Read Blood on the Sun (CSI: NY) for Free Online Page B

world.”
    “Rabbi Mesmur says you’ve been harassing him and members of his congregation,” said Stella.
    The people seated in the other chairs barely moved. Some of them were now looking at Joshua with confident smiles.
    “Our mission is to bring Jews to the true light of Christ as the Messiah,” Joshua said. “To accomplish this, we must confront those who are misguided and convince them of the truth.”
    “Why?” asked Aiden.
    “So they will be saved,” said Joshua.
    “A man was murdered in the temple this morning,” said Stella.
    “We know,” said Joshua.
    “Crucified,” said Stella.
    All eyes were now on the two women who stood before them.
    “We’d like to collect your fingerprints and swab for DNA testing,” said Aiden.
    “We didn’t kill anyone,” said Joshua calmly. “We follow both the Commandments and the word of Christ the Savior.”
    “Then you won’t mind our taking samples to eliminate you as suspects,” said Stella.
    “And did you do the same to the congregants at the minyan this morning?” asked Joshua. “Or Saint Martine’s Church?”
    “We’re going to,” said Aiden.
    Joshua looked to those people seated at his right and said, “Devorah’s father is a cantor in one of the largest orthodox congregations in Connecticut. David holds a doctorate in Jewish studies from Yale. Joel is an adjunct professor of classics at Columbia. Carole is a psychiatric social worker. Erik is a lawyer. Each of us knows the world beyond these walls. Each of us is committed to changing that world, saving those who will find peace only when they accept the word of Christ.”
    “Fingerprints,” Aiden said calmly.
    She had heard this kind of religious babble since she was a child and distrusted anyone with a hard religious line. She knew some of the religious zealots meant what they were saying, but often the words were a blanket over something dark beneath—seduction, money, power. Joshua struck Aiden as one who had secrets under his blanket of words. He also had the mad smile of certainty she had seen in true believers.
    “We prefer not to,” said Joshua, reaching out his hands on both sides and gently touching the shoulder of a girl on his right and a round-faced young man on his left.
    “We can get a court order,” said Stella.
    “No,” said a man on the left.
    He was about thirty, wearing a suit and glasses.
    “You don’t have sufficient cause to compel us to comply,” he said.
    Joshua smiled, looked at Aiden and Stella and raised his eyebrows in victory.
    “Erik…,” Joshua began.
    “…is a lawyer,” Stella continued.
    “No one in this congregation committed murder,” Joshua said emphatically.
    “I don’t think we can simply take your word for that,” said Stella.
    “I did not imagine you would,” said Joshua.
    “And what were you before you found your religion?” asked Aiden.
    “I was the son of a rabbi,” said Joshua. “I was a writer of pornographic paperbacks, a lost soul. Now I have seen the light and the truth and am, myself, a rabbi, a teacher of the faith.”
    Devorah, the pretty, clear-skinned girl whose father was a cantor, rose and said, “You can take my fingerprints and a culture.”
    She did not look at Joshua, who nodded and said, “We are not a cult. If any member wishes to allow this, it is their choice.”
    David, lean, curly red hair, the one with the doctorate in Jewish studies, also rose and said, “I’ll cooperate.”
    David looked at Joshua and said, “We have nothing to hide. We are in the hands of the Lord and will be saved.”
    Two others stood. Joshua was losing control and losing face in front of the two women. He looked at Stella. His mouth smiled but his eyes burned.
    He rose, which prompted the rest of the small congregation to do the same.
    There was a table against one wall. Aiden and Stella moved to it and asked the members of the congregation to line up. The process was reasonably fast, slowed down only by Stella searching the