“I have to,” Walsh said defensively.“People don't believe what they can't see.My spectrographic equipment can detect molecular contamination that's invisible to normal perception.”Walsh gestured to a device that looked like a handheld scanner connected to various modifications.It wasn’t the same one he used in his videos, but it was very similar.“Most people are walking around completely unaware of the chemical warfare being conducted against them.”
Vic was examining the bookshelves while they spoke.“You seem to combine chemistry with spiritual concepts,” she said, nodding to the shelf.Miles had a quick look himself.There were books about chemistry, about conspiracies, and even a few about the occult.
“Chemistryisspiritual,” Walsh said, his voice taking on the same evangelical tone from his videos.“Molecules have consciousness.Chemical contamination doesn't just poison the body, it corrupts the soul.”
“Jeremy,” Miles said, noting how Walsh's pupils were dilated and his hands trembled slightly.“Can you tell us about your work at the university?”
“Graduate research in analytical chemistry,” he said, quickly and proudly.“I have access to the advanced spectroscopy lab, gas chromatography systems, mass spectrometers.That's where I learned to detect the molecular signatures that most people ignore.”
“And you believe some people need to be cleansed of chemical contamination?”
Walsh nodded eagerly.“The contamination levels in this city are reaching critical mass.Fluoride compounds from water treatment, pesticide residues from agriculture, synthetic chemicals from industrial processes.People are walking toxic waste dumps and they don't even know it.”
Vic moved closer to Walsh, so slow and casual that Miles hardly even noticed it.“What happens when someone refuses to be cleansed?”
“They spread the contamination to others.One person carrying high levels of molecular toxicity can poison an entire community through energetic transference.You can see a lot of this taking place on my videos… especially on the TikTok account.”
Miles felt the conversation reaching a crucial point.“Jeremy, have you ever tried to cleanse someone without their permission?”
Walsh's agitation increased visibly.It was literally as if someone had flipped a switch in his brain.He began pacing in the small space between stacks of books.“Sometimes people are too contaminated to understand what's happening to them.The chemical corruption affects their judgment, makes them resistant to purification.”
“So, you have toforcethe cleansing process,” Vic said.It was a statement, not a question.
“There’s a chemical called fluorine which is nature's perfect purifier,” Walsh said, his voice becoming more rapid.“When properly applied, it neutralizes toxic molecules at the quantum level.The subject experiences momentary discomfort, but then their spiritual essence is freed from material contamination.”
Miles could hardly believe what he was hearing.Walsh was describing the murder method as a spiritual service.He felt suddenly cold, his entire body on high alert.
“Jeremy,” Vic said carefully, “we're investigating three deaths in the past few days.People who were exposed to fluorine gas.”
Walsh stopped pacing.His expression grew troubled and his et his eyes on both of them.For a moment, his stare was as cold as ice.“The teacher, the florist, and the bus driver.This morning.Right?”
The apartment seemed to go deathly silent for a moment.All three of them looked at one another, back and forth, tying to properly analyze the moment.Finally, Vic said: “You know about them?”
“Oh yes.This is exactly the sort of thing I have been monitoring!The contamination was spreading.Every day they remained uncleansed, more people were being exposed to their toxic emanations.”Walsh's hands were shaking more violently now.“I had to act before the molecular corruption reached irreversible levels.”
Vic took a step closer.“Jeremy… are you… can you simplify what you just said?”
“Those people needed cleansing… and no one else was brave enough to get it done, so I had to step in!”His voice was desperate now but Miles was unnerved by the tone of pride buried in his voice as well.
“Jeremy Walsh,” Vic said, stepping closer.“I'm placing you under arrest for the murders of Sarah Morrison, Janet Reilly, and Robert Hahn.”
Walsh's eyes widened in panic.“You don't understand.They needed to be cleansed.I was helping them, freeing their souls from chemical bondage!”
“You need to come with us,” Vic said, reaching for her handcuffs.
Walsh suddenly snapped, his emotions once again seeming to change in the blink of an eye.His face contorted with rage and he lunged forward, shoving Vic hard against the wall.Books tumbled from nearby shelves as she hit the bookcase, letting out a surprised cry.Walsh spun toward the door, but Miles was already moving to cut him off.
Miles tackled Walsh around the waist, sending them both crashing into a stack of notebooks.Papers scattered across the floor as they wrestled.Walsh was smaller than Miles, but he fought with desperate fury, clawing and kicking as Miles tried to pin him down.
“Get off me!”Walsh screamed.“You're contaminated too!I can see the chemical aura around you!”
More books rained down as their struggle knocked over another stack.Vic recovered her footing and drew her weapon, but couldn't get a clear shot with Miles and Walsh grappling on the floor.Miles managed to get Walsh's arms pinned behind his back just as Vic moved in with handcuffs.The metal clicked into place around Walsh's wrists as he continued to struggle, letting out small yet urgent screams.
“Jeremy Walsh,” Vic said formally, “you're under arrest for murder.You have the right to remain silent...”
Walsh went limp suddenly, his energy depleted.“I was trying to help them,” he said quietly.“The contamination was killing them slowly.I gave them a quick, clean death instead of years of molecular poisoning.”
Miles sat back on his heels, breathing heavily.His head was reeling from how quickly everything had happened.They'd walked into Walsh's apartment following a lead, and within twenty minutes they'd arrested their killer.After days of false starts and dead ends, the case had concluded in an almost anticlimactic fashion.
