Miles smiled slightly, and Vic noticed that his expression seemed more relaxed than it had been since the case began.“Better than I expected.We had a good talk last night.Cleared the air about some things.”
“Wedding planning stress?”
“For starters, yes.That, plus my tendency to get completely absorbed in cases.”Miles folded the documents and set them on his lap.“She made me promise to keep her in the loop about field work and to focus on us when I'm home.Fair requests as far as I’m concerned.”
“She sounds like she gets it,” Vic said.“The demands of the job, I mean.”
“She does, but it’s taking some adjustments for her to wrap her head around this side of things.She’s obviously much more relaxed when she knows I’m just locked in a lab somewhere.”Miles looked out the passenger window at the passing houses.“What about you?Ever been close to marriage?”
“Twice.Both disasters.”Vic pulled to the curb outside a narrow row house that matched Lawson's address.“Turns out I'm better at hunting killers than maintaining relationships.”
“Maybe you just haven't found the right person yet.”
“Maybe.”Vic studied the house through the windshield.“Or maybe some of us are meant to focus on the work instead of trying to balance everything.”
The conversation felt more personal than their usual professional exchanges, but Miles didn't think Vic seemed too uncomfortable with the direction.Their partnership had developed an easy rhythm, each of them contributing different strengths to the investigation.
The conversation came to an end as they arrived at the address.Miles could feel a slight shift in the car as they tucked the personal talk away and stepped into case-mode.They approached the front door of a narrow row house that looked like it had been built in the 1940s.The small front yard was overgrown with weeds, and pots that had not seen plants in quite some time.Paint peeled from the wooden siding, and several windows were covered with aluminum foil instead of curtains.The overall appearance suggested someone who'd stopped caring about maintaining appearances.Knowing about Lawson’s earlier promise and his fall from grace, it was almost sad to see.
Vic knocked firmly on the front door, noting that it took several attempts before they heard movement inside.Footsteps approached slowly, followed by the sound of multiple locks being disengaged.The door opened to reveal a chain still in place, and a man's face appeared in the narrow gap.
“Yes?”The voice was cautious and suspicious.“It’s early as hell.Who is it?”
“Dr.Lawson?”Vic held up her badge.“I'm Agent Stone with the FBI, and this is Dr.Sterling.We'd like to speak with you about some research you've published regarding chemical contamination.We may need your insights to help solve a string of murders.”
Miles silently applauded the smooth lie.It was always easier to get people talking if they thought you were visiting to praise them rather than accuse them.However, it seemed like Lawson didn’t give a damn one way or the other.
The face in the gap looked from Vic to Miles, then back again.“Research?What kind of research?”
“Specifically, your work on fluorine compounds and their purification properties,” Miles said.“We're investigating some recent deadly incidents in the city that might relate to your findings.We apologize for the early hour, but this is extremely pressing.”
The door closed briefly while the chain was removed, then opened fully to reveal Dr.Kevin Lawson.He was a thin man in his fifties with graying hair that looked like it hadn't been combed in days.He wore a wrinkled shirt and pants that appeared to have been slept in, and his eyes held the hyperalert quality of someone who didn't get enough sleep.
“Incidents?”Lawson stepped back to allow them inside.“What kind of incidents?”
The interior of Lawson's house was a startling contrast to its neglected exterior.Every available surface was covered with scientific equipment, computer monitors, and stacks of research documents.Air quality monitoring devices hummed quietly in corners, their digital displays showing readings for various atmospheric pollutants.Chemical testing kits were arranged on tables alongside microscopes and spectral analysis equipment.It seemed that he had long ago ceased to create any sort of boundaries between his passion and his home.It was now all one and the same, an oddly homey lab of sorts.
But despite the chaotic appearance, there was an underlying organization to the space.Equipment was grouped by function, documents were sorted into labeled categories—some even in binders—and everything showed signs of regular use and maintenance.This was the workspace of someone who'd maintained his scientific rigor even after losing his institutional support.
“Chemical attacks,” Vic said, settling onto a couch that was the only piece of furniture not covered with scientific materials.“Two people have been killed in the past forty-eight hours using fluorine gas.It was done using remote devices tucked away in ventilation systems.”
Lawson's reaction was immediate and dramatic.His face went pale, and he staggered backward as if he'd been physically struck.“Killed?With fluorine gas?That's...that's impossible.”
“Why is it impossible?”Miles asked, studying Lawson's expression carefully.
“Because fluorine is incredibly dangerous to handle.The safety protocols alone...you'd need specialized equipment, extensive training, proper ventilation systems.”Lawson gestured wildly at his own equipment.“I work with trace amounts for atmospheric analysis—incrediblysmall doses.But weaponizing it?That would require industrial-level resources.Or the mind of a madman.”
Miles watched the man closely.Lawson's technical knowledge was clearly extensive, but his shock seemed genuine.“Dr.Lawson, we're here because you've written extensively about fluorine's purification properties.Your social media posts discuss using it to eliminate chemical contamination.And we understand you’ve written a decent amount elsewhere about it, too.”
“Yes, but theoretical applications!”Lawson said, his voice rising with agitation.“I write about the molecular mechanisms of purification, not about harming people.I'm a scientist, not a murderer!”
“Then you won't mind us asking about your whereabouts on Tuesday night and Wednesday afternoon,” Vic said.
Lawson began pacing around his cluttered living room, his movements jerky and nervous.“This is exactly what I warned people about.Government agents showing up to harass scientists who expose uncomfortable truths about chemical contamination.You're here because my research threatens corporate interests, aren't you?”
“Dr.Lawson,” Miles said firmly, “Two innocent people are dead.A kindergarten teacher and a florist.We're not here about corporate interests or government cover-ups.We honestly don’t give a damn about either one.We're here because someone used your area of expertise to commit murder.”
The blunt statement seemed to cut through Lawson's paranoid rants.He stopped pacing and stared at Miles with wide eyes.“A teacher and a florist?But...but why would anyone target them?”
