A/N: Again for those of you sticklers out there, we get everything we know about forensics from TV. We have no idea if it is accurate or not. Given that most of the forensic information isn't really critical to the outcome of the story, we choose to write more and research less. Eh, we aren't in college anymore, and alas we aren't getting paid either. ☺ The information about the clove cigarettes is accurate, as much as is anything one gets off of the web. That is simply because I used to have a passion for clove cigarettes, and still would if a certain DH didn't object so much. Read it and ENJOY. We sure are.

Chapter 15

It is really quite engaging really. To stand so close to one's prize, one's nemesis and yet choose not to touch them. I could smell your perfume Alexandra… Obsession, by Calvin Klein. Ironic wouldn't you say? The funeral was really quite sad. Captain Stanfield may have had quite a bit more left to offer society had her life not been taken away so abruptly.

It is beginning to get tedious, waiting for you to find me. I have stopped myself from just finishing my little game, ceasing to toy with you Sherlock, cooling my jets before taking my dearest sweetness from you. You really must try harder to find me. I'm approaching boredom and that simply won't do. I know that you are better than that. I would hate to be disappointed.

Alex closed her eyes and groaned after reading the letter aloud to Bobby, Deakins, Mike, and Carolyn. She thought he was getting tedious with the game metaphor as well. Bobby's pacing only intensified when the letter referred to being 'toyed' with. He was probably the most frustrated of all of them.

"I knew he would show up at the funeral," Bobby sighed. For days after the funeral he'd been pouring over the pictures of the funeral trying to recognize the face of Marshall Wentworth in the midst of thousands of other faces. As part of their plan, Bobby had insisted on having photographers both along the parade route, inside the church and at graveside to capture the faces there. He knew that Wentworth would not be able to stay away. His need to taunt them, to even be close to them, had to be driving him now. At least if they kept him focused on them, he would not be focused on killing other cops. Of course, that didn't make him sleep any easier. And his concern for Alex's safety was becoming overwhelming since he was no longer allowed anywhere near her to protect her.

Bobby gently took the letter from Alex, both holding it with gloved hands. He sniffed it, smelling a slight clove smell. "That's odd. It smells like cloves." Deakins, Carolyn, and Mike just looked at him like he had truly jumped ship, but Alex was still listening.

"Cloves? Cloves like for baking? Cloves like in a clove cigarette? Aromatherapy? What Bobby?" Alex knew this might be important, but couldn't figure out how.

"We need to get this processed by the lab right now. Captain, I need a ziplock bag," Bobby sounded distracted and hurried. The captain recognized that look and reached into a nearby file drawer, pulling out a letter sized ziplock evidence bag. Bobby placed it in the bag and left the room hurriedly. He stopped himself right outside the door, and turned around saying "Sorry, I have to go to forensics now." Then he turned on his heels and hurried away.

The four people left in the room all looked at each other, Mike finally shrugging and leaving the room first, Carolyn following behind. Alex and the captain stood there looking at each other. They hadn't had much to say to each other since he had been forced to reassign Bobby and her to the case. She thought he was still struggling to come to terms with their relationship.

"Captain, is there anything you'd like to talk about?" Alex ventured. She wasn't sure what she wanted to discuss, but he might be ready to by now.

"Alex, I wouldn't even know where to begin. Let's just solve this case and figure out where we are. Despite my disappointment in the chain of events, I still trust that you and Bobby will get this guy. You still have my complete confidence professionally. And, if this is really love for the two of you, then you will have my complete support too. I'll be happy for you. But right now…" Deakins trailed off, not quite knowing what else to say.

"I know this is hard. It's been hard for everyone. But this will end, we will get this guy locked up, and we can move past this. I know we can, Captain. Thanks." Alex turned and left the room to follow her partner to forensics.

When Alex entered the forensics lab, she saw that Bobby had donned a white lab coat and was impatiently pacing behind a beleaguered lab technician. The technician was scanning the letter with a Z-Nose instrument that picked up and isolated different chemicals on clothing, paper, and other things that absorb odors. Alex came up behind Bobby standing still just watching the technician gather the chemical odors. Soon the Z-Nose had downloaded all its information to the computer. The technician walked over to the printer and handed the paper to Bobby, who started skimming the page excitedly.

"Hmmm, clove, tobacco, maple sweet, chocolate, licorice, plum casing, coffee, dried nangka, and dried orange. The tobacco is a special kind of tobacco called 'srintil.' Sounds like a brand of clove cigarette. A special kind, probably from Indonesia. "

The technician's jaw dropped and he sputtered, "How did you guess that from those ingredients? That… that's impossible."

Bobby and Alex smiled at each other, and Alex turned to the technician, "You have no idea," Alex laughed.

"Kretek is a clove cigarette made in Indonesia. The tobacco in the cigarette is not the type we use in cigarettes today, but rather it is called 'srintil' hence the reason it is probably from Indonesia. They will be expensive and hard to find too. The cheap clove cigarettes usually smoked here in the US by would-be trendy's is just plain tobacco with a little clove oil in it. These expensive kinds have real ingredients. Usually the 'secret sauce' is so specialized that no one knows exactly what is in them, or how much," Professor Bobby had come out to play Alex decided. He could probably go on all day on the merits of clove cigarettes.

Alex interrupted Bobby's edification. "Can we do a search of clove cigarette brands that contain these ingredients? And then I need to know where in the city a person can buy them. Ok?"

The technician looked like he had just met his hero in Bobby and his eagerness had him practically leaping up and down in his chair. He spun around to his computer and punched in the appropriate keys. "Looks like it is a Kretek cigarette, and based on the ingredients it is the brand Djarum from Indonesia. Djarum is a major market player in the US with 70 of the market share. However, here in New York, there are only about five specialty stores that you can find them in."

"Can you get us a list?" Alex was practically panting her excitement. This was a huge break! Bobby and his nose… when he dies, he should donate it to science.

"Yep, here are the five stores. They are almost all little smoke shops, shops that carry high end, specialty items." The technician handed Alex the single page of information that would hopefully lead them closer to their prey. As she handed the list to Bobby, thanked the technician, and left the room, she slyly thought 'and now the game really is afoot.'

TBC…………..