweed," Rhyme commented. "Could be a summer house-Maryland, again. Maybe Baker's got one, or a girlfriend of his."

But a check of the real estate databases showed that this wasn't the case.

Sachs wheeled in the other whiteboard from Rhyme's exercise room and she jotted the latest evidence. Clearly frustrated, she stood back and stared at the notations.

"The Maryland connection," she said. "We've gotto find it. If they killed two people, and nearly Ron and me, they're willing to kill more. They know we're closing them up and they won't want any witnesses. And they're probably destroying evidence right now."

Sachs was silent. She looked flustered.

It's hard when your lover is also your professional partner. But Lincoln Rhyme couldn't hold back, even-especially-with Amelia Sachs. He said in a low, even voice, "This's yourcase, Sachs. You've been living it. I haven't. Where does it all point?"

"I don't know." She dug a thumbnail into her finger. Her mouth tight, she shook her head, staring at the evidence chart. Loose ends. "There's not enough evidence."

"There's neverenough evidence," Rhyme reminded. "But that's not an excuse. That's what we're here for, Sachs. We're the ones who examine a few dirty bricks and figure out what the entire castle looked like."

"I don't know."

"I can't help you, Sachs. You've got to figure this one out on your own. Think about what you've got. Somebody with a connection to Maryland…somebody following you in a Mercedes…saltwater and seaweed…cash, a lot of cash. Crooked cops."

"I don't know," she repeated stridently.

But he wasn't giving an inch. "That's not an option. You haveto know."

She glared at him-and at the hard message beneath the words, which was: You can walk out that door tomorrow and throw away your career if you want. But for now you're still a cop with a job to do.

Her fingernails worried her scalp.

"There's something more, something you're missing," Rhyme muttered as he too gazed at the evidence charts.

"So, you're saying we have to think outside the box," said Ron Pulaski.

"Ah, clichés," Rhyme snapped. "Well, okay, if you're in a box, maybe you're there for a reason. Isay don't think outside it; I say look more closely at what's inside with you… So, Sachs, what do yousee in there?"

She stared at the charts for some moments.

Then she smiled and whispered, "Maryland."

BENJAMIN CREELEY HOMICIDE

56-year-old Creeley, apparently suicide by hanging. Clothesline. But had broken thumb, couldn't tie noose.

Computer-written suicide note about depression. But appeared not to be suicidally depressed, no history of mental/emotional problems.

Around Thanksgiving two men broke into his house and possibly burned evidence. White men, but faces not observed. One bigger than other. They were inside for about an hour.

Evidence in Westchester house:

Broke through lock; skillful job.

Leather texture marks on fireplace tools and Creeley's desk.

Soil in front of fireplace has higher acid content than soil around house and contains pollutants. From industrial site?

Traces of burned cocaine in fireplace.

Ash in fireplace.

Financial records, spreadsheet, references to millions of dollars.

Checking logo on documents, sending entries to forensic accountant.

Diary re: getting oil changed, haircut appointment and going to St. James Tavern.

Analysis of ash from Queens CS lab:

Logo of software used in corporate accounting.

Forensic accountant: standard executive compensation figures.

Burned because of what they revealed, or to lead investigators off?

St. James Tavern

Creeley came here several times.

Apparently didn't use drugs while here.

Not sure whom he met with, but maybe cops from the nearby 118th Precinct of the NYPD.

Last time he was here-just before his death-he got into an argument with persons unknown.

Checked money from officers at St. James-serial numbers are clean, but found coke and heroin. Stolen from precinct?

Not much drugs missing, only 6 or 7 oz. of pot, 4 of coke.

Unusually few organized crime cases at the 118th Precinct but no evidence of intentional stalling by officers.

Two gangs in the East Village possible but not likely suspects.

Interview with Jordan Kessler, Creeley's partner, and follow-up with wife.

Confirmed no obvious drug use.

Didn't appear to associate with criminals.

Drinking more than usual, taken up gambling; trips to Vegas and Atlantic City. Losses were large, but not significant to Creeley.

Not clear why he was depressed.

Kessler didn't recognize burned records.

Awaiting list of clients.

Kessler doesn't appear to gain by Creeley's death.

Sachs and Pulaski followed by AMG Mercedes.

FRANK SARKOWSKI HOMICIDE

Sarkowski was 57 years old, owned business in Manhattan, no police record, murdered on November 4 of this year, survived by wife and two teenage children.

Victim owned building and business in Manhattan. Business was doing maintenance for other companies and utilities.

Art Snyder was case detective.

No suspects.

Murder/robbery?

Was shot to death as part of apparent robbery. Weapon recovered on scene-Smith amp; Wesson knockoff,.38 Special, no prints, cold gun. Case detective believes it could have been a professional hit.

Business deal went bad?

Killed in Queens-not sure why he was there.

Deserted part of borough, near natural gas tanks.

File and evidence missing.

File went to 158th Precinct on/around November 28. Never returned. No indication of requesting officer.

No indication where it went in the

158th.

DI Jefferies not cooperative.

No known connection with Creeley.

No criminal record-Sarkowski or company.

Rumors-money going to cops at the 118th Precinct. Ended up someplace/someone with a Maryland connection. Baltimore mob involved?

No leads.

No indications of mob involvement.

No other Maryland connections found.

THE WATCHMAKER

CRIME SCENE FIVE

Location:

Office building, Thirty-second Street and Seventh Ave.

Victims:

Amelia Sachs/Ron Pulaski.

Perp:

Dennis Baker, NYPD

M.O.:

Gunshot (attempt).

Evidence:

.32 Autauga Mk II pistol

Latex gloves.

Recovered from Baker's car, home, office:

Cocaine.

$50,000 cash.

Clothing.

Receipts from clubs and bars, incl. the St. James.