CSI Manhunter Part 3
Grissom looked closely at the plastic evidence bag Jack Crawford had handed him.
They were settled in a quite table of the diner. The general buzz of lunchtime activities were going on all around them as Grissom looked at photographs of the shallow grave of a young life cut short. A life prevented from having its full allotment by the whim of a totally emotionally disassociated man. By definition, a psychopath. Lecktor would not have given a thought for the young girls feeling nor her family.
One of the photographs showed the object Grissom now held in a evidence bag in the position it was found, within the torso of the tiny skeleton.
"We identified the larger bug in the amber as a Wolf Beetle, which I guess I don't have to tell you, is exclusively indigenous to woodland regions of Nevada." Jack explains "we are not sure what the smaller insect is."
Grissom tries to look closer at it. He has his magnifying eye piece from his field kit and is looking closely at the strange object.
"I'm not sure either - as it appears to be inside the body of the beetle….." Grissom explains without looking up. "This is strange as Wolf beetles are extremely rare and, despite their name, are not carnivorous. So you guess there must be a message intended?"
"That is what we figured". Crawford responds. "It is just Leckter's style to use word play and subtle clues to get us to dance to his tune. It amused him to see 'lesser mortals' trying to figure things out."
Looking up Grissom says "Mediocrity and inflated self-importance offended him more than anything. He wanted us to figure stuff out for ourselves. He would just say enough to keep us coming back and not so much that we didn't need him. He wanted to prolong the investigations and heightening the stress and anxiety on investigators. "
After a pause Crawford adds "Somehow though, he seemed to respect you."
Grissom does not respond and Crawford continues; "Lecktor was well aware of your entomology expertise as it was needed with the first victim. Nothing seemed to escape that guy"
Crawford tensed. He had lost officers because of Lecktors ingenuity. Lecktor had killed one of the prison hospital psychiatrists with a ball point pen.
Grissom still studying the insects "I need to get this back to the lab and cut it open to properly examine these..."
"I guessed that, which is why we had not already done it" Jack replies with a knowing grin. Grissom's fascination with insect life had not waned over the years he saw. "You are also still one of the foremost entomologists; I wish you were still on the team."
Grissom just gives him a 'not on your life' look.
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Out side the dinner, Grissom is just getting into his Tahoe when Crawford puts his hand on the roof of the vehicle above the driver's side. He hands Grissom a large brown envelope. The stance shows Crawford's concealed weapon in an under arm holster.
"This is a review of the case file o bring you up to date." Crawford explains as he hands the package over to Grissom. "I'll be in Vegas for a few days. Call me"
"OK. I'll see what I can find".
Across the parking lot, Detective Ortega of LVPD Internal Affairs is just getting into his own car when his attention is drawn to a familiar black Tahoe. He stops and watches the exchange between Grissom and someone he does not recognize. The flash of the gun did not go unobserved. Nor the apparent exchange of a large envelope…….
TBC
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Disclaimer: I know nothing about bugs or insects. I just made it up. Also I have not read any of Tom Harris' books on Lecktor or Lector so don't pick me up on that! I haven't the stomach to read them! This is a flight of fancy.