“I’m talking about what we know,” Vaill said. “I’m talking about information we have that you don’t that says you couldn’t have possibly come up with that approach on your own, unless you’re a trained microbiologist. Are you a trained microbiologist, Dr. Welcome?”

“Before you answer him,” McCall said, “we already know your résumé.”

“We also know you just got fired from the Physician Wellness Program in D.C.,” Vaill added. “You worked for Walter Filstrup.”

No reference to any notes. Vaill knew this from memory.

“Why are you guys checking up on me like this?”

The agent ignored the question. “And we know about your problems with drugs and alcohol,” he went on. “So we know a lot about you. But funny thing, nothing we’ve learned suggests that you’re a trained microbiologist. So what do you say, doc? How’d you come up with this theory of yours?”

They could goad him all they liked, but Lou was not going to give up Humphrey’s name.

“Agent Vaill, Agent McCall, if you guys know so much about me, you must also know I’m a really smart guy.”

McCall lowered his shades so they rested on his nostrils. “If you’re really that smart, you’ll tell us the truth. Where’d you get your information?”

“I did research.”

“With what source?” Vaill asked.

“The Internet, at the hospital library, my friends at Eisenhower Memorial. I can be quite resourceful when I’m motivated.”

Lou regretted the words the moment they tumbled out. He had smart-assed himself into a corner with claims he couldn’t prove. Vaill jumped on the opportunity.

“So there are people at the hospital library who will corroborate your story?” he asked. “You have to know we can search your computer and see records of what you were looking at. In fact, I wouldn’t be the least surprised if we did that anyway.”

Lou did not answer, which in FBI parlance was probably tantamount to an admission of guilt.

“I’m going to ask you one more time,” Vaill said. “Where did you get your information about the bacteriophage?”

“I told you. What more do you want me to say?”

Vaill grabbed Lou’s shoulders, flipped him around, and jerked his arms up behind his back.

“Hey!” Lou shouted. “What in the hell are you doing? You can’t do this. I have rights!”

He felt the pinch of handcuffs being snapped into place.

“Dr. Welcome,” Vaill said, “you’re under arrest.”

“What’s the charge?”

Lou’s demand came out rife with indignation but his voice was also more than a little shaky. The cuffs were incredibly uncomfortable, and in moments his arms began to throb. He tried to reposition his wrists, but the slightest movement caused the manacles to tighten even more.