“I was a cyclist. Used to pedal all over the place.”

“Where did you grow up?”

“Idaho. Beautiful country out there.”

She fanned herself. “I don’t see how you guys stand this humidity.”

“It’s only bad a couple of months out of the year.”

“Then the other months it’s freezing.”

He laughed. “We get the seasons. But you’re not from the West Coast, are you?”

“No. I’m originally from Boston.”

“You don’t have much of an accent.”

“I’m one of those people who can blend in anywhere.” She looked west, toward the cloud-streaked sky—red rivers chased from the sky by a growing gray hand. In the bewitching light, the dark silhouette of the Acid Man’s garden looked like a collection of shrunken elementals preparing for battle. Odd to think how a man who cared so much for plants could destroy human beings so easily. She added, “I hope I’m not disturbing your holiday weekend.”

“We didn’t have any major plans. But Julie—she’s concerned. I’m sure you can imagine why.”

“What did you tell her?”

“Nothing. Only that you were stopping by again.” He paused. “What happened?”

“A couple were attacked in Utah yesterday. The assailant tried to kill the woman by pouring acid on her chest.”

Stricken, Michael took a step back. “How is that possible?”

“We don’t know.”

“Was the woman hurt?”

“No. But the guy with the acid got away. Do you know if Gene Banks left his apartment yesterday?”

“How could he leave? He’s a quadriplegic.”

“So he says. We don’t know that for sure, not anymore. If he is confined to his wheelchair, then the attack makes no sense.”

“Do you think we’ll be attacked? Is that why you’re here?”

“It’s a possibility. Especially today. It was forty years ago today that Gene Banks’s mother died.”

“Why is that significant?”

“He might have killed her.”

“He would have been ten years old then.”

Kelly nodded. “He had a rough childhood.”

Michael was flustered. “What am I supposed to tell Julie?”

“The truth.”

“I’m confused. Who are we in danger from?”

Kelly hesitated. “I honestly don’t know.”

“But if it’s Gene—” he began.

“I think it would just be best if I stayed the night,” she interrupted, trying to deflect how confused she was about what was going on. “If that would be all right?”

“I’ll have to talk to Julie.” He paused. “But don’t you think you should at least check on what Professor Banks is up to?”

She nodded. The question was logical. “I’ll go see him at some point. Where exactly is Julie?”

“She’s swimming in the pond out back. Here, let’s go get her.”