Here is where the current Dick Tracy story stands, from my perspective:

(1) We have three known murders, with two common threads -- a modus operandi (a single, fatal blow to the heart with an edged weapon) and the fact that each victim was robbed of a rare manuscript.

(2) The oldest known murder (which took place some years before the present, outside Tracy's jurisdiction, somewhere "downstate") involved an unnamed courier for an New York auction house. A Shakespearean manuscript was stolen. We, the omniscient readers, know that the manuscript has survived and is in someone's possession, since we've seen a "special acquisition" card.

(3) The second known murder, which took place a number of months before the present time, involved Dr. Aldus Manutius of the Pfister Institute. According to the Institute head, Manutius was in the midst of cataloguing a bequest to the Institute, a bequest that was comprised of medieval manuscripts. One of these manuscripts, a rare volume of Aristotle, is missing. His disappearance was put down by many connected with the Institute to eccentricity, though it is observable (by omission) that no one seems to have remarked to the investigators regarding anything untoward happening in his office on the last day he was known to be there, such as the sounds of an argument or struggle. Also observable is that the cleaning staff, prior to finding his body in the heavy chest in his office, saw nothing unusual -- indicating perhaps some efforts to clean up by the killer. The office had not been disturbed by the staff of the Institute in Manutius' absence (the comments by the head about cleaning).

(4) The third, and most recent, murder is that of socialite Wilhelmina Caxton. Tracy and the MCU believe that Caxton knew her killer (which is something we, the omniscient readers, know, since we saw the murder); for that matter, the killer appears to have known Caxton. There was no sign of a struggle at the murder scene. There is evidence (missing diary, partially wiped teacup) that the killer tried to clean up, but some DNA (a saliva sample) was recovered, according to the report received by Sam Catchem. Omniscient readers also know, from a "special acquisition" card, that the manuscript stolen from Caxton is in someone else's possession. The manuscript appears to have belonged, originally, to Caxton's grandfather (a fact not known to Tracy, yet, but known to us).

Assistant State's Attorney Owen Cormac Desmond has introduced Tracy to a friend of his from school, Xaveria Libris. Libris, who is a wealthy heiress, is said by Desmond to be a medievalist; she certainly possesses an outstanding, even extraordinary library. She has made a few statements to Tracy:

(5) Rare manuscripts, in order to be handled properly, ideally should be carried in protective cases.

(6) The missing manuscripts have not been offered to Libris.

(7) Libris knew Wilhelmina Caxton, though not as well as Libris' parents and grandparents knew her. She notes that there is likely evidence showing the two have met (newsphotos).

(8) Libris knew Aldus Manutius, characterizing him as an eccentric, and noting that many thought the extended period he had vanished was the result of such eccentric behavior (a belief also held by the head of the Pfister Institute). (We, the omniscient readers, are also in possession of another fact regarding Libris and Manutius.)

Also observable is something about Libris herself: she appears to be, as one might put it, very tightly wound. She is capable of some rather cold and callous behaviour (such as her put-down of her friend Desmond), and her descriptions of Caxton and Manutius likewise seem rather clinical and cold. However, she also showed a violent flash of temper when the subject of the vulnerability of her collection was brought up by Tracy.