“I was thinking about my daughter.”
“She die or something?” Martin didn’t sound very sympathetic.
“No, nothing like that. She just moved away.”
Martin was quiet for a moment. “You have any sons?”
Kline shook his head.
“I did. Passed on early, though. In the crib. Now that’s a real letdown, you know?”
Kline looked at him. Paused before answering. “What do you – ”
“Losing a girl is one thing,” Martin went on, “but they’re not good for much, are they?” He tightened his fingers around the wheel, and his knuckles showed white through the skin. “Goddamned daughters, you know?”
Kline did not answer. He decided to keep looking straight ahead.
Martin continued talking. He kept his voice low, but he didn’t seem to care if Kline heard him or not. “No sense of duty,” he whispered. “Take everything you got, try to tell you to get out of your own damned house…”
Dr. Kline stayed quiet. Over the last several days, he had methodically tortured and murdered three people with a car battery, a nail gun, and a pair of garden shears; only minutes ago, he had been fuming over the possibility that someone might have beaten him to the task of killing his former lab partner. And yet suddenly he felt uncomfortable. Unsafe. He began inching his body towards the right edge of the seat. When he had moved over as far as he could go, he concentrated on keeping his mouth shut and his body very still.
This guy might be crazy, Dr. Kline thought to himself.
Meltdown
1
“Wait a minute,” Melissa said. “Where are we going? How are we supposed to find this guy?”
The other three stopped and looked at her. Then at one another. “I thought you…” Jason began.
Melissa shook her head. “What am I, the school directory? I expected Garrett to know who he was.”
“Why me?”
“You’re a senior. You’re supposed to know everybody.”
Garrett smiled. “Maybe if we were searching for a girl. But I don’t know any Chris Hershel. We should look him up on the school’s intranet. Find his dorm.”
“Hold on,” said Jason. His eyes were moving quickly again. “Not the dorms,” he murmured, like someone talking to himself. “Phi-Delt. That’s our best chance.”
Lea frowned. “Phi-Delt?”
“Phi-Delta,” Garrett said, and he turned to Jason. “How do you know the guy lives there?”
“Saw his picture on the wall inside.”
“When?”
Jason shrugged. “Last year. Friday, April twenty-second. Party co-sponsored with Chi-Gam. They hired the Tin Chickens to handle the music. In the room off the entryway, there’s a photo-montage of all the members. Hershel’s picture is fourth from the right on the third row. The kid next to him is Dave Evans. The one on the other side is – ”
“Okay, enough.” Garrett put both hands up. “I believe you. Let’s go.”
“Where?” Lea asked.
“Frat row.”
Jason watched Melissa as they walked. “What happened to you back there?”
Melissa looked up. “When I got queasy?”
“Right, with the detective. Was it because of Garrett?”
She nodded.
“His sex thing?”
“Yup. It was strong for a minute. I thought I was going to throw up again. Or maybe strip my clothes off in front of everyone.”
Behind them, Garrett made a face. He seemed torn between pride and embarrassment. “Hello? I’m right here. Can everyone stop talking about me like I’m a human dildo, please?”
Jason frowned. “I still don’t understand… Lea, you felt it, right? The Garrett-thing, I mean.”
Lea looked uncomfortable, but she held her ground. “Definitely. It got more intense. Don’t read anything into it – ”
“No, I’m just curious. I thought it was supposed to work on men, too.”
“It does,” Melissa said. “Don’t you remember the friendly cop? Garrett charmed him into letting him into the building.”
“That’s right,” Garrett said, flashing them with a sarcastic grin. “I’m hot with everybody now. Girls, guys, keepers of the peace, mail carriers…”
“Fair enough,” said Jason. “But why don’t I feel it? I don’t think Garrett could talk me into buying life insurance right now, let alone convince me to do special favors for him.”
Garrett twisted his face into an expression of mock-hurt. “Oh, come on, honey,” he cooed. “Don’t you find me… desirable?” He batted his eyelashes a few times.
Jason ignored him and turned to Melissa. He shook his head. “Nothing.”
Melissa sighed. “Jason, I told you before. It’s okay. Feeling attracted to Garrett doesn’t mean you’re homosexual – ”
“No, I’m serious. I don’t feel a thing.”
Melissa studied him. Then she glanced at Lea. “Well?”
“What?” Lea looked confused.
“Is he telling the truth or not?”
“Oh, sorry.” She gave Jason a once-over, then nodded. “He’s on the level.”
Melissa frowned. “You’re sure?”
Now it was Lea’s turn to sigh. “Melissa, I know you’ve got the power-sniffer around here, but trust me on the true-false stuff. Jason’s not hiding anything. If he were, I’d spot it immediately. He’s reacting to Garrett pretty much the same way you’d react to a tree stump.”
Jason pointed triumphantly at Lea. “There, see? Thank you.”
Lea smiled and dropped her eyes.
Melissa shrugged. “Okay, so you’re immune. You’re an über-hetero. Who knows why? I can only tell you what Garrett smells like to me.”
“Right,” Jason said quickly. “But that’s exactly the problem. There’s something else going on here.”
“What? You’re not making any sense.”
Jason took a couple of quick, sniffing breaths through his nose. Then he shook his head. “I can’t smell anything anymore. Maybe Carlisle’s funhouse antenna did more than we realize.”
Garrett suddenly seemed interested. “More how?”
“I’m not sure…” Jason was speaking slowly now. Carefully, as if afraid of saying too much. “My vision is a little hazy, for one thing.”
Garrett looked disappointed. “That’s it? I’ve been wearing contact lenses since the fourth grade. Welcome to my world.”
Jason shook his head. “Not me. I’ve always had perfect eyesight. Until an hour ago, anyway. And that’s not the only thing. My ears feel a little clogged. Not to mention my skin, which is getting sort of numb all over. Like I’ve been given some sort of low-grade anesthetic.”
They stared at him silently.
“It’s pretty obvious what’s going on,” Jason said. “It’s not just my eyes. All of my senses are shutting down.”
2
No one spoke, and Jason seemed to be holding his breath. He was waiting for them to respond. To say anything at all.
Finally, Lea started nodding. “I knew something was bothering you,” she said. “But I didn’t want to ask.”
Garrett frowned at Jason. “You’re going blind?”
“That’s not what I said. Things are fuzzy at a distance, that’s all. But it’s getting worse. Same goes for my hearing. It used to be perfect, but now it’s as if I’m in a tunnel. And what about the numbness everywhere? And the difficulty smelling? I don’t think it’s a coincidence.”
Melissa was already shaking her head. “Nothing is a coincidence.”
“Is it only me?” Jason sounded very worried now. “Are you guys… ” His voice trailed off.
Lea removed her glasses and began wiping them nervously. “I’m having some… difficulties,” she said quietly. “But not the same kind. I can, um… I can see okay.” She put her glasses back on and glanced furtively at Melissa and Garrett. “I can tell you guys are in… trouble too, but I guess we all need to make our own – ” She paused and
looked at the sky. She seemed to be searching for her words.“ – our own decisions about what… about what we’re ready to talk about.”
Melissa studied the ground at her feet. Garrett made a huffing sound, as if he were becoming impatient with the whole conversation.
“I’m dandy,” Garrett said. “Can’t we just find the antenna and fix all this stuff?”
“Right,” Melissa agreed quickly. She seemed very uncomfortable. “We can’t waste any more time. Where’s that fraternity?”
The Phi-Delta house was not difficult to find. Frat row, smack in the center. The building had “ΦΔ” painted above the door in black, foot-high letters. There was a frayed brown couch out on the porch, and a pair of fake columns on either side of the entrance. The whole building looked as if it could use a fresh coat of paint. Ten yards from the door, Melissa paused. “Great place to live,” she said, wrinkling her nose. She could already catch the stench of old beer and urine coming from inside. “The cigarette butts on the lawn are an especially nice touch.”
“Depends on what you’re hoping for in a residence,” Garrett said with a smile.
Melissa cupped a hand over her face, and she began backing away. When she had retreated to a safe distance, she sat down on the grass. “I’m not going to be able to go in there.”
Lea nodded. “I can smell it too,” she said sympathetically. “And I don’t even have a super… um, a super nose. Why don’t you just wait… just wait out here for us?”
“I’ve got a better idea,” Garrett said. “Melissa and I will go talk to Muffy, and you two can handle this kid in Phi-Delt.” He glanced at Melissa. “The sorority will smell a lot better, I promise. And then we can all meet back here in fifteen minutes. Compare notes. How’s that sound?”
Melissa’s eyebrow shot up. “I’m sorry, did you just refer to our next suspect as ‘Muffy’?”
Garrett reddened. “I meant to say Martha.”
“Of course you did.” Melissa was smiling now. “I don’t suppose you happen to know where Muffy lives?”
“KDE.”
“Yes, KDE. Wonderful.” She smiled brightly at Garrett, as if he were a naughty child. “Been there a few times, have you?”
“Christ. Let’s just get going.”
“Right behind you, Muffin.”
“Shut up.”
Melissa got to her feet slowly. She moved haltingly, as if she couldn’t quite get her balance. Lea opened her mouth to say something, but then seemed to think better of it.
Garrett turned around to watch Melissa catch up. “You okay?”
“I’m fine,” Melissa said. “I’m just starting to have some – ” She stopped. “We shouldn’t waste any time, that’s all.”
Lea’s face was twisted with anxiety. “Wait, can’t we all… can’t we wait a second?”
They looked at her, but she seemed unsure of what to say next. “Can’t you guys just… I mean, who are we… who are we trying to fool, here?” She looked at them, pleading with her eyes. But Garrett and Melissa both stared at the ground. There would be no discussion about these things. Not yet.
Melissa caught up to Garrett, and they headed down frat row together. Jason watched them go. When they were far enough away, he turned to Lea. “They don’t seem to like each other very much. You think they’ll avoid getting in a fight before they get back?”
Despite her own worries, Lea smiled. She would keep this particular secret to herself. “I think they’ll be fine.”
Jason shrugged. “Then let’s go interrogate this kid.”
They walked into Phi-Delta.
3
Once inside, it took them a moment to adjust to the dark. Tapestries hung over the windows in the common room, creating a permanent twilight. A huge television dominated the far wall, surrounded by three weather-beaten couches that resembled the one on the porch outside. ESPN’s SportsCenter blared on the television, and there were several students stretched on the couches. Jason squinted as he tried to make out their faces. “It’s too dark in here,” he said, “but I think that’s him.” He pointed.
Lea nodded. “How do you want… do you want to… to handle this?”
Jason looked back at her. He seemed surprised. Without Melissa there, the two of them were briefly lost.
“I’ll start,” Jason whispered finally. “You keep him honest.”
She nodded.
“What are you… going to ask?” Lea said.
Jason looked at her. There was a little gleam of mischief in his eyes. “The most obvious things.”
“Are you Chris Hershel?”
The boy on the couch looked up with a tired stare. He barely moved.
“Sure.”
“Did you kill Professor Carlisle?”
“Jason!” Lea hissed.
Jason turned to her. “What? Just watch him and tell me. That’s your trick, right? Did he do it or not?”
For a moment Lea looked as though she might start yelling at him, but then her face cleared. “No, you’re… you’re right.” She glanced at Hershel, who was still stretched out on the couch. Then she nodded. “He’s clean.”
“Okay then,” Jason said dismissively. “That was easy. Let’s get out of here.”
Hershel sat up. He shook himself, as if coming out of a stupor. “Huh? What do you guys want?”
“Nothing,” Jason said. “We already got it.”
“Did you just accuse me of killing Carlisle?”
“No,” Lea said quickly. “My friend was… was only asking if – ”
“Because I would have, you know.” Hershel spat on the floor. “Total dick of a prof. Failed me for turning in a paper a few days late.”
Lea stared at him for a beat, and then she smiled. “A few days?”
Hershel scowled. “Whatever. So maybe it was a few weeks. He was a dick, that’s the point. I wish I had killed him.”
Lea marveled at the boy’s false bravado. Was this cool somehow, to talk as if you should be a suspect in a murder case?
“He’s really dead?” Chris asked.
Jason nodded. “Yes, he’s really dead.” They turned to go. “Thanks for your help.”
4
The Kappa-Delta-Epsilon yard was neater than the one in front of Phi-Delta. There were no stray bottles or cigarette butts. The entrance was better maintained, too. It looked as though the building had been renovated within the last couple of years.
“Much better,” Melissa said. “This I can handle.” She turned to Garrett. “So, Martha. No, wait, I’m sorry – Muffy. What’s she look like?”
Garrett sighed and rubbed his temple absently. His head had started to throb again. “Exactly what you think she looks like.”
Melissa put a confused expression on her face. “What ever do you mean?”
“Thin and blond and perky and all that stuff. Give me a break, will you?”
“No. I don’t think I will.”
The common room inside the sorority was aggressively feminine. Every couch had been upholstered in Laura Ashley patterns, and the seats were arranged into a rough circle. The windows were open wide, letting the sheer curtains billow and puff in the autumn afternoon air. Melissa appreciated the breeze. There was no beer or urine smell to contend with here, and the girls in this sorority seemed to know what a shower was for.
They even use soap, she thought with relief. She could almost convince herself that she didn’t feel dizzy anymore.
A small group of girls sat chatting on the couches, their legs folded in studied poses of leisure. Several of them were wearing identical, white-and-flower-print pajamas. None of them looked as though they had gone to class that day – or even outside – though it was now four in the afternoon. One of them turned around as the two visitors walked through the front door. “Hey, there’s no boys allowed now,” she said.
“Please, Heidi,” said another. “Van’s still upstairs, and you snuck Kevin in here two nights ago.”
The girl opened her mouth to retort, t
hen closed it again.
“Anyway,” said the second girl, “that’s just Garrett. He’s always here.”
Melissa smiled ruefully, and Garrett made several coughing noises into his fist. “My head hurts,” he grumbled.
At the sound of Garrett’s voice, a third girl turned around. She was smaller than the others, and her hair was a shade blonder. A shade less natural, perhaps. “Garrett? Hey, sweetie!” Her voice was light and full of energy.
Garrett smiled uncertainly. “Hey, Muffy.”
The girl sprang up and vaulted over the couch like a gymnast. Melissa stepped back.
“You look great, Gar,” said Muffy. She took a deep breath, then stepped closer to Garrett. “I mean, great.” The top of her head reached only to the middle of his chest, and she gazed up at him with heavily made-up eyes.
Still in her pajamas, thought Melissa. And yet that eye-shadow smells fresh from this morning. Does she put it on before she gets dressed?
“Thanks,” Garrett said slowly. He tried to put some space between them, but Muffy was too quick. She stayed with him.
“Hey, Gar?” Melissa whispered, barely keeping the sarcasm out of her voice. “You want me to handle this?”
“No, I got it.” Garrett took a breath and tried to give Muffy a no-nonsense look. “I need to ask you…” he began, then winced and pressed a knuckle to his forehead.
“Yeah?” said Muffy softly. She put a hand on his arm.
“Um…”
“…if you were sleeping with Professor Carlisle,” Melissa finished loudly.
Muffy kept her eyes on Garrett. She didn’t seem concerned by the girl standing next to him. “Definitely,” she said, leaning her head onto Garrett’s chest. “We hit it off for a while. But that was last year, second semester.” She closed her eyes and smiled, as if she had never been so happy. “What an asshole he was.”
“Did you… kill him?” Garrett managed to ask, gritting his teeth through successive waves of pain.
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