Can you give us proof of your whereabouts for the last few nights? Rachel asked. Specifically between the hours of eleven and three in the morning?

I was at home, sleeping.

Any proof?

No. I live alone and dont go out much. Maybe here and there on the weekend and…you know what? No. Im done for now. Ive told you the truth. And now I want my lawyer.

You sure thats the truth? Rachel asked. The entire truth?

I did not have a hand in killing those men!

Not even calling them up and goading them into jumping? Jack asked.

God, no! Why the hell would I do that? He looked somewhere between angry and terrified when he added: I mean, think about it. Why would I want to kill them if I was trying to net them as new patients?

Rachel thought she might believe him, but it was hard to sort out of her own feelings in that moment. Maybe it was because she was so close to deaths door that she was blinded by a strange sort of fury. This was now two men who had admitted to trying to profit from the misery and mental anguish of others. It was one of those instances where the sheer evil of people was a little too plain to see and it made it hard to really give a damn about who was innocent and who was guilty.

Well send someone in to make sure you can call your lawyer, Rachel said, heading for the door. Well see you again after the warrant clears and weve had a look at your office and phone records.

She hesitated for a moment because it looked like Deringer was on the verge of saying something else. In the end, though, he remained quiet. She was essentially fine with this, as the warrant would allow them to get whatever answers they needed. She and Jack left the room and when she closed the door behind them, she immediately felt the pressure of the case. She checked her watch and saw that it was 3:21. The night was quickly approachingapproaching so quickly that she could barely recall where the day had gone.

What do you think? Jack asked as they headed out in search of Branson or one of the assistant officers to escort Deringer to a phone. It seems to fit, right?

It does, on the surface, she admitted. But his alibi might prove that hes at least partially truthful.

What? Being at home all four nights?

I mean the story about hiring someone to tap into those phones. Once we get that warrant, I imagine such a thing would be easy to find. And if it turns out that his story about that terrible little operation is true, then I think it does cast a shaky light on his potential guilt.