"Why do you think this, that they were looking for something, I mean?" "The cutthroats searched the lab thoroughly, overturning and crushing all the samples and copied the hard disk." the Squidman replied. Lee looked at the lab. Except for the outline drawn on the floor, everything seemed in order. "No, the lab was analyzed by the forensic ones and then put back in place. The samples, I mean, to avoid bio-hazards. They are waiting for the permission of the police to do the cleaning." "Did they take something?" Lee insisted. The Squidman looked at him curiously. "There's a suspicious gleam at the bottom of his globular eyes." Lee thought. Shrugging the Squidman replied: "We don't know. Professor Bellamorte was pretty paranoid, and kept everything secret. A matter of publications, you know." He added with a wink. "Anyway we have the list of the samples found in the laboratory after the murder." The Squidman walked Lee into his office and gave him the list. "There is something missing? Something of scientific importance, I mean." His smile was engaging and his eyes eager. Lee wondered whether it was just love for gossip, desire to make a career or the promised reward, so replied: "No, the samples I sent had already been returned to me, I just wanted to discuss some details with the professor. Thank you for the courtesy." More paranoid than ever Lee returned to the hotel. Bellamorte's death had not improved his paranoia, moreover in the lab-list JS's samples were missing. Having done his doctorate with Professor Bellamorte, Lee knew the scientist kept the more interesting samples at home in order to avoid his competitors could steal them. "Maybe they're still there," Lee thought. He felt guilty for having "lost" JS's samples. Relying on his Martian army training, Lee was confident of being able to break into Bellamorte's house. The apartment was part of a residential complex whose safety was intended more to prevent bums and thugs from vandalizing something than protect the residents from professionals. And Lee believed himself a pro. Furthermore he knew the security codes the professor used. To have easy access Lee paid a visit to a friend living there. Around midnight Lee left and, with the excuse of a walk along the paths, he went to Bellamorte's. At the second attempt the code snapped the lock, but once inside Lee felt naked: the full moon light coming through the large windows lighted the room perfectly. Armed with a flashlight Lee walked in, uncertain whether to close the curtains. Meantime, few minutes after Lee's departure, the Squidman had placed a phone call. "A guy snooped into Bellamorte's demise. I recorded his voice." "Quality?" "What about a reward?" he asked anxiously. "It depends on the quality of the voice. Play the recording, please. Stand by... There's a match with voiceprint ID 99845. You'll get your payoff." The operator called his supervisor: "We have a contact. Voiceprint ID 99845, Lee De Carvalho." The hitman had waited patiently outside of Lee's friend's house, now he couldn't believe his luck: his quarry was heading to Bellamorte's home. Silent like a snake the man slipped behind Lee blocking the door before it closed, the garrote ready in hand. H34 was a garrote specialist: he would leave Lee scarcely breath to survive. Stealthily he coiled to hit when something stung him on the neck. Lee heard a body falling like a sack of potatoes. He spun around and saw a guy on the floor. JS's cheerful voice chuckled: "You never shut the door, Doc, don't you?" Lee whirled. JS emerged from the darkness swinging a long stick. "A blowgun." he said answering Lee's mute question. "And no, he isn't dead, just sleeping." "Why are you here?" Lee asked. "I'm good at my job." JS replied. "Gimme a hand." He pointed at the lying body. "Let's go to a safe place, it will be a long night." -- Thanks!