CAPT. GERARD'S OFFICE

Kari Holmes is looking at the caller ID on her cell phone. It shows a pay phone number with a local Chicago prefix. Gerard says, "Is everything OK Agent Holmes?"

Kari looks up and says, "Yes, it appears to be a wrong number." She puts the phone back into her purse.

Gerard says, "What was it you were about to say to me Agent Holmes?"

Eve Hilliard walks into the office and gives Kari and Gerard their perspective coffee drinks that she volunteered to get for them. Kari takes the coffee and says, "Thanks Agent Hilliard, there's nothing like a good mocha to wake you up and I need to be very coherent for seeing the coroner."

Gerard and Eve look at each other. Gerard says, "Agent Holmes with all due respect, why do you need to speak with the coroner?"

Kari replies, "Because I was up most of the night studying Helen Kimble's autopsy report and I have questions about it." She takes a drink of her mocha.

Gerard says, "Agent Holmes what is there to question? Helen Kimble died because Richard Kimble bashed her head in repeatedly with a baseball bat. This is a waste of time. There are leads in the other room that you can help us follow up on. I expect you to do that instead."

Kari sits back in her chair and takes another drink of her mocha and says, "I'm sorry Capt. but I planned to go see the coroner today and that is what I am going to do. I only stopped by to check in and let you know." Seeing that Capt. Gerard needs further convincing, Kari says, "With respect, this is within the perimeters of what I do in my job as a profiler."

Gerard, not wanting to rock the boat with his latest recruit to the task force asks, "What is it that you think can be gained by speaking with the coroner that isn't already covered in the report?"

Kari says, "Capt., when you asked me to be part of this task force you said you wanted me because I had a talent for seeing things that others appear to miss. Well, I think something was missed or dare I say altered."

Eve looking very interested says, "What do you think was missed or altered Agent Holmes?"

Kari stands up and says, "I'll tell you when I get back. Right now it's just a hunch. Maybe it's nothing, but my intuition tells me it's something. That's why I need more information from the coroner's office. Now if you'll both excuse me, I've got a job to do."

Gerard stands up and says, "Not so fast Agent Holmes! You're violating a direct order."

Kari, waiting for the punch line says, "And your point is what Capt.?"

Gerard, realizing that he's not intimidating Kari says, "You know, I could write you up for insubordination."

Kari, giving him a look that says you've got to be kidding, says, "Capt. do you really want to do that? I think that writing me up is a bit of an overreaction, don't you?"

Gerard says, "No, I don't want to write you up and if I were overreacting, I'd cuff you and put you in a holding cell."

Kari raises her eyebrows and says, "So what's it going to be?"

Gerard, with resignation in his voice says, "Come back with something Agent Holmes. You brought up a valid point. I did bring you into this task force because you do see things that others miss."

Kari smiles confidently and says, "Thank you Capt. for having some trust in my intuition! Lighten up a little and have some patience. It's not as though Kimble is going to drop in on our doorstep today anyway." She turns and walks out.

Eve looks at Gerard and says, "Well Philip, feeling frustrated yet? Just remember, her hunches and intuition have a knack for paying off!"

Gerard says, "Get to work Eve."

As Kari walks out of the building, she quickly tries to dial the pay phone number fearing the worst. She gets no answer. Since she does not for sure that it was Kimble, she walks to her car to go to the coroner's office.

TIMBER CREEK HIGH SCHOOL ROOM 227 10:05 AM

The final warning bell rings and doors close up and down the corridor as the last students make it to their seats. Kimble stares at all the silent kids. They stare back at him. A few start to giggle at his obvious discomfort. Kimble walks over to the board, picks up a piece of chalk and writes the name “Mr. Sanford”.

"Hello, class," Kimble says, clearing his throat. "I'm Mr. Sanford and I'll be your substitute teacher for today." The class groans and pulls out their English books.

Kimble walks over to the front windows and looks out to see if he can spy Charnquist anywhere on the grounds. The students in Kimble's class begin to talk among themselves.

"What happened to Mrs. H?" a student asks him. "I heard she had a miscarriage." There is some snickering and Kimble realizes they hope to create a digression from the topic at hand.

"Umm, I don't think it was that serious," Kimble answers, looking down at the English book on his desk.

"Aren't you gonna call role?" asks another student.

"Sure," Kimble responds, searching for the roll book. There is more giggling. He finds it and starts calling out names alphabetically and the students reply.

"Zachary Eller?" A boy with black, wavy hair slouching in the back raises his hand in a bored manner.

"Jude Gavinski?"

"Here," answers a tall athletic-looking boy in the front row. Kimble hesitates on the next name.

"Alexis Gerard?"

"It's Alex, Mr. Sanford, and I'm here," she answers.

Kimble stares at her as if he hasn't heard. "What?"

"I'm here," Alex repeats. Alex looks at him strangely. Some of the boys guffaw.

Kimble tries to concentrate on the roll book and calling out names. One student in the third row has not taken his eyes off Kimble since he entered.

"Thomas Keroman?"

"Present," the boy replies, studying Kimble.

"Is there a problem?" Kimble asks testily.

"Nope. Nothing."

As Kimble continues with the roll, an attractive girl across the aisle from Thomas leans over and whispers, "What was all that about?"

"He reminds me of somebody, maybe someone my Dad knows," Thomas whispers back.

"Lily Petrovich?"

"Here," replies the girl across from Thomas.

Kimble finishes taking roll. "Open your books, class, and we'll discuss the chapter you're reading," he directs.

There is a universal sigh and the students automatically open their textbooks. Kimble walks among them. He stops beside Thomas and reads over his shoulder, "Chapter 19: The role of 'Voice' in the novel". Kimble makes a small grimace, remembering that English was never his best subject.

AT THE CORONER'S OFFICE 10:15 AM

Kari enters the coroner’s office. She walks into Dr. Alexander’s office. “Dr. Alexander?”

He looks up and says, “Yes?”

“I’m Special Agent Kari Holmes with the FBI.” She shows him her ID.

He says, “How can I help you?”

“I’ve been asked to profile Dr. Richard Kimble. I’ve been going through the case and I saw that you did the preliminary autopsy work on Helen Kimble’s body but Dr. Jones did the main work on her. I was told that Dr. Jones is no longer with this office. Can you answer my questions?”

“I'll do my best Agent Holmes.” He seems nervous to her. Kari proceeds with her questioning undaunted.

Kari says, “You indicated in the preliminary report that the fatal blow was on the right side of her head, yet, the autopsy photos and report show that the fatal blow appears to be on the left side of her head. Dr. Jones confirmed it in the final report and that was what he testified to in court."

Dr. Alexander says, “Yes Agent Holmes, that’s correct.”

Kari looking very thoughtful says, “Can you tell me what happened? The reason I'm asking is because I've compared the autopsy photos with the crime scene photos. What struck me odd about them is that if you look at the original crime scene photo, you'll see that Mrs. Kimble has blood on her right shoulder and the majority of blood is oozing out of her toward the left. That tells me the fatal blow came on the right side of her head. Now, when I look at the autopsy photos closely, the main wound appears to be on the left side of her head and I noticed if one looks very closely, there is a little bit of blood on her left shoulder where it would have been wiped off for the autopsy. However, there is no blood on her left shoulder in the crime scene photo. How do you account for such a discrepancy?”

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