The Dolomite Solution by Trevor Scott

not even noticed her at the local bar. Then she began to understand them better. Knew that they didn’t have time for women or anything else of a personal nature. Their thoughts were only on finding answers to the mystery there. Nothing else. They would walk about the small town with their shoes untied and their hair a total mess, talking to themselves when alone and arguing a point while together. She wondered often why God had chosen them for such brilliance.
    â€œDo you work for the government?” he finally asked.
    He left that one open. “Yes. You could say that.” She changed the subject. “Do you need to pick up anything before going to Innsbruck?”
    â€œIs it wise to take my flight?”
    â€œYou’re not flying. We’ll take the car. Besides, I was right, wasn’t I. About you not liking to fly.”
    â€œYes. But even my students know that. I complain for a week prior to every flight.”
    There was a long silence.
    â€œYou really think those men would have killed me?” the professor asked. “Why?”
    â€œI told you. The briefcase. I hope you have the results of your study with you there, otherwise we’ll have to go back.” She knew he did from the way he was digging his nails into the leather.
    â€œThat won’t be necessary.”
    Now it was time to find out something she wasn’t sure about. “What you have there is probably the most significant DNA breakthrough ever. But then why am I telling you that? I mean you’re the brains behind the entire experiment at Passo di Villa.”
    He turned quickly toward her. “You know of my research there?”
    â€œI’ve read a preliminary report. The one sent to the Nobel committee, and the one that will be published soon in that prestigious journal.” The article was one of the only things she had been able to get her hands on during her time watching the two scientists in the Dolomites.
    â€œHow did you see the journal article? We only sent it to one place with strict instructions not to show it to anyone until publication. What did you say your name was? You aren’t a scientist are you?”
    She hadn’t given him her name. “I’m Toni Contardo.” She reached over to shake his hand, and he reluctantly complied, releasing his grip on the briefcase for an instant. “No. I’m not a scientist. But I am interested in DNA research. And I understand you have found a solution to the mystery of Passo di Villa where everyone else had failed.”
    He seemed to sink further into the seat with her last words. She had broken through. Now she had about four hours to soak as much information out of him as she could. Eventually, she knew, she’d have to tell him about Leonhard Aldo’s murder that morning. But the time wasn’t right for that yet.

9
    Jake had gotten back to his second floor apartment, took a long, hot shower and ate a late breakfast before dozing off to sleep on the sofa.
    When he woke up hours later it was late afternoon. His headache was pretty much gone but the bump was still there. He found a bottle of beer in the refrigerator, popped it open, and took a long swig. Then he thought to check his messages. He punched in his number and waited. There was one message from Toni Contardo, his old friend currently working for the Agency, and on assignment somewhere away from her normal area. She had simply laughed saying they’d have to get together and quit playing phone tag. It was nice just to hear a friend’s voice, he thought. Yet something wasn’t quite right. She was on a cell phone, driving somewhere fast, according to the sound of her engine in the background. Even that wasn’t overly concerning, since she drove fast everywhere she went. It was more her voice. The way it hesitated. He thought of calling her again, but was getting tired of talking to a message service. He needed her direct cell phone