He nodded. “I heard you were quite close. She thanks you in her book, you know. Of course, you should really be thanked for your contributions to the zoo’s video series. Now, that, they really couldn’t have done without your help. Genevieve was just telling me this morning how you were the one who came up with the idea to collaborate with the National Zoo. And how extra thoughtful it was to give her some names of consultants in the area. Consultants like my sister-in-law, Dr. Odell. I had no idea you knew Genevieve.”

“I don’t,” Freeman said.

“But she and your late husband were very close. They used to work together, years ago, right? The first time I met you two, I thought he looked like a commercial actor.”

“What exactly are the charges here? Nepotism? So I made a few professional suggestions,” Freeman said dismissively, looking bored. “That’s all. How was I to know what Ryan Basque would do?”

“Because the whole thing was your idea from the start. Every move and every player,” Cooper said evenly, and watched her eyes darken. “You told him about wolves, set him up with everything he needed to know, then turned yourself in for a nice little alibi.”

“And I did all this why?” she asked. “Out of the generosity of my heart?”

“More like a long-term investment,” he said. “You serve a year’s time while Ryan develops his little business, and then do a silent takeover on your release. The Trust would still be blaming a dead man and you’d be making money hand over fist. Worse comes to worst, you rat Ryan out early in exchange for that deal you were so close to getting. With a new identity, a new life from the Trust themselves, you can launch a business of your own. Either way, you’re walking out of here with two things for sure: the Trust off your back, and a whole case study of how your toxin works to play with and fine tune.”

Freeman blinked at him owlishly. “Don’t you think that’s a tad outlandish?”

“Actually I think it’s brilliant,” Cooper said. “Sprinkle some revenge against me and everyone I love on top and there’s no possible scenario where you lose. How could you? Unless we were able to trace the toxin to you, the only thing you’re guilty of is...making a few suggestions.”

“I’m sure if this were true, I would be pretty careful to make sure you couldn’t trace the toxin back to me before turning myself in,” Freeman said. She seemed amused now. Like she was happy that Cooper knew.

“Mmm, I’m sure. It must have taken some trial and error to get the formula right.”

“That’s generally how all good science works,” she agreed.