We scatter several asterisks around the scene to reference
our stopping point. With a hint of hope, we retreat to the
relative sanity of headquarters for a debriefing.

Dingbat is correct. Our reading of this crime scene is indeed
hindered by a few elements that even I do not recognize. I
decide to bring my young partner to ISO headquarters before
we begin this investigation, in order to prepare for the
brutality, and intricacy, of this case.