2. Who is Scarpetta thinking about in the beginning of chapter six as a person that might be responsible for breaking into the computer system to look for Lori Peterson's information?

3. Who does Betty say is going to hand deliver the samples from the last two cases to Dr. Glassman?

4. What does the security guard tell Scarpetta about the funeral home when he interrupts her in chapter two?

5. Why does Boltz say that Turnbull would be willing to hack into the computer for the files about the murders?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Matt Peterson tell the police about his wife during the questioning in chapter four?

2. What is Scarpetta told happened to their computer system in chapter five?

3. Describe the differences that Scarpetta talks about between her and the previous medical examiner, Cagney.

4. What does Scarpetta say has happened in the city since the newspaper reporters began covering the murders?

5. Describe the scene in chapter five when Marino becomes upset with Kay and Benton just before he storms out of the room.

6. Who does Scarpetta say would have had access to the information about the murders?

7. What information can Frank give Scarpetta in chapter six?

8. In chapter two what does Scarpetta note about Lori Peterson's injuries?

9. What does Marino say he used to do for a living in chapter eight and how does that pertain to his view of the killer?

10. What does Bill Boltz say about the reporter Abby Turnbull in chapter seven?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Part 1) Both Scarpetta and Abby Turnbull are career women. Describe their personalities.

Part 2) Speculate on the reasons that Abby didn't go to the police with her accusations of Bill Boltz's rape. Would Scarpetta have done the same as Abby? Explain your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Pick one of the following to write about:

1) Speculate on what it was about Matt Peterson that Scarpetta also believed was not adding up. Is there a reason that the author wouldn't have gone back to answer this question?

2) What role does the DNA and forensic evidence play in the story? Could the story have been written and focused much less on this information? Explain.

3) Which of the subplots seen in the story are likely to be looked at again in later books in the series? Explain why these seem significant.