“The head lab technician. Rothman and Spaulding used to argue about the state of the storage freezer. Rothman thought the freezer was a mess, Spaulding disagreed. Rothman was thinking of sacking him. But that wasn’t unusual—everyone thought they were about to get fired. Spaulding was the only one who pushed back.”

“This is all very interesting and maybe you might find something is amiss in the storage facility. But even if you did, then what? Remember, it’s not Rothman’s lab anymore. All that is history. Unfortunately. And you’re going to be history if you keep doing what you’re doing. And are you really suggesting that the senior lab tech might have had something to do with Rothman’s death? That’s crazy.”

“Actually, I don’t know what I’m thinking. I do have some wild ideas, like these two scientists plotted together to carry off a dual suicide.”

George looked at Pia with consternation.

“I’m kidding. I’m kidding. But there are so many things bouncing around inside my head right now, so many theories, and I can’t rule anything out. Maybe it’s something someone didn’t do rather than what they did do—what do they call that? A sin of omission, not commission. The only thing I know is that something about this whole situation is not right.”

“Of course the whole situation isn’t right, Pia—two people died. That can never be right. But it doesn’t mean there can’t be a simple and logical explanation for why it happened.”

Pia thought for a moment. She considered opening up to George and talking about herself and her state of mind, but that was something she had always been loath to do. That was what she had done with Rothman and look where it had gotten her. She glanced at George’s face. He’d been looking at her the whole time; she had been mostly looking at the floor. He looked less eager than usual and more serious. Pia took a deep breath. She decided she’d at least try.

“I don’t want to think Rothman had anything to do with his own illness. But I’d like to be sure. If he did, it will mean that he let me down. In a real way, he betrayed me. Rothman was very important to me, and it’s hard for me to admit that anyone has such an influence on my life. Now he’s gone, I feel like I’m starting at square one. And I don’t want it to be his fault.”

George nodded, but he was having a very hard time understanding Pia’s reasoning. Even if Rothman accidentally infected himself, why would that mean she should think less of him, that he “betrayed” her?