The Amsterdam Chronicles: Def-Con City Trilogy Part 1

by Brian Christopher

  Harvey Wall thought he would get in before the other detectives at seven in the morning, but he was wrong. Everyone connected to the case, including Bakker, were all working at their desks. As soon as he got himself a cappuccino Ribb came out of his office and went to the front of the whiteboards.

  "Let's start with the good news. Detective Walls' bird foot had a partial thumbprint on it. Although it is only part of an impression it might yield some DNA. The bad news is that there was no match to the print in our database. When the DNA analysis comes in we might have something, then we will take it from there. What we definitely do have is a photo." There was a deep rumble in the room. Ribb held up in the enlarged photo for all to see. It was a shot of a face peering in through the window in the door of the pathologists' laboratory.

  The face on the photo was very dark due to the backlight from the fluorescent tube lighting in the corridor, making it only possible to see the outline of the head, with no real detail to the face.

  "We got this from hospital security. Although it is not very clear, there is a certain outline that might be recognizable to someone. Detective Wall and detective Bakker will go over to the hospital and collect the original security tape. With any luck our technical people will get a better image. Also, we did bag ourselves a couple of thieving roofers yesterday."

  Hendrik Pastoor looked over at Dop and Kaps, who smiled at their achievement.

  "Unfortunately the roofers had nothing to do with the case," Ribb said. A couple of people in the room moaned. "So today we have a lot of legwork to do."

  Ribb pointed to Hendrik Pastoor, Dop, and Kaps. "We need to get more statements from people living on the Overtoom. Check to see if there are any photography buffs taking skyline photos at night. Also, check to see if there are any webcams on the street or CCTV."

  Ribb pointed to a second group of detectives. "We also need to check out medical ties between the victims. Look at all the medical procedures they have ever been involved in, however trivial, and I want a list of every medical expert they came into contact with."

  He then turned to a third group of detectives. "All the roofs have to be re-examined along the first set of victims." Ribb pointed to the markers on the map from the Bilderdijkstraat to the Roelof Hartplein. "Comb every square centimeter of those roofs. We might pick up some evidence or a trail leading to where he was coming from, and take an extra forensics team with you.

  Ribb cast his eye on Wall and Bakker. "Detective Wall and detective Bakker, while you are at the hospital picking up the tape," Ribb pointed to the image of the face in the door. "Take this photo with you and ask around. Maybe someone will recognize it before we get it enhanced. That's it for now. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen."

  A burst of activity took over the room as detectives got ready to leave. Wall sat at his desk and studied the photograph. The shot was taken from the security camera in the corner of the pathologist's room. Wall could not only see the outline of the face, but he could also make out part of a white medical tunic at the collar.

  "Can we go to where this shot was taken?" Wall asked Bakker, who searched through computer files with a slice of pizza in his mouth.

  Bakker muttered something unintelligible through the pizza.

  "What are you eating man?" Wall asked. He stared repulsively at Bakker.

  "Breakfast." Bakker bit through the pizza which landed next to his keyboard.

  "I have some left over." He pulled open a drawer in his desk to reveal two remaining slices lying on some crumbled papers. "You want some?"

  "Jeez," Wall said in disgust. "No thanks." Wall looked down at the papers under the pizza.

  "Why do you throw paper rubbish into your drawer. Don't you have a wastepaper basket?"

  "That's not rubbish. Those are my declarations."

  "What?"

  "You know, receipts for coffee, food, that sort of thing, outside the office."

  "You eat them as well?"

  "How did you know?"

  Wall rolled up as eyes to heaven. "Come on, let's get out of here before I throw up."