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| Fingerprint Gloves “ANOTHER ONE?” yelled the director of the FBI. “How many thefts will we have to investigate with fingerprint evidence from deceased and living elite? One of the elite was with me at the time the theft occurred, and everyone has solid alibis—even the press can be counted as an alibi.” “Chief, you wanted to see me?” asked Delane Butler. “What’s going on? You know I have other things to do besides be here.” “Delane,” the relieved chief said, “I know you have other things to do, but we need your help. As you know, many historically significant treasures have been stolen with not one case solved. We are under a lot of pressure to get these solved, but the public doesn’t know that the fingerprints are of deceased or living elite that were at a well-publicized function. It’s all here in the file. We need your help, please.” ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Delane sighed, took the file and went to a desk to look at it. The file showed what the chief had said. Several historical treasures—The Declaration of Independence, The Bill of Rights, The Betsy Ross Flag, The Flag flown over Iwo Jima, and several treaties—had been stolen. The fingerprints were of elite like the Prince of Wales, the presidents of several nations, famous actors and actresses, and music stars. And since a fingerprint never lies, these people had to be criminals, right? Well, the file also had their locations at the time the thefts occurred and alibis that were solid. How could this be done? That was the question at the end of the file. Delane Butler was not an employee of the FBI, nor did she work for the government. She works as an investigator of psychic phenomena and as a chemist. “Why have I been called in on this?” she wondered. Delane went to find the chief. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ “So, chief, why have I been called in on this?” Delane asked. “You’re the only one we could think to call,” the chief replied. “Our experts don’t have a clue. Ghosts, clones…those were their suggestions.” “Well, chief,” Delane started, “I noticed that several of the fingerprints were of the same person, but they were different sizes. The sworls and everything matched exactly, but the size differed. It was almost like they were small, medium, and large medical gloves with fingerprints.” “Fingerprint gloves,” the chief wondered. “Is it possible to make those?” “Yeah, it is possible to make those, chief,” Delane replied. “The chemistry department I work in has been playing with the idea of engraving latex. We found that it is easier to make latex take a design from a template that is raised than one is depressed. It is possible chief, but I don’t know how you would prove it without the gloves. I recommend you check your files for a professional thief with a hand in counterfeiting or chemistry or both.” “Thanks, Delane,” the chief said, “I’ll have it looked into. May we call you as an expert if we need to?” “Sure thing, chief.” © Megan Delia Ratcliff, 1997 |