enough had we been able to solve the puzzle in time,” Morgan said.
“And what were some of the theme clues?” Sam asked.
“Don’t drink the water was one that comes to mind. I believe they were all warnings of an environmental nature,” Ward responded.
“Okay, I get the idea. You guys couldn’t solve this puzzle?” Sam asked.
“Yeah, the killer mailed in the solution after LeBraun was dead and buried,” Morgan admitted. “We probably could have solved this puzzle. But it was the first one and we didn’t take the threat all that seriously.”
“What’s the story on the second victim?” Sam asked.
“The second victim was Gary Wicks, the publisher of Trim Magazine,” Morgan continued.
“I don’t see how this case relates to any environmental cause,” Ward pointed out.
“Perhaps the killer regards pornography as a type of social pollution,” Sam suggested.
“Maybe, Sam,” Ward said. “The pollution angle might tie into the third crime.”
“The third victim,” Morgan went on, “was Jonathan Byteman, the son of the computer guru at Stanford. The kid was the originator of the famous Jerusalem X computer virus. They still haven’t been able to eradicate this particular bug.”
“Cyber-pollution,” Sam offered. Both Morgan and Ward nodded in agreement. “The fourth victim?” Sam asked.
“The fourth victim was Arnold Troutman. He was the chief engineer of the Far East division of Eckland Chemical. Eckland, you may recall was the company that had the industrial accident in Sri Lanka in which poisonous gas escaped from a faulty canister and thousands of people perished,” Morgan answered.
“How did this one buy it?” Sam asked.
“CO poisoning—found dead in his car with the motor running,” Ward replied.
“That certainly fits the pattern of environmental pollution,” Sam said.
“But the rest of them don’t, Sam,” Ward stated.
“The fifth victim was really an odd one. Lash Gobel, the right-wing conservative radio personality was killed in his favorite restaurant. The potato soup was laced with rat poison. He was found face down, swimming in his soup. Certainly no environmental connection here.”
“And the sixth victim?” Sam asked.
“Mary Reece, a secretary,” Morgan responded.
“That doesn’t fit the prototype,” Sam remarked.
“You’re right. Except she wasn’t just your everyday secretary. She went out on an errand for her boss, the renowned Tynan Wesley. He gave her the keys to his Jag, and kaboom,” Morgan explained.
“Another right-wing media type,” Sam said. “Isn’t Wesley the publisher of the conservative magazine, the American Standard? And I know he hosts a weekly television program, Truth and Anarchy.”
“That’s right, Sam. He’s debated many an environmentalist on his program. He’s been especially critical of the Yosemite Club.”
“That’s interesting, Captain,” Sam said. The mention of Wesley’s name lit a spark inside of Sam. Wesley was one man he wanted to meet. Sam was always impressed by his glib responses to controversial questions.
“And I don’t have to fill you in on the most recent victim,” Morgan said. “I’m certain you’re well acquainted with the facts surrounding the Moreau case.”
“Eleanor Moreau most certainly doesn’t fit the pattern of being an anti-environmentalist. She was the former wife of the Canadian Prime Minister. They’ve been divorced for some time. No, Captain, indeed this crime doesn’t jive with the others. In fact, she was a member of Green Peace and a whale rider at that. You couldn’t think of a more vocal supporter of environmental causes,” Sam pointed out.
“Sam, maybe you can help us out here. We’re still at a loss regarding the obscure references to Moreau in the last crossword puzzle,” Morgan added.
“I must say that the references to Moreau and to her murder made by the killer in the crossword puzzle were ingenious.” Sam had it all figured out. “For example, her birthday was March 15, and one of the clues was the _____ of March. Her initials were one of the clues, em___, for emcee. Then there were the ski locations that she often frequented, St. Moritz, and Aspen. Her favorite watering holes, The China Club, and Bedouins were also part of the solution. And LSU was where she went to college. Then there were other biographical facts that only someone close to her could have known.”
Morgan nodded. “Thirty across was sort of funny,” he said. “Drucilla gorilla, I still don’t know what the hell it means. The clue was Licentious simian.”
“Well, Captain, if I remember my classical history, Drucilla was the daughter of Augustus Caesar and was said to have slept with every member of the Senate,” Sam replied.
“Perhaps this is an example of sexual pollution. Did she have one of those sexually transmitted diseases?”
“I don’t think so,” Sam said cracking a smile. “But she did have a reputation.”
“I also like 49 down,” Morgan said.
“Polly Adler Rattler,” Sam rejoined.
“And 53 across,” Ward said.
“Irma la Duce Goose,” Sam said unable to contain his laughter. “The murderer was obviously drawing parallels between Moreau and famous harlots.”
“The location of the murder crisscrossed with the murder weapon,” Morgan said. “Here Sam, take a look.” Morgan pointed to the upper right hand corner of the grid.
“What about the explosive device itself?” Sam asked.
“Well as you know, gribiline is the most common chemical used in constructing letter bombs. At a low temperature the physical structure of gribilene can be changed without any instability. But above fifty degrees any lesion detonates an explosion. A gribilene seal that runs along the top inside fold of the envelope and another along the glue tracks almost always results in a successful detonation when the unfortunate victim unseals the envelope,” Morgan replied.
“Have you investigated the consignments of gribilene from its manufacturers?” Sam asked.
“Yes, of course, Sam. There are only two companies that make it. However, contractors use it in commercial demolition, and a shipment could have easily been diverted. The FBI is checking every shipment, but the truth is, the stuff can easily be made from common chemicals.”
“You know, Captain, I was denied access to the crime scene. As a result I couldn’t check Moreau’s computer files. Did you check the e-mail on the victim’s computers?”
“Yes, but we didn’t turn up
