“Some scholars believe so, but many of my faith disagree. To us, it represents the two thieves who were crucified next to Christ. The criminal on the left was repentant and accepted Christ as his savior, so his side points toward Heaven. The thief on the right rejected Him, so his side points toward Hell.”
“Really?” As someone who dealt with people of all religions and beliefs, Dial was surprised he didn’t know that. “I learn something new every day.”
“I’m glad I could enlighten you,” Theodore said. “If you have any other questions, I’d be happy to answer them. Otherwise, I’d like to make myself available to the other officers.”
“Please, help them out. They need it more than I do.”
Dial glanced around the room again. But this time he had a strange feeling that he was overlooking something. He wasn’t sure what it was, but he sensed it was something important. “If it’s okay with you, can I stay in here and look around some more? We already missed the blood on the door. I’d hate to think we missed something inside.”
Theodore frowned as he considered the request.
Hoping to charm him, Dial put his hand on one of the rickety chairs. “Don’t worry, I promise I won’t steal the furniture.”
The monk cracked a smile, then scurried out of the room.
21
Dial had been in the room for less than two minutes when Andropoulos knocked on the door.
D “Sir?” he said. “May I come in?”
“Of course you can come in. This isn’t my apartment. It’s a crime scene.”
Andropoulos blushed and stepped inside. He was carrying a folder filled with information about the victims. “I have the background that you asked for.”
But Dial ignored him, focusing on the nightstand instead. It sat between the two cots and was the only furniture in the monk’s room where something could be stored. He opened the drawer, hoping to find something important, but it was empty. Just like the rest of the room.
“Speaking of crime scenes,” Dial said as he glanced back at the young cop, “who’s in charge of the perimeter?”
“The perimeter?”
“You know, the imaginary line that encircles a crime scene. Who’s in charge of it?”
“We are, sir.”
“Who’s
“Us, sir. The local police department.”
Dial nodded. He had known the answer. He just wanted Andropoulos to take ownership of the problem. “And what’s your policy for letting people into the crime scene?”
“Sir?”
“I mean, do you let
“Of course not, sir. Only authorized personnel.”
“Authorized personnel.” Dial practically spat when he said it. “Does that include cops?”
“Yes, sir.”
“What about reporters?”
“No, sir.”
“What about monks?”
Andropoulos paused. “I’m not sure about that one.”
Dial smirked. “I don’t blame you. That’s a tough one. I mean, they’re men of God, so we can trust them, right?”
“I guess.”
“You guess?” Dial shook his head in disappointment. “Earlier to day, we saw a monk entering the crime scene, didn’t we? Up in the cable car?”
“Yes, sir.”
“And I’m guessing he didn’t sneak in. Not while wearing a cassock and carrying a box.”
“No, sir.”
“So
Andropoulos nodded. “Did I do something wrong, sir?”
Dial softened the tone in his voice. He was angry at Nicolas’s presence at the crime scene but didn’t want to blame the young cop for something that wasn’t his fault. “Not you personally, but someone on your team screwed up big-time. Remember the old monk I introduced to you last night? I just found out he didn’t belong here. In fact, he might not be a monk at all.”
“What? Who told you that?”
“The monk from the cable car. Then again, maybe
“You mean Theodore? He’s
“But not Nicolas?”
Andropoulos shook his head. “No, sir. He didn’t look familiar to me.”
“Great,” Dial mumbled to himself. “Next time speak up a little sooner.”
“I will, sir. In the meantime, what should I do to fix this?”
Dial stared at the kid. He had just lectured him over something he didn’t do, yet Andropoulos had taken it like a man. He hadn’t gotten defensive. He hadn’t passed the buck. He simply wanted to know how he could make things right. It was the perfect reaction to the situation.
Dial said, “Get word to the perimeter about Nicolas. Find out who let him in and why. Also find out what time he left and if anyone gave him a ride. I know when I came through last night, they recorded my name and ID badge into a log. Maybe they did the same thing with him. If so, get someone to verify the information ASAP.”
“I’ll do it myself,” Andropoulos said.
“No. Get someone else. You have better things to do with your time.”
“Sir?”
“Do me a favor and look at the door.”
“Which door?”
Dial pointed. “The one you just walked past.”
Andropoulos did what he was told. It didn’t take him long to spot the stain near the handle. “Is this blood?”
“It sure looks like it. And as far as I can tell, it hasn’t been processed.”
“You’re right, sir. It hasn’t. I’ll get forensics in here at once.”
Dial nodded and turned back to examine the interior of the room. Combine the bloodstain on the door with Nicolas’s presence inside, and Dial knew he was missing something.
But what was it? What was being overlooked?
“Marcus, before you leave, I’d like your opinion.”
“On what, sir?”
“If you were a criminal, why would you come into this room?”
“Is this a test?”
“No, it’s not a fucking test. I’m asking for your help. Is there something in here that would interest you?”
Andropoulos tried not to smile as he walked back into the room. Hoping to impress his boss, he scanned everything, focusing on the intricate wooden ceiling for several seconds before he moved on to the nightstand and the two cots that rested against the wall. Eventually, he stopped near the table and chairs in the center of the room. “May I look in the box, sir?”
“Not the box.
Andropoulos considered Dial’s statement, then said, “Did you carry anything out?”
“No, I didn’t,” Dial said, “but that’s a pretty good question. When you talk to your people, find out if Nicolas
