The Crime Scene Unit recovered fingerprints from one of the tumblers but no match was found. Multiple hair samples were found on the guest chair in Mr. Book's study with equally little result. However, they did indicate the presence of at least two different people in the study, one male and one female. Whether or not they were in the room at the same time was impossible to know. DNA samples taken from the cigar butts confirmed that Mr. Book and his male guest shared a smoke. Finally, both drinking glasses contained traces of scotch.
Mr. Book's computer was still being looked over but did not seem to contain anything other than online journal activity, emails, and an astounding number of word processor manuscripts. Other detectives would be assigned the responsibility of combing through those things for cataloging. CSU had also removed some handwritten diaries from Mr. Book's desk, most dated from at least ten to fifteen years ago. Even a cursory glance at his phone records showed that Mr. Book was not a popular, or a talkative, man. At least by phone. Early indications showed that he may have led a varied online life that belied his staid and spartan offline life.
It's hard not to think that Peter and Allison were the male and female visitors. This may seem rash speculation, but I've learned that in a homicide investigation conclusions must be drawn. If you sit around studying the evidence, the evidence is simply passive; it cannot lead you anywhere. Even bad conclusions, or quick ones, move the investigation along. The theory forming in my head saw Mr. Book and Peter fighting over something, Allison perhaps. This required one conclusion that I was still not absolutely sure of making but felt was necessary nevertheless: Mr. Book was murdered.
And only the medical examiner could help me with that one.
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