Free Deadly Web by Michael Omer

to someone male. I’m sending those to the lab, see if they get a match in CODIS, but it’ll take some time.”
    “Okay, good,” Jacob said, thinking yet again that CODIS was a really cute name for something that should have been named the great scary big brother who knows us all by our DNA .
    “The pills in the medicine cabinet are definitely Ecstasy,” Matt said. “So this guy was buying drugs.”
    “Yeah,” Jacob said. “We think we know who he was buying them from. Could be the guy who killed him.”
    “Good. Many of the sex toys in his bedroom were used recently. We found some dried bodily fluids on two vibrators and on one of the dildos, and fecal matter on another dildo.”
    “Okay,” Jacob paused for a second to consider the fact that fecal matter on one of the dildos was a reasonable phrase to use in a conversation. “When you say recently…”
    “The past three months.”
    “Right.”
    “At least two different partners.”
    “I see.” Was Frank seeing two women simultaneously? A jilted lover could have motive.
    “According to the triangulation of the blood marks found in the apartment, the victim was standing when he was stabbed. His position in the room was pretty much where we found him. I’ll send you the exact measurements. There are some spots of blood on the floor which probably dripped from the killer’s knife as he was leaving the apartment. I’ll send you their position as well. I found another spot in the hallway.”
    “Uh-huh.”
    “That’s all I have for you so far,” Matt concluded.
    “Thanks, Matt. Keep us updated.” Jacob hung up the phone and got up. He went over to the coffee pot, poured two mugs, and gave one to Mitchell, who thanked him distractedly.
    “We have some fingernails which are almost certainly the killer’s,” Jacob told him. That got Mitchell’s attention.
    “Any fingerprints?” Mitchell asked, turning away from his screens.
    “Afraid not,” Jacob said.
    “Okay,” Mitchell said. “I have the girlfriend’s work address.”
    “The immediate family should be notified,” Jacob said.
    “Parents?” Mitchell asked.
    “I don’t know, but the people at the Wexler Center could probably give us a hand there,” Jacob said.
    “So who first?” Mitchell asked. “Girlfriend or family?”
    Jacob sighed. “Family,” he said unhappily. “We should really start with the family.”
     

 
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Six
     
     
    The Wexler Care Center was only five minutes away from Frank Gulliepe’s apartment. Jacob expected a sterile white building, something similar to a hospital, but in fact it was a charming brown brick building, surrounded by lush green grass spotted with trees and small flowerbeds. It stood in clashing contrast with the rest of the neighborhood, which consisted mostly of old decrepit structures covered in graffiti and soot.
    Jacob and Mitchell parked their car and approached the glass front door, which was locked. There was a small intercom to one side, and Jacob pressed the button.
    A voice emanated from the speaker. “Yes?”
    “Police,” Jacob said.
    “Yes, Officer,” the speaker said. “How can I help you?”
    “You could open the door,” suggested Jacob.
    “What is this about?”
    “It’s about a murder investigation.”
    The door buzzed open. Murder investigation seemed to be the secret password.
    The lobby was well-lit, the walls painted light blue, the floor white and clean. There were several pictures on the wall, all of them displaying various bodies of water: a stream, a lake, a sunny beach.
    A woman sat behind a pearl-white front desk. She didn’t wait for them to introduce themselves. “My name is Mrs. Pendergast,” she said, standing up and walking around the desk to stand in front of them. “What is this about, Officers?”
    Mitchell introduced Jacob and himself, as Jacob examined Mrs. Pendergast. She was about forty, with a deep brown complexion, short brown hair, and tight lips. She seemed