There's a manila folder, two flash drives, and one sheet of slightly crumpled paper folded in half in the middle of the desk. When Detective Nelson removes a hairbrush from the box, Sharon's heartbeat speeds up; her mind goes blank; she feels numb.
"Captain Raydor, do any of these items belong to you?" asks the detective.
Sharon opens her mouth to speak, but can't seem to form any words. Andy touches her hand, and asks if she's okay. Turning to him, she gives him a wide-eyed look and blinks a few times before telling him that she's okay. Pointing at the brush, she says, "That's mine."
Detective Nelson hands the box to Sharon, and asks her if she recognizes the clothing inside.
Peering in the box, Sharon recognizes her black bra and panties, trimmed with pink lace, and her pale ivory nightgown and robe. Her face feels hot. Handing the box back to the female detective, she confirms the clothing belongs to her. "Where did you find my things?"
"Two traffic officers from the Wilshire Division spotted an abandoned vehicle early this morning," says the detective. "They could see a half-open backpack through the window on the passenger side; these pictures were sticking out of the top." Nelson reaches for the manila folder on the desk, and hands it to Sharon.
With trembling hands, Sharon takes the folder, reaches in and pulls out a handful of pictures. She's staring at herself. Wearing the ivory nightgown, she's peacefully sleeping in the first photo; she's in her favorite position on her side with one bare leg sticking out of the covers; her hair is lushly draped over her left shoulder; her lips are parted slightly. It appears to be dawn due to the amount of light in the room. The picture is of a high enough resolution to see the red polish on her toes.
Overcome with curiosity, Andy puts his reading glasses on, and leans in to look just as Sharon shuffles the stack to see the second picture, which is even more intimate than the first. She's practicing the upward facing dog position in a low-cut tank top and tight yoga pants. Her hair is up in a messy bun, and there's more than a little cleavage showing below the hollow space in her clavicle. Her neck is elongated; her skin is glistening with sweat, and muscle definition is visible. Andy can't stop staring.
No one is saying a word. Muffled voices, and ringing phones can be heard from the outer office. Time seems suspended as Sharon and Andy study the third picture. She's grinning at Rusty over the dinner table with a look of pure love in her eyes. Rusty is obliviously stuffing a large slice of pizza in his mouth. Her delicate wrist bone is visible as she holds a glass of white wine. The scene is very sweet. It occurs to Sharon she would like to frame this picture if the circumstance was different.
The next picture shows Sharon dressed casually, seated on her couch with a basket of clean laundry at her bare feet. She's looking at the TV, and holding her black bra in her hands; the matching panties are on top of a stack of folded laundry on the cushion next to her.
The final picture is Sharon and Andy in profile standing in front of the couch. Their eyes are closed; their noses are touching; their lips are an inch apart. Sharon's left hand is resting on the back of Andy's neck; her right hand is touching his left shoulder. His arms are wrapped tightly around her waist; her breasts press into his chest. A sliver of silver in the shape of a teardrop dangles from her ear almost as if it's floating. It's an erotic photo but for the smudged black X drawn on Andy's face.
Sharon shoves the pictures back in the folder. Her thoughts are jumbled; she's trying to form a coherent question when Andy states the obvious, "These pictures were taken from inside the condo, and whoever did this doesn't like me."
"Yes," says the detective. "We believe the residence is bugged. From the quality of the images, it appears to be very sophisticated surveillance equipment. One of my colleagues is headed to the condo now with our most accurate detection device."
"Do you know what's on the flash drives?" Sharon asks.
"Not yet," the detective says. She scoops both flash drives off the desk, and holds them up in order for Sharon and Andy to see the writing on each. In simple, block lettering one is labeled MINE and the other is labeled DESTROY. "We'll need to see what's on these. Obviously, Captain Raydor, we understand the personal nature of this evidence. I assure you, we're handling your case with kid gloves."
Sharon glances at Andy at the mention of kid gloves. He removes his glasses, and gives her a small smile causing the skin around his expressive eyes to crinkle. She notices the bruise on his face has turned a deeper shade of purple during the night. Resisting the strong urge to cup his cheek in her palm, she looks away as a wave of tenderness mixed with fear floods her heart. Through no fault of her own; Andy is in just as much danger as she is.
"Captain, I'll be in the electronics room with you to review the flash drives. Before we get started, I'd like Buzz to examine the drives for potential computer viruses; once that's complete it shouldn't be necessary for him to stay in the room," the detective says.
"Yes, of course," Sharon agrees.
Picking up the piece of paper from the desk, the detective unfolds it and hands it to Sharon. "This is perhaps the strangest piece of evidence recovered from the backpack," she says.
Sharon adjusts her glasses on her nose, and begins to silently read the computer generated words printed on the page.
Sharon,
I'm able to gaze on your beauty at my leisure. You remove your clothes, one by one, until you're standing naked in full view. Indeed, you are more lovely than I could have imagined. You saw me concealed in the shadows and shuddered. You said either you must submit to death for gazing on that which you should not or else kill my husband who has shamed me and become king in his place.
Herodotus told our tale in The Histories.
You do stand naked, body and soul, before me.
Know this, I have gazed upon you and I will kill for you, my true love.
It is our destiny.
"This is a threat," Sharon says.
"My thoughts exactly," concurs Detective Nelson.
