WMC - First to Die

Chapter 91

CLAIRE SAID, "I've been expecting you, honey." She took my arm and led me back into the lab to a small room lined with chemicals. Two microscopes were set up side by side on a granite-block counter. "Charlie told me what he came up with," she said. "The champagne. Matching pantalones. You got him, Lindsay." "Match these"-- I held out the plastic bag-"we put him in the gas chamber." "Okay, let's see," she said, smiling. She opened a yellow envelope marked "Priority, Evidence," and took out a petri dish identical to the one I had seen after the second murders. It had Subject: Rebecca De George #62340 written on the front in bold marker. With a tweezer, she placed the single hair that had come from the second bride onto a clear slide. Then she inserted it under the scope. She leaned over it, adjusting the focus, then caugnt me oy surprise, asKing, 30 now re yuu leeimg, woman?" "You mean Negli's?" "What else would I mean?" she said, peering into the scope. In the rush of apprehending Jenks, it was the first time in the past few days that I had really thought about it, "I saw Medved late last week. My blood count's still down." Claire finally looked up, "I'm sorry, Lindsay." Trying to sound upbeat, I walked her through my regimen. The increased dosage. The higher frequency. I mentioned the possibility of a bone marrow transplant. She flashed me a big smile. "We're go

Chapter 92

NICHOLAS JENKS was in a holding cell on the tenth floor of the Hall of Justice. He was headed to arraignment later today. His lawyer, Sherman Leff, was with him, looking as if this were all just a formality and the scales of justice were resting on the shoulders of his English-tailored suit. Jill Bernhardt accompanied Raleigh and me. Jenks had no idea what was coming his way. We had the champagne, the tuxedo pants, matching hairs from his beard. We had him in the suite with David and Melanie Brandt. I couldn't wait to tell him all the good news. I sat down across from Jenks and looked him in the eye. "This is Assistant District Attorney Jill Bernhardt," I said. "She's going to be handling your case. She's going to convict you, too." He smiled- the same, gracious, confident, and condescending glint- as if he were receiving us in his home. Why does he look so confident? I wondered. "If it's all right," Jill said, "I'd like to begin." "Your meeting," Sherman Leff said. "I've no objection." Jill took a breath. "Mr. Jenks, in an hour you are going to be arraigned for the first-degree murder of David and Melanie Brandt at the Grand Hyatt hotel on June fifth. Shortly after, I believe a Cleveland court will do the same for the murders of James and Kathleen Voskuhl. Based on what the medical examiner has just uncovered, I believe you can expect a Napa Valley court to follow through as well. We have overwhelming evidence linking you to all three of these crimes. We're sharing this with you, and with your counsel, in the hope that your response to this evidence might spare the city, the families of the deceased, and your family the further humiliation of a trial." Sherman Leff finally cut in. "Thank you, Ms. Bernhardt. As long as consideration is the spirit of the day, we'd like to begin by expressing my client's deep regret for his emotional outburst toward Inspector Boxer at the time of his arrest. As you might imagine, the shock and the sudde