CHAPTER 2
Matt followed Hoyt over to the multiplex where the first victim, Frank Bartholomew had been found. As they entered the building Hoyt looked at Houston, who had a smile on his face. "Most folks don't wear a smile to the scene of a murder, PI. You sure seem to be enjoying the married life." If anyone had told him a couple of years ago that Houston would be happily married, he would have had them committed to an insane asylum. After all those years as a carefree bachelor heart-breaker, Matt had settled right in to life as a married man.
"Sorry, Hoyt." He wiped the smile from his face and tried to concentrate on the case. They turned left once inside the multiplex and went to the theater at the very end.
"Okay, theater number one. Our victim was found here." Hoyt motioned toward the right hand side, five rows from the back. Matt pulled out the small flash light that he had brought from the truck and began looking at the seat and the surrounding area. "The CSI's didn't find anything unusual. Just the normal popcorn and candy…" Hoyt raised his right shoe. "And of course chewing gum." He took a napkin out of his coat pocket and wiped the gum off of the sole of his shoe. "God, that's disgusting! Why can't people put their gum in the garbage can where it belongs?"
Matt started smiling again, then the look vanished. "What is it?" Hoyt saw the expression on his face. Matt pointed to the underside of the armrest where there was a black rosebud. Hoyt took out his phone and called the CSI's to come back out. "Good catch there, Houston. I'm surprised they didn't see that earlier." He and Matt waited for the crime scene techs to come out to bag and tag the newly found evidence. Once it was in the bag, Hoyt handed it to Houston.
"Looks like a real rose." He held it up to the light. "But when you get brighter light on it, it looks more like red than black." He handed the bag to Hoyt, who repeated the process.
"Yeah, sure does. I've never seen one like this before, have you?" He handed the bag to the tech who would transport it to the lab.
"No, can't say as I have. This sounds like a good job for CJ and Baby." He pulled out his phone and called the office. He explained what they had found to CJ, who immediately started Baby digging on the subject.
"There are two kinds of roses that are referred to as black: black magic roses and black bacarra roses. Of the two, the black bacarra has more black to it. I'll bet that's probably what you've got there." She continued her search. "There are only a few florists in the Los Angeles area who carry them."
"Okay, give me the names and addresses, CJ." He took a notebook out of his pocket and jotted down the information. "Thanks, darlin'. Love you, too. 'Bye." When he looked up Hoyt was standing there with a bemused expression on his face. "What?"
"Oh, nothing. I just can't get used to how much you've changed in such a short time." He turned and started out of the theater. "Guess we better get a move on and check out the other two theaters."
Matt put the notebook back in his pocket and followed the lieutenant out. "So tell me, Hoyt. Is it really a bad change?"
"No, not bad, just surprising. I'm glad you two finally got together…you were about to drive the rest of the world crazy."