“I’m not saying it’s right or fair, I’m just sayingthat’s how it is,” replied Green. “I’ve personally got nothing against the guy. He never hurt me or anyone I cared about.”
“Lucky you,” said Lassiter.
Jamison looked at her. “Did he hurt someone you cared about?”
Lassiter put up a hand. “It has nothing to do with anything.”
Green added with a glance at Decker, “And to paraphrase you, I don’t see how thislittle trip into the sordid history of Baronville is helping us solve six murders.”
Decker said, “I asked Baron if he knew any of the vics and he said he didn’t.”
“Well, other than maybe the banker, I wouldn’t imagine he would,” observed Lassiter. “A street-level drug dealer doesn’t exactly run in the same circles as a Baron.”
Decker said, “Even though you claim hemoves in different ‘circles,’ maybe hedoesknow Swanson or one of the others.”
“So you didn’t believe his answer?” asked Green sharply.
“I don’t believe anyone,initially,” replied Decker.
“Okay, but do you have anyhelpfulthoughts?” Green indicated the pile of files.
“We need to run through all the vics again, because I believe they have to be connected,”said Decker.
“We already did that,” protested Green.
“Fresh eyes,” countered Decker. “We’ll need the keys to all their places.”
“But we haven’t even identified the last two,” pointed out Lassiter.
“But you have the other four.”
Green said in a disappointed tone, “I guess it was wishful thinking, but I thought you Feds would swoop in and solve thissucker overnight.”
“Did your partner fill you in on your ME’s time-of-death and other related screw-ups?” asked Decker.
Green looked a bit sheepish. “Yeah, she did. Blowflies and livor mortis. That was a good catch, actually. We’re looking at it all again.”
“Great, while you’re doing that, let me throw youanotherbone so you feel like we’reswoopingonto something.”
“What bone?” asked Lassiter.
“Ask your ME to check to see if the ‘nonhuman’ blood found at the crime scene ispig’sblood. I think he can probably do that without screwing it up.”
“Pig’s blood?” exclaimed Green. “Why in the world would you think that?”
“You watch any old cop shows?”
“What, you meanLaw & Order?” asked Green.
“Farther backthan that.”
“What does that have to do with anything?” asked Lassiter.
“It might have everything to do with it,” replied Decker.