Page 85 of The Bone Hacker

I shared as much as I could without compromising Monck’s investigation.

“You should speak to Detective Monck.”

“Rest assured, I will.” Landers knew I was withholding some info but didn’t press.

“Thank you, officer.”

“Anything else?” Slipping the tablet into a pants pocket, then signaling to his partner.

“No.”

At the door, I was nudged by a stray thought.

“Wait,” I said. “There is something else.”

Both cops paused.

“I think my assailant was wearing gloves.”

“What kind of gloves?” Landers asked.

“They felt smooth. And the smell made me think of a hospital.”

The pair just looked at me.

“Some surgical gloves are designed to be cut resistant.”

The looks held.

Jesus!

“They’re the type of protection a butcher might wear.”

“Or a burglar.” Clearly, Landers was channeled on the B&E theory. “CSU will be by in the morning. In the meantime, touch nothing.”

If given that order again, I’d scream.

When they’d gone, I hurried to the guest bedroom. Double-checked the glass doors and all the windows.

Too wired to sleep, I surfed a bit, looking for a new ringtone. Made a choice.Law & Order. Katy found my use of musical alerts beyond archaic, but the show’s opener seemed appropriate. Loud and authoritative.

Popping two more Advil, I dropped into bed.

Sleep was still a long time coming.

Questions churned within a steady procession.

Was Landers right? Had I been the victim of a random B&E? The victim of my own stupidity?

Or was my attacker Uri Stribbe?

How would Stribbe have known where to find me? Easy one. I’d mentioned Villa Renaissance to his mother.

How would Stribbe have known my schedule? Might he have followed me?

Had Monck and I spooked Stribbe with our visit to his home?

Could Uri Stribbe be Provo’s hand-hacking serial killer?

---