Page 174 of Random in Death
“In that case, let’s take it back, go over some details. Science is all about the details.”
“As if you know anything about science.”
“You’ll educate me. Want a drink for this round, Francis? A soda?”
“I don’t drink that swill. Spring water, flat, room temperature.”
“Peabody, would you mind? I’ll take some swill. Peabody, exiting Interview.”
“I will kill you.” He spoke matter-of-factly. “Not right away after I get out. I’ll want that downtime first. I’ll have money so I’ll have all the whores I want. You won’t know when I’m coming, or how I’ll come. Maybe I’ll keep you alive awhile, maybe fuck you first. If I’m in the mood.”
“Do you think that scares me? My cat’s got a bigger dick than you.”
He went very white, then very red. “I’ll kill you very, very slowly. I’ll make an experiment out of it. Out of you.”
“Keep talking. It’s really going to help at your sentencing hearing.”
“Peabody, reentering Interview,” Peabody announced. “Water, flat.” She set the tube in front of Francis, then a tube of Pepsi in front of Eve before sitting with her Diet Pepsi.
And reading the room, the waves of hate, the waves of disgust, said, “Did I miss something?”
“Nothing important. Okay, Francis, why don’t we start with the poppies?”
It took a very long time. He had a great deal to say, and finally someone to hear it. However many times he threatened her or Peabody during the extensive interview, he showed pride with it. Pride in what he called his accomplishments.
When they came out, Eve saw Bryce sitting on a bench, his head in his hands.
“I’ll talk to him. Let’s get Francis back in a cage.”
“We’ve got that.” Baxter and Trueheart stepped out. “The boy and I’ll take him down. Both of you have spent enough time with him. We were in Observation for a while.”
“Appreciate it.” She walked down to the bench. “Dr. Bryce.”
He looked up at her with eyes red-rimmed and desolate. “Is it over?”
“This part is. You should go home. There’s nothing you can do here. Is there someone I can contact for you?”
“No. No one right now. I’ve sat here while he was in that room, and I’ve thought of a thousand ways I could have done things differently. A thousand things from the time he was born until I walked out of that room today.”
She sat beside him. “Dr. Bryce. In my experience with someone like Francis? Nothing you’d have done differently would have changed him.”
“I shouldn’t have let him lock so many doors.”
“Maybe not. But he’d have found another way.”
“When his mother died… When I had to tell him his mother died, he never shed a tear. At the time, I was relieved. I thought, she’s been out of his life for so long now, he doesn’t feel the loss. But I see now, that was a warning of what he lacks inside.”
He shuddered out a breath.
“Now I think… Those girls. Their families. What he’s done to them. Lieutenant. Oh God.”
He feels the loss, Eve thought when he looked at her. And always would.
“I know he has to pay for what he did, but I have to try to help him. He’s my son, my only child, and I don’t know how to begin to help him.”
“Dr. Mira. She has a sterling reputation as a psychiatrist. You don’t have to take my word on that. You can look her up. She’ll be holding an interview with him in the next day or two. She’ll talk to you.”
“All right. I never saw it in him until today. I never saw it.”