“Human? Bullshit. Bullshit. And one more bullshit. They’re doing some sort of weird experiments in Rosenthall’s lab. Something unauthorized and twisted.”
“That’s what I’m saying. They created a monster—a killer ape-man monster. And now it’s broken out and wreaking havoc on the city. And—”
“Don’t make me slap you. It’s so damn girlie.”
“Not when you’re on the receiving end.”
“Experiments,” Eve continued. “The serum. It screws up the DNA, causes severe anemia. Louise said that could cause a green cast to the skin.”
“All the way down?”
“Obviously.”
“But the face, Dallas.”
She wanted to believe it was prosthetics, a device, some sort of elaborate mask. But . . . “I don’t know, but we’re going to grill Rosenthall like a trout until he clears this up. Mr. Hyde,” she muttered. “Maybe that’s not so far off.”
“Mr. Hyde?” Peabody scooted up and over in her seat. “Oh, oh, Rosenthall created the evil Dr. Jekyll. No wait, Dr. Jekyll’s the good part. Hyde’s the evil one. But they’re the same person. Rosenthall’s Mr. Hyde!”
“D minus, and only because you got the names right. Why would Rosenthall kill Jennifer Darnell—in that manner? That personal, intimate manner? The killer wanted her, and couldn’t have her.”
“Back to Pachai.”
“Think about it. You said he loved her—and wit statements indicate she was interested. Now maybe he moved, she decided she wasn’t interested after all. But who’s the odd man out in this? Who got Darnell and her friend the jobs at Slice? Gets her and her friend work, but she’s more interested in Gupta. And golly, where do we find one of the murder weapons? In Gupta’s locker—with blood and brain matter still on it.”
“Ken Dickerson. It is a frame-up.”
“Gupta’s Rosenthall’s assistant. Dickerson’s still an intern. Gupta’s caught the eye of Darnell, even though Dickerson went to his uncle and got her work—then did her another favor and got work for Vix. Gupta comes from a family of doctors, scientists, and had a leg up since his father knows Rosenthall. Dickerson had to work his way through, push for scholarships. And Gupta’s still ahead of him.”
“Why not kill Pachai?”
“One of the first three vics got wind of something Dickerson was up to, so they had to go. What better way to destroy Gupta than by killing the girl he loved and pinning it on him? Whatever he’s on makes him feel superior, but that was already in there. It makes him feel powerful, free. It makes him happy, and more, he’s found out killing makes him even happier. He destroyed the lab, took the serum. He doesn’t want anyone else to have what he’s got. It’s all his.”
“It plays, but it doesn’t explain the mutations.”
“So Rosenthall better,” she said as she pulled into the garage at Central. “We’ll take him first.”
Ten
As Eve headed down to Homicide, Arianna sprang up from a bench in the corridor and rushed toward her. “Lieutenant Dallas, please, can you tell me what’s happening? The police came to my home this morning. They said Eton’s been murdered.”
“That’s correct.”
“God. But when? How?”
“Shortly before one this morning, in Dr. Rosenthall’s lab.”
“In Justin’s lab? But I don’t . . .”
She closed her eyes a moment. “How can this be happening? They said we needed to come here—Justin and I. They took him somewhere else, wouldn’t let me stay with him. They just said I had to wait. It’s been more than an hour.”
“I’m sorry it’s taken so long. I’m going to be talking to Dr. Rosenthall shortly.”
“But what happened? My God, this is a nightmare. Eton murdered, and in Justin’s lab.”
“Do you know why Dr. Billingsly would have been in Dr. Rosenthall’s lab at that time of night?”
“No. No. He shouldn’t have been. He’s not involved in Justin’s work. The killer must have been after Justin. After Justin.” Arianna rubbed a hand between her breasts back and forth. “He was going to work late, stay in his office again last night, but I asked him not to. I asked him to come home with me, stay with me. I wanted him with me, and I was upset enough that he gave in.”
“You left the Center together?”
“Yes, about eleven thirty, I think. I had a fund-raiser, and called Justin from the car when I left.”
“Did anyone stay in the lab?”
“I don’t know. Justin met me out front. We were together all night. I swear it. You can’t believe Justin had anything to do with this. I know people talk about Eton being jealous of him.”
“Was he?”
“Yes, but Justin isn’t bothered by it. We—God, it seems cruel now—we’d joke about it sometimes. Can I see him now? Do we need a lawyer?”
“He’s not under arrest, but I need to ask him a few questions. If he wants a lawyer present he can have one. Peabody, why don’t you take Ms. Whitwood to the lounge? She can wait there while we talk to Dr. Rosenthall. It shouldn’t be long.”
As long as it takes, Eve thought as she headed toward the first interview room.
Justin straightened in his chair when Eve entered.
“So it’s true,” he said, “about Billingsly. He’s dead.”
“Yes. Record on, Dallas, Lieutenant Eve, in Interview with Dr. Justin Rosenthall on the matters of Darnell, Vix, and Bickford, case number H-45893, and Eton Billingsly, case number H-43898. I have to record this. Procedure.”
“I understand.”
“I’m also going to read you your rights.” As she did, Justin said nothing. “Do you understand your rights and obligations?”
“Yes. You think I killed them?”
She let the question hang a moment. He looked worn-out, she noted, as Arianna had.
“All the victims were connected to you and the Center. Billingsly was murdered in your lab.”
“In my lab?”
“Yes. There are questions that have to be asked, but first, I’d like a sample of your DNA.”
“My—all right, but it’s on file.”
“Just consider it a spot check.” She took out a swab.
When it was done, she went to the door, passed it off to the waiting uniform.
She sat at the table across from Justin. “What was Billingsly doing in your lab?”
“I have no idea. He shouldn’t have been there. He shouldn’t have been able to get in without my authorization. How did he?”
“He cloned your swipe card and had a recording of your voice.”
Justin simply stared at her. “He went that far? He disliked me—that’s not news—but I can’t believe he’d go as far as breaking into the lab. And for what?”
“Would he have business with your assistant or interns?”
“No, none I can think of. And he knew none of us were there. I saw him before I left, and he commented on the fact that I was actually going home.”
“You didn’t get along.”
“Not well.” Justin braced his elbows on the table, pushed his hands over his face, back into his hair. “That’s no secret, as he made it very clear he didn’t think I was good enough for Ari—and he was.”
“That must have pissed you off.”
“Some,” he admitted. “But frankly, I didn’t give Billingsly much thought. Arianna loves me; we’re about to be married. And my work occupies the rest of my thoughts at this stage.”
“What is this stage?”
“We’re about to begin the next round of testing.”
“Meaning?” Eve said as Peabody entered. “Peabody, Detective Delia, entering Interview. Go on, Doctor.”
“We’ve injected a test group of lab rats with specific addictive substances over a course of time.”
“You’ve made addicts out of rats?”
“Yes. We observe and monitor, chart, record. Now we’ll inject them with the serum, run them through tests. Once we—”
“You don’t test on human subjects.”
“No. That’s months off, maybe years. This isn’t a quick process. We can’t risk testing an unproven substance on a human being.”
“It must be tempting to push it some, to kick up the pace.”
“You don’t go into research to rush.”