Leigh prepared the barbecue by the pool while Ruth kept the table stocked. The children played back and forth. Teenagers tested the modern stereo. The music was loud and the girls were amused to see the owner of the house swaying his awkward body in time to a pop song. His wife joined him. The exchanged kisses delighted those who followed the couple's story.

Nancy smiled at her husband beside her.

─ It's great to see them well. – he commented watching Ruth laugh at her husband dancing – They scared us these days.

─ Yeah. But now they are right. He finally relaxed. ─ he smiled to his wife.

─ Annette has a crush on him – she said, laughing of her sister-in-law expression.

─ I got it. Come let's prevent my sister from doing something stupid. She's already had too much. ─ walked to the barbecue. Leigh was starting to prepare a dish for Annette. Ruth walked away to rescue a child who had fallen into the cold pool. ─ It smells great.

─ Hope you like it too. Do you want to risk it?

Leigh offered some of the steaks that browned on the plate.

─ Of course ─ Nancy agreed, watching Annette. She was looking at Leigh with a goofy smile. ─ Annette, do you know who that is?

 

Nice answered the door with a smile. The stranger greeted her politely and asked for Dr. Tisdale.

─ The doctor has not arrived yet. Please come in. Lunch is in the garden.

─ I'm not a guest but as I'm in a hurry to talk to the doctor I came. I can wait for you outside.

─ Who is Nice? Ruth asked coming from the kitchen carrying two trays.

─ He is a friend of Doctor Tisdale...Madame.!! ─ Nice replied running to get the trays from her. There was still no way to address her by name.

─ Sorry for showing up uninvited. But I really need to talk...

He stopped watching the girl. Long black hair! Blue eyes. Pregnant.

─ Please, come in ─ Ruth presented him with a wide smile. ─ My favorite doctor hasn't arrived yet. Join us. ─ invited exchanging the trays with the glasses that the housekeeper was carrying. ─ Theodore shouldn't be long. We are in the garden. Please close the door.

─ Ladies... ─ they didn't hear him. It was left in the hall.

He entered the house and closed the door. He had been invited, he was not incurring any infraction. He followed the women down a wide corridor and then through a hall, his eyes fixed on the movement of people in the backyard visible through the glass wall. When he reached the sliding doors, he stopped intrigued by what he caught glimpses of as he walked. He turned slowly, turning pale as he took a closer look at his surroundings.

It was a hall of arms. There were armor, swords, axes, rapiers, spears, masses, bows with arrows, shields, helmets, crossbows and various types of blades. Most with handles adorned with gold and stones. Everything exposed in a harmonious way. He couldn't help but admire an oriental armor crafted from thin strips of steel and leather.

He approached the glass shelf filled with daggers. He looked for an octagonal knife with wide blades six inches long, alternating serrations and smooth cuts. The drawing never left his mind. He shivered when he found the piece on display in a place of honor.

─ It's a beautiful piece, isn't it? ─ Someone asked beside him. He turned to face a tall woman with long red hair. ─ I was told you are looking for my husband.

─ Are you?

─ I am the wife of Theodore Tisdale. ─ she held out her hand. ─ Patricia Johnson. Are you looking for my husband?

─ I am. He is here? ─ returned the greeting without introducing himself.

─ It hasn't arrived yet. He went to respond to an emergency. She should be back soon because this patient has already reported three emergencies this week, but the baby is still another month away. You're just too anxious.

─ So I'll wait. ─ looked at the piece again. ─ It really is an interesting piece. Do you know what it is?

─ A kind of sacrificial knife, that's what I'm told. The owner of the house is Russian. Everything that's here came from there, it's a family heirloom. The Sir is? she asked curiously. Before the boy could respond, the daughter came running and told her that they had thrown her brother in the cold pool. ─ Give me a minute please. ─ You left in a hurry.

The man went into the garden. He stopped by the door. He watched each face. I knew what I was looking for. I was sure I could recognize him. He saw the housekeeper who opened the door for him. He saw the young woman he recognized as the mistress of the house. Beautiful. Young. Pregnant. He followed her with his eyes until she approached the guy who was tending the table of vegetables and meats next to the barbecue. They laughed. They danced. They kissed.

She walked away to help this Patricia with her son. He took a few steps to get a better look. When the boy turned, he instinctively reached for his holster. He managed to contain himself in time. A sense of victory swept over him.

His search was over.

 

─ Hope you like it too. Do you want to risk it? ─ Leigh offered some steaks that browned on the plate.

─ Of course. ─ Nancy accepted, observing her sister-in-law who was looking at Leigh with a silly smile. ─ Annette, do you know who that is?

─ Honestly, I have no idea. – Annette said noticing the man that Nancy pointed out. ─ Is your Leigh known?

─ No ─ Leigh replied, puzzled. He stared at the boy, finding his face familiar, but not remembering where. ─ Excuse me, I'll see who it is. ─ walked up to the boy with a smile. He dried his hands before extending it to the visitor. ─ Hi, I'm Leigh Lescaut.

The boy looked at his outstretched hand, then at his face. For a second Leigh saw fury in her honey-colored eyes. Leigh straightened her body on alert. The boy quickly disguised and accepted the compliment.

Dennis Blake! ─ Said ready to act, whatever the reaction.

─ Pleasure. ─ That person Lescaut replied without being shaken. ─ Can I help you?

─ I came to see Dr. Tisdale. I hope I don't get in the way if I wait for you here.

─ Of course not. Theodore's friend is a friend of mine. Please feel free. We have drinks at the bar and I have some steaks almost ready on the grill. Just let me know that this is the first time I've had a barbecue so you'll take a risk.

─ I don't take unnecessary risks. he said dryly. Looking at that man made her nauseous. To think about what he had done to his Penelope. She saw him frown in puzzlement. ─ I'm just not hungry. Thanks.

─ Come with me then. Join others. ─ Dennis hesitated, but agreed. They walked side by side looking around analyzing the guests. Ordinary people.

Did those people imagine what that boy was capable of? Why was it so hard to recognize evil? For months the sketch was widely circulated across the country. And the accomplice? Where was the accomplice of those who didn't have the slightest clue? He passed a group of people and Lescaut introduced him. He shook each interested man's hand. I was sure that among them was the accomplice of the atrocities. He looked at the pregnant girl. Her womb he didn't tear. Why did psychopaths always look like ordinary people? How could you tell that you lived with a monster if they kept up the facade of family men so well? He accepted the offered chair at a table and stayed close by. Looked.

He needed something that could substantiate his suspicions.

─ Mister Lescaut, can I put on a CD with my songs?

A girl asked approaching full of youthful charm. Rocked the small object agitatedly. She and her friend looked enchanted at the owner of the house.

Lescaut agreed.

The girls dashed towards the device.

─ Oh no, Leigh! You don't know what this girl hears! ─ A woman spoke, following the girls.

The subject did not interest him. Looked at everything. This Lescaut guy worked fast, cutting vegetables and meats nimbly. He handled knives deftly. He saw Patricia Johnson kiss a man and point at him. Perhaps the doctor was the accomplice. Apparently they were close friends. As the doctor, wife, and hostess approached and he thought about what to say, three things happened at once: The sound of romantic rock filled the room; Lescaut let the knife slip, cutting deep into his fingers; The young wife screamed causing the doctor's attention to shift to the injured man.

It was Dennis Blake who took a handkerchief from his pocket and pressed it into the wound. Their eyes met. Leigh didn't understand the stranger's expression of triumph.

─ Let me see Leigh ─ the doctor asked, pushing Dennis away.

─ It was nothing. ─ Leigh said ignoring the cuts.

─ Nothing? Cut off all four fingers. And background. the doctor said lifting the blood soaked tissue. ─ You will need stitches.

─ Leigh... Ruth was beside her husband, frightened.

─ Everything is fine. I don't need stitches. A bandage is enough.

─ Need. Theodore reaffirmed throwing the blood-soaked handkerchief on the table. He took another from his pocket and wrapped it around his injured hand. 'You're lucky I brought my briefcase. Come on, we need to wash this. ─ He turned to Dennis. ─ My wife says she wants to talk to me. I'll be right back.

─ Don't rush ─ said simply. People walked away, leaving him there.

The bloody handkerchief remained on the table. The housekeeper was told by the hostess when they crossed the path. Dennis didn't hesitate. He took the handkerchief by the clean end, rolled it, and put it in his pocket. Disguised and headed for the exit.

The housekeeper stopped him.

─ Aren't you going to talk to the doctor?

─ He is busy. See you tomorrow.

Quietly went away. Everything I needed was in my coat pocket.

 

─ Ready. Eight points. That makes you my patient. ─ Tisdale joked.

─ Thank you, Theodore, Leigh replied blandly. They were sitting at the kitchen table. Leigh took a deep breath and smiled at her wife. He pulled her into his lap and kissed her. ─ I'm great. You can take that worried look off your pretty face. Daddy is fine, honey. - he said touching his wife's belly with his injured hand - Your mother is nervous for nothing.

─ Was it the music? ─  Ruth said without thinking. ─ It's your music isn't it? The one he made for you!

─ It was nothing. ─ He kissed her again ─ I'm fine. It's gone.

─ I have something for you. ─ Theodore took an envelope from his pocket.

The youth paled slightly. Leigh caught him tense.

─ Did you read it? he asked, turning the paper in his good hand.

─ No. What is there belongs only to the two of them. ─ Excused himself and left.

In the garden he looked for a man who was waiting for him, and Mistress Lanfond informed him that he had gone and that she said she would look for him the next day. Strange. Before going to Leigh's house, he stopped by the lab to get the result of the DNA test. On the way, an emergency took him back to the hospital and there he learned that a detective from the San Francisco homicide center was looking for him. He was surprised and curious.

Now it would have to wait until the next day.

Dennis Blake arrived at the forensics building in San Francisco humming. He passed through the corridors without haste. He greeted whoever he encountered along the way until he reached the exam room. He tapped on the glass and the technician let him in.

─ I won't ask what brings you here on a Saturday afternoon ─ the boy started by saying ─ When do you want the result? ─ held out a gloved hand.

Dennis laughed, took the bloody handkerchief out of his pocket, already neatly packed in a plastic evidence bag, and handed it to him.

─ Yesterday.

─ Which sample should I compare? ─ looked at the scarf.

The quantity was good. The exam would not be difficult.

─ Sample 3245.9621

─ Are you kidding? ─ put the handkerchief under a magnifying glass ─ Do you have a suspect?

─ More than one suspect. Sample analysis. I will be at home waiting for the result. ─ Left the building as you entered. Singing.

 

Days later Leigh went shopping. His wife wanted to accompany him, but he preferred that she continue to rest. There was a lot to prepare for until your child's arrival. As Christmas approached, the stores were decorated and bustling. The December cold was mild compared to what he was used to. He walked into every store he found. Always leave loaded with packages.

At one of the biggest stores in town, he walked to the music and film department, then to the rock section. Watched the latest releases. Hesitantly picked up a CD. The name New Code jumped out at him. The photo on the cover was dark, just a shadow of the band members. Mystery helped in the success, he remembered the businessman's phrase. He turned and in the back met blue eyes.

Just the eyes as he'd suggested. Below the name of the songs. Each track had a painful story. And none of them could be revived. Put the CD back in place. Would not buy it. The ties were definitely cut. He was married to the woman he loved, he would be a father soon, he had a new life very different from the one he will leave behind. Forgetting the past was the best thing to do. Began to select others. He went to the cashier taking the chosen CDs. He hesitated. He went back to the section and picked up what he'd dropped. Distracted, he left the store.

He did not imagine that a strong police apparatus was waiting for his departure. He took two steps on the sidewalk and more than five agents surrounded him with guns drawn. The screams of hands on his head, standing still, on the ground, mingled with those of frightened people walking away.

Leigh recoiled when she realized the move was against him. He dropped the bags and left his hands in plain sight. Two agents approached and carelessly laid him on the ground and handcuffed him. An official car stopped in the street and a man got out. When he was brought to his feet, he came face to face with the strange visitor.

─ Dennis Black, Lieutenant, San Francisco Murder Center. ─ Identified ─ Alexius Leigh Lescaut, you are in prison for the murders of Solange Roupem, Paul Galvin, Helena Robson, Daril Osbourne, Sophia Anello, Edmund Treneham, Kyle Wiltakher and Penelope Ives. ─ took a satisfied breath ─ You have the right to remain silent. If you give up that right, anything you say can and should be used against you in court. You have the right to have an attorney present during any interrogation. If you cannot afford an attorney, an advocate will be appointed to you. You are entitled to a phone call.

He looked at Lescaut and saw shock. He expected this reaction.

Assassins are always surprised when they are caught.

─ Did you understand your rights?

─ No ─ he replied without thinking. ─ I didn't have done anything. ─ Dennis repeated the reading.

Leigh was staring at him blankly, but nodded in agreement.

─ You can take it ─ the policeman sent satisfied.

Some agents collected his belongings.

─ No. Please. ─ Leigh received a jolt in her legs when she tried to resist. He was pushed into the vehicle and placed in the back seat.

The car left leaving the crowd in shock.

The only known face Leigh saw was Becky Sune's.