“
Now that is a guilt trip I’m glad I don’t have a ticket for.” Alan said, wide eyed.
“
It nearly destroyed the poor man and his family. This is a way for him to try to assuage his guilt to some extent but his wound will never heal.”
Dr. Tinsley stopped at a heavy security door, swiped his entry card across the sensor and placed his thumb over the biometric
reader and the door yielded to his push. They continued down another hallway until they reached another large, heavy security door. The doctor repeated the previous process and they entered a darkened anteroom with some chairs positioned in front of a viewing window made of particularly thick one way glass.
“
Two guards armed with tasers will be seated at those chairs observing while you’re in the restraint room with Bryan. This is basically a redundant precaution but it is our protocol for such patients. He is securely restrained at his hands, feet and waist with heavy duty materials so he will not be able to reach you from his side of the table anyway.”
“
That’s reassuring - thank you.”
Alan began to approach the window and Bryan Adler came into view.
He looked unremarkable at this distance, a little larger than the average man with neatly trimmed hair and a clean shaven face. His head was tilted slightly downward, looking at his hands. Just as Alan stopped at the glass, Bryan raised his head purposefully and seemed to glare directly into Alan’s eyes. He knew this was not possible with the one way glass but it was quite disconcerting just the same. Then Alan noticed there was something peculiar about Adler’s glare. He couldn’t quite place it but it felt like he couldn’t focus properly on the killer’s eyes.
“
There’s something quite strange about his eyes. What is that?”
“
Ah, you noticed even from here. That’s very observant of you Alan. He has a condition known as ‘Exotropia’ wherein the eyes point outward from center. Bryan’s case is so mild that it is almost imperceptible from some angles but when you look at him squarely, it creates a slight disorientation. Some people can’t place the cause of their disorientation until they are told of it, because his ocular deviation is so slight. And I assure you that despite this condition, Bryan’s vision is acute. Try to relax and maintain eye contact whenever possible. If you find that difficult, just choose an eye and focus on that. If you avoid eye contact, it will strengthen his dominance.”
“
His dominance? I’m the one asking the questions and he’s the one in restraints.” Alan said, his pride slightly wounded.
“
Please don’t be offended Alan but trust me when I tell you that Bryan will be dominant over anyone with whom he meets, not just you. It is his nature, and through his intellect and his disdain toward other people, he is fully capable of maintaining his position. He has nothing to lose so no one can take anything from him. He knows this full well.”
“
I see. Well, let’s get this done.”
“
The guard will open the door and escort you to your chair then come back here to observe. Bryan will not speak to anyone with a guard in the room.”
The burly guard swiped his card on the sensor
, placed his thumb on the reader and motioned for Alan to precede him into the room. As they approached the table, Adler stared straight ahead as if ignoring their presence. Alan examined the restraints as he walked to his seat. They were wide and thick leather straps sewn onto a heavy duty rubberized base which covered dense cotton padding. The heavy buckles were padlocked and further secured with Velcro to ensure they couldn’t come loose. His feet were secured to the base of a solid steel post mounted into the floor behind the chair, which was welded to the post. His waist was secured in the same manner further up the post and his hand straps were chained to a turnbuckle, bolted through the steel chair between his legs. Alan sat down in the certainty that no human being could escape those bonds. Once seated, he looked up, conscious to keep Adler’s gaze as the doctor had instructed.
“
Good morning detective.” Adler started with a faint upward curl in the corner of his mouth. “Did you sleep well?” He asked in a strangely soothing southern drawl.
“
I slept just fine, thank you.”
Alan could now clearly see what Dr. Tinsley had meant when he explained that Adler’s ocular condition could be disconcerting.
When combined with the knowledge of his brutal, heartless crimes and his imposing personal presence, it caused difficulty in maintaining composure and confidence. But Alan was determined to do just that and his personal experiences in life and as a homicide detective allowed him more detachment than the average person could muster.
“
I hope my eyes don’t bother you. I enjoy the effect it has on the drones…” he suddenly cast his glare up to the viewing window and seemingly straight into the eyes of the guard who had escorted Alan into the room. The guard felt a chill as the hairs on the back of his neck raised. “…but I would expect a man of your caliber would be less susceptible to unreasonable fears.”
“
Your eyes don’t concern me Mr. Adler. What does concern me, is a suspicious death in Columbus, Ohio last night.”
“
There’s nothing suspicious about death detective. What comes after is a mystery but death comes to us all, there is nothing irregular about it.”
“
Let me clarify. A death in suspicious circumstances is what I meant.”
“
I know exactly what you meant; I just prefer accuracy over police vernacular.”
“
You’re very well spoken for someone who didn’t attend school for the first fourteen years of his life. Have it your way - the deceased in this case is Dr. Helen Benson, your former doctor here at Sherbourne.”
“
I’m well aware of Dr. Benson’s passing, detective. I’m also well aware of the importance of a strong vocabulary and I feel slighted that you would think so poorly of me.” Adler said, squaring his glare at Beach.
Alan ignored Adler’s attempt to bait him on his level of education.
“I don’t see how that’s possible. News of her death was only released to the press this morning and they would not have had time to go to print yet.”
“
The media is of no concern to me. I know of her death because I was there.” Adler spoke calmly, his expression unchanged.
Somewhat taken aback, Alan managed to maintain his composure in the face of this revelation.
His logical mind knew it was not possible and he needed to think on his feet in order to maintain his status in this conversation. He narrowed his eyes, taking on a superior expression to show he was unshaken.
“
Well now Mr. Adler, I think you’re trying to be too clever. You know it’s not possible for you to have been there because you were safely tucked away in your bed at the time.”
“
Don’t be facetious Mr. Beach; it doesn’t suit you. If you must know, I was there in my dreams.”
“
Interesting; I assume you know how she died then?”
“
Well, it was self inflicted exsanguination, of course.”
Alan was now visibly rattled.
How could Adler possibly have known these details? He wasn’t sure where to go next and the cold blooded psychopath across the table could now see his discomfort. Adler audibly sucked air in through his teeth as his head tilted back, his face taking on a look of rapture for a moment before coming back to Alan.
“
Aaah, that’s what I was looking for, Mr. Beach. Thank you.”
Suddenly Alan realized he’d been played.
He knew from Dr. Tinsley that Adler gleaned his only true satisfaction through extracting shocked reactions from people he considered remotely close to his intellectual range. He realized too late that it would have been a case of logical conclusion for Adler to have guessed details that even Helen’s former boss didn’t know until Alan had told him. Adler had been informed that a detective from Columbus was to visit him and the only person he knew in Columbus was Helen Benson. He deduced that if Beach had come all this way to interview him when there was no possibility he could have been involved due to his incarceration, the circumstances of her death must fit those of his own modus operandi. He had made his earlier ethereal remark about suspicion and death purely to allow himself time to make his deductions.
Alan’s regained composure.
“That’s a very clever guess Bryan. What trick will you perform next?”
“
Now don’t be a poor sport detective. Surely you must allow an imprisoned man his simple pleasures.” Adler said wryly.
“
Well, now you’ve proven your superiority and had your cheap thrill, can we continue?”
“
As is your pleasure.” Adler now smiled widely.
Alan decided on a more supplicant approach,
“Well, quite simply, your name is the last thing Helen said before she died.”
“
It’s nice to know her thoughts were with me even then.’ Adler said through an evil grin as if imagining the scene in detail. “As much as I would like to think I could have had some influence on any event outside these walls, my obvious circumstances would not allow it. Dr. Benson was a very well balanced woman and I respected her resolve. I don’t believe she would be capable of suicide in the true sense of the word. I do believe there must have been external influences involved.”
“
That’s certainly the impression I get from her family and colleagues and yet the evidence shows the wound was self inflicted in exactly the same manner as your female victims. Is it possible that you have a copycat? I know that many serial killers receive fan mail. Have you received any such mail from a possible killer?”
“
Lifeless trolls Mr. Beach. I don’t entertain such vacuous scum. I am not some simple, “serial killer” as you put it. I had a mission; a clear mission to free abused children and I drew joy from watching their cruel, worthless parents suffer and die. I’m not some twisted beast who kills out of perverse motives.”
Alan glared intently at Adler.
He didn’t want to indulge the psychopath’s predilections any further and decided to leverage the man’s ego in the hopes he might have something; anything useful to offer. “You’re obviously a very intelligent man Bryan. Is there anything you can think of to help me with my investigation?”
“My g
oodness detective, it seems you are quite transparent. If you really think that pandering to my ego will get you what you want, you’re even more desperate than I suspected. Still, out of respect for Dr. Benson, I’ll tell you one thing. She wanted me to volunteer for a new clinical trial, which I refused to do until she gave me an idea of how the treatment works. She said she was bound by a strict confidentiality agreement but she must have really wanted me in the trial because she did tell me one thing. She said it would change the way I saw the world. Now doesn’t that sound intriguing detective? I certainly found it intriguing so I thought, why not? I’ve got nothing to lose.”
Beach
pondered Helen’s statement for a moment and decided there was no further information to be gained here. If he was to discover what the doctor meant, he would have to find out from Blue Sky Biotech. It was time to go but his disgust toward the psychopathic killer before him was overwhelming and he couldn’t leave him thinking he’d won. He decided to score a point back before leaving this maniac to his keepers.
“
You have a very tenuous grip Mr. Adler. You think you’re special in some way but in reality, that tortured, abused little boy you so strenuously suppressed years ago to become the monster you are is still there. He is still at your core, no matter how much you have tried to bury him with education and devious intellect. The atrocities you committed are just that. You don’t spook the grown-ups and you’re not a savior but a helpless child who silently cries himself to sleep at night and probably still wets the bed. You don’t fool me Bryan.”
Alan found himself carried away with his tirade and decided he’d said enough.
He stood and turned to walk away as Bryan’s face, for the first time in years, displayed the slightest loss of composure in the face of the truth.
“
Your feeble attempt to undermine me is of no consequence Beach but you will regret it one day.” he rasped.
“
You’re not the boogeyman Bryan - just a prisoner locked away from society for life. I hope you enjoy your own company.”
Adler’s arms strained imperceptibly
at his restraints. He glared at Alan’s back like a tiger stalking its prey as the door opened and he left the room.
“
I really wish you hadn’t done that detective.” Tinsley admonished. “Despite what Bryan said to the contrary, you rattled him and he might cause problems later.”
“
I apologize doctor. He got under my skin and I wanted some revenge. I didn’t intend to cause your staff any trouble.”
“
I understand. We’ll leave it at that. Good guess on the bed-wetting, by the way. One of the guards will escort you to the front door. I’ll stay and observe Bryan for a while. I’m sorry your visit was unproductive. Good luck with your case and if you see Jim Benson, please give him my deepest condolences.”