HUNT

MICK

"I was looking at that piece of tape you found by the victim," Doctor Kline said. "I confirmed that it was indeed over the victim's mouth."

"Any fingerprints?" Mick asked.

"Not that I've found."

She picked up the bagged piece of tape, flicking the edge with her pinky.

Pinky.

"What about the underside? The adhesive?"

"Well, no, I've been a little busy with the dozen murder victims, but yeah, let me clear my schedule to examine the adhesive."

Barnes beat her to giving the doctor a dirty look.

"Alright, alright. Give me that." He took the bag and used tweezers to pull out the duct tape. He flipped it adhesive-side up. "It's not going to be easy to get an actual print from this side. However, I might be able to get fibers or oils that could help identify your bad guy."

"Why the adhesive?" Barnes asked her in a low voice. "Wasn't that side on the victim's face?"

"Yeah, but think about it. When the killer pulled it off, he would've had to grab it under the adhesive with at least his pinky."

"Right, but I thought we established he was wearing gloves. That's why we don't have any prints—"

"I got something here."

The two detectives joined the ME at the microscope.

"A fingerprint in the adhesive. I may not be able to physically pull this, but I can pull up a digital copy for us to look at."

"Do it."

Kline muttered something under his breath about bossy women, but Mick chose to ignore it. Instead she waited silently as he photographed the print and sent it to the computer.

"Based on the size and the assumption that the killer is male, I'd have to say this is a—"

"Pinky."

"Yes. And that's all I can tell you right now. I can run it while I'm working on the autopsies." He looked pointedly over at the occupied slabs.

Barnes touched Mick's arm. "Guess we should give the doctor his space. Guy might stab us with a scalpel otherwise."

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