Looking to change the subject, Dial focused on the only splash of color in the dreary room. An enormous blue tapestry hung across the back wall. It was fringed with golden tassels around the edges and had a large gold cross in the center. It looked like a Christian cross, except it had an extra bar above the horizontal beam and a slanted bar-that looked like a forward slash-underneath it. Dial had seen the same symbol inside the church.
“Is this your cross?” Dial asked. He had learned a lot about crosses when he worked his crucifixion case a few years back, so he was interested in the subject.
“Yes. The Crux Orthodoxa. The Eastern Orthodox cross. It is the cross of my faith.”
“What do the beams represent?”
Theodore pointed toward the tapestry. “The top beam represents the sign that hung above Christ. It said, ‘Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.’”
“And the slanted beam at the bottom? Is that a footrest?”
“Some scholars believe so, but many of my faith disagree. To us, it represents the two thieves who were crucified next to Christ. The criminal on the left was repentant and accepted Christ as his savior, so his side points toward Heaven. The thief on the right rejected Him, so his side points toward Hell.”
“Really?” As someone who dealt with people of all religions and beliefs, Dial was surprised he didn’t know that. “I learn something new every day.”
“I’m glad I could enlighten you,” Theodore said. “If you have any other questions, I’d be happy to answer them. Otherwise, I’d like to make myself available to the other officers.”
“Please, help them out. They need it more than I do.”
Dial glanced around the room again. But this time he had a strange feeling that he was overlooking something. He wasn’t sure what it was, but he sensed it was something important. “If it’s okay with you, can I stay in here and look around some more? We already missed the blood on the door. I’d hate to think we missed something inside.”
Theodore frowned as he considered the request.
Hoping to charm him, Dial put his hand on one of the rickety chairs. “Don’t worry, I promise I won’t steal the furniture.”
The monk cracked a smile, then scurried out of the room.
21
Dial had been in the room for less than two minutes when Andropoulos knocked on the door.
D “Sir?” he said. “May I come in?”
“Of course you can come in. This isn’t my apartment. It’s a crime scene.”
Andropoulos blushed and stepped inside. He was carrying a folder filled with information about the victims. “I have the background that you asked for.”
But Dial ignored him, focusing on the nightstand instead. It sat between the two cots and was the only furniture in the monk’s room where something could be stored. He opened the drawer, hoping to find something important, but it was empty. Just like the rest of the room.
“Speaking of crime scenes,” Dial said as he glanced back at the young cop, “who’s in charge of the perimeter?”
“The perimeter?”
“You know, the imaginary line that encircles a crime scene. Who’s in charge of it?”
“We are, sir.”
“Who’s we? Because I know I’m not in charge of it.”
“Us, sir. The local police department.”
Dial nodded. He had known the answer. He just wanted Andropoulos to take ownership of the problem. “And what’s your policy for letting people into the crime scene?”
“Sir?”
“I mean, do you let anyone enter the crime scene?”
“Of course not, sir. Only authorized personnel.”
“Authorized personnel.” Dial practically spat when he said it. “Does that include cops?”
“Yes, sir.”
“What about reporters?”
“No, sir.”
“What about monks?”
Andropoulos paused. “I’m not sure about that one.”
Dial smirked. “I don’t blame you. That’s a tough one. I mean, they’re men of God, so we can trust them, right?”
“I guess.”
“You guess?” Dial shook his head in disappointment. “Earlier to day, we saw a monk entering the crime scene, didn’t we? Up in the cable car?”
“Yes, sir.”
“And I’m guessing he didn’t sneak in. Not while wearing a cassock and carrying a box.”
“No, sir.”
“So someone let him through.”
Andropoulos nodded. “Did I do something wrong, sir?”
Dial softened the tone in his voice. He was angry at Nicolas’s presence at the crime scene but didn’t want to blame the young cop for something that wasn’t his fault. “Not you personally, but someone on your team screwed up big-time. Remember the old monk I introduced to you last night? I just found out he didn’t belong here. In fact, he might not be a monk at all.”
“What? Who told you that?”
“The monk from the cable car. Then again, maybe he’s not a monk, either.”
“You mean Theodore? He’s definitely a monk. I’ve met him before.”
“But not Nicolas?”