"Other fluids are all one type. A single man. It's a match with some of the blood, but with that many types present, chances are low it wouldn't be. Borishnakov's blood..."

Rakitin paused, tracing the edge of the puzzle piece arising from the raw data.

"That's another strange thing. Besides a high alcohol concentration, I didn't find any sedative at all."

A deviance, if any part of this case could be said to be more deviant than another.

A man who could kill with barely more than a touch would hardly need to go out of his way to ensure a fully incapacitated victim.

Polya looked at Nika.

"You don't think Isaev did this."

Casual surety made it a statement.