Page 33 of Tough as Steele

“But you can get a print?” Londyn asked.

“I can try. Of course, just because there aren’t any latent prints doesn’t mean I won’t find patent prints. I’ll dust the whole vehicle before I finish.” She scooted out and brought back another bottle. She shook it and sprayed the liquid on a cotton pad. She placed the pad on the door and held it in place. “This is a new polymer developed to more easily lift prints like these. It takes a few minutes, and then it has to air dry before we can detect print details. But it’s great stuff. If the print is there, the polymer will show ridge endings, short ridges, whorls, and sweat pores.”

Please, please, let there be something we can use to find Mimi.

“Can you run a sample of this blood for DNA too?” Nate asked.

“I’ll get a sample to Emory. She’s our DNA expert.”

“That would be great,” Nate said. “We should also talk about storing the vehicle.”

“We can have it towed to the state forensic lab in Clackamas,” Londyn suggested.

Sierra lifted her head. “We recently built a four-car garage for vehicles at the Center. We could take it in for storage and further assessment under proper light.”

“You’re sure?” Londyn asked.

She nodded. “Would give me a chance to dismantle the vehicle and look for additional evidence.”

“Then it’s all yours,” Londyn said, not consulting Nate.

He didn’t care if she asked him or not. He was hoping Sierra would give them a lead, and the vehicle storage location really didn’t matter. As long as it was protected and the evidence remained in a proper chain of custody.

Nate pointed at the door. “How long will that take to dry?”

“Could be thirty minutes or so,” Sierra said.

“Time we don’t have to waste.” Nate looked at Londyn. “We should get back to the house.”

“One question before we go,” Londyn said to Sierra. “Will the local team have the same polymer and be able to lift bloody prints at the house if they exist?”

“Not likely,” Sierra replied. “But dyes will also reveal them. Problem is, some prints require complex techniques, and busy backgrounds can complicate things.”

“So the criminalists might not be familiar with this procedure?” Nate asked.

“Might not.”

“Would you consider coming to the house and checking for blood?” Londyn asked.

Sierra grinned. “I thought you’d never ask.”

Nate couldn’t believe his good fortune in having Sierra on his side. “We can meet you there.”

“I’ll need to finish the preliminary processing and get the vehicle towed.” Sierra turned her attention back to her work.

“Thanks again.” Nate gestured for Londyn to head for his car, and when he got them on the road, Londyn looked at him.

“Would you mind if we made a quick stop?” she asked.

“Where?”

“My place. We’re going to be working this investigation pretty much nonstop until we bring Mimi home safe, and I really need to change out of this dress.”

He ran an appreciative look over her shapely legs. “It’s no hardship for me if you keep the dress on.”

She rolled her eyes. “Imagine yourself having to move quickly in something this tight and with these insane heels.”

“I don’t think either one would fit me.” He joked to hide the fact that he had any interest in her.

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