"And then?"
"This is my first case like this. My office doesn't usually handle violent crimes. Fraud, theft, and sexual improprieties are our bread and butter. But my guess would be the Secretary's Office will send a letter to the Arlington Police Department and ask to be kept in the loop."
I smiled. "Hard to believe, isn't it? Death… the amount of paperwork it generates."
"Sure is." She smiled back. "Look, I have to go talk to the lead detective again. Do me a favor?"
"I'm all yours."
"I neither need nor want all of you, Drummond." She smiled. "Just keep an eye on that briefcase."
"Briefcase? I don't see-"
"That one." She pointed it out. "The one you accidentally nudged under the bed."
"Oh… I hadn't-"
She put her finger on my chest. "I intend to have it dusted for prints. Don't let me find yours on it."
CHAPTER TWO
The moment Bian Tran stepped out of the bedroom, I shifted position, closer to the bed and directly behind the forensics specialist, who remained bent over the body, manipulating tweezers and picking debris off the sheets. I cleared my throat and asked, "What are we seeing here?"
"It'll all be in my report," he replied.
"Okay, but-"
"Aren't you listening? I said it'll be in my report."
I allowed a moment to pass. Then I withdrew a pen and a small green notepad from my pocket. "What's your name?"
"What?"
"Your name-spell it."
He straightened up. "What are you talking about?"
"For my report."
"What the-"
"Back at the Bureau they throw monumental fits over silly things like misplaced modifiers and split infinitives. Misspellings really make them pissy." I added, "I think it's because we hire too many lawyers and accountants. You know? Totally anal."