In which the kind reader is warned that things of an unpleasant nature are discussed, albeit vaguely …
Reasonable Cause to Suspect
By EllieV
Chapter 21
Beckett couldn't see Stretton's face but he could see McKay's anxiety.
"Dr McKay," said Stretton courteously. "May I help you with something?"
McKay opened and closed his mouth a few times, guppy-like, as though now having made the approach didn't know what to do.
Stretton waited a moment and said, "Shouldn't you be getting some rest?"
"No, no," said McKay. "I'm fine."
Stretton nodded and waited again. "Would you like to sit down?" he suggested.
McKay quickly sat and jiggled in his seat.
Sheppard whispered, "If he asks about Grodin, I'm going to be pissed."
Beckett shook his head and said, "He'll wait for a formal interview."
Stretton lit a cigarette and McKay spluttered, "Do you have any idea what that can do to your lungs?"
"Yes," answered Stretton. "I've decided to spend the evening polluting your waterways since there's no fine for it, so Colonel Sheppard tells me." He tossed the lit cigarette over the balcony.
"That's disgusting," said McKay. He seemed to realize that Stretton didn't really care and went quiet. He jiggled in his chair some more and blurted out, "Why aren't you angry?"
"At whom?" Stretton asked calmly.
"Your … your … She got shot because you rescued me," said McKay.
"Wouldn't that be Prenum's fault then?" Stretton asked reasonably. Was he being too reasonable? Sheppard twitched.
"Of course, it was his fault!" McKay snapped.
"Yet you think that I should be angry with you?" Stretton sounded puzzled, though Beckett didn't think that he was.
"No," McKay denied.
"Okay," said Stretton amiably. He reached for his drink and said, "How are your hands?"
McKay immediately tucked them out of sight. "Fine," he said. Stretton didn't look away and McKay said defensively, "What?"
"Liar," Stretton said. He took a sip of his drink.
"I don't have to stay here and listen to this," said McKay.
"You're the one who came to me, Dr McKay," Stretton said. "What do you want?"
McKay looked suddenly lost. "I don't know," he said. "What happened to your neck?"
"Anscom happened," said Stretton.
"You said he was dead," McKay said uncertainly. What, Beckett wondered, did it take to destroy the confidence of someone like Rodney McKay?
"Yes," said Stretton.
"You killed him?" McKay jiggled in his chair some more.
"No," said Stretton. "I was on the floor bleeding like a stuck pig."
"Oh," said McKay doubtfully. "Who did? Sheppard?"
"Dr Beckett," said Stretton.
"Carson?" McKay said in disbelief.
"Yes," said Stretton. "I think I forgot to thank him for that one."
"He thinks I should have a medical exam," McKay said in a complaining but strangely hopeful tone, as though he was asking for advice.
"He's a doctor, they're like that," said Stretton. "Never happy unless they're prescribing a tablet, or bandaging something. Like the military-never happy unless they're ordering people about."
"He knows we're here," Sheppard hissed. "Man has eyes at the back of his head."
Stretton continued, "Why don't you want him to examine you?"
"None of your business," McKay said immediately.
"Fair enough," said Stretton. He didn't say anything else.
"But you want to know," said McKay.
"Not really," said Stretton. "I think you ought to have a medical exam but not because I care whether you should have one."
"Okay," said McKay. "What then?"
"It's simple, Dr McKay," said Stretton. "As selfish as this sounds, I can't leave until I interview you and I can't interview you until Dr Beckett says that you're fit for interview. He won't say that you're fit for interview until he examines you. I don't want to be stuck in this godforsaken fleapit for months on end because you won't have a medical examination. I want to take my team home and whether that happens anytime soon is up to you."
"Ah yes," said McKay mockingly, sounding almost normal, "Use guilt."
"You're already feeling guilty," said Stretton. "Why else would you be here talking to me?"
"Oh, now it's reverse psychology." McKay sounded nasty.
"I'm not a psychologist," Stretton shot back. "For that you need Dr Smiley since she's the only psychologist around here. I would have referred you to Kate Chatham but she's dead."
"Shit," Sheppard swore. "That's enough."
"Wait," said Beckett. "No, this is good."
"You've got to be kidding me, Carson," said Sheppard.
"He has no investment in Rodney at all," said Beckett as McKay got up and paced agitatedly. "He doesn't care; Rodney's just a piece of evidence to him and Rodney knows that. He's the one person that Rodney can trust for an honest opinion."
McKay stopped in front of Stretton and said, "I don't want …"
"You think that Beckett's going to tell anyone?" Stretton interrupted.
Tell anyone what? Beckett pondered as McKay and Stretton got even more cryptic, one interrupting the other. Beckett tapped his fingers on the table and got thoughtful. Sheppard looked confused-and as though he wanted to shake someone, probably both of them.
"Do you have any idea?" Sheppard began to ask.
"Shhh," hissed Beckett but McKay had stood. He gave a peculiarly formal nod to Stretton and marched out. "Follow Rodney and see if he's all right."
"Where are you going?" asked Sheppard. He sniffed a little and muttered, "Godforsaken fleapit … hnhh."
"I'm going to talk to cryptoman," said Beckett. He walked onto the balcony and said, "Do you think that threatening Rodney is going to do any good?"
Stretton put down the pad. "He's going to the infirmary, Dr Beckett, the rest is up to you."
"And if I decide that he's still unfit for interview?" Beckett challenged.
Stretton got up, towering over Beckett. "Then you'd best hope that I get back to London in the next six weeks because if I don't then I am like to become even more unbearable than I am now."
"What's happening in six weeks?" Beckett asked.
"What?" Stretton looked as though he didn't realize what he'd said. "Oh, wedding anniversary." Beckett didn't think so and was about to say as much when Stretton said, "McKay needs to talk to a professional, sooner rather than later."
"I know," said Beckett. "He gets on well with Dr Heightmeyer."
"Good," said Stretton.
"Try not to be too harsh on him in the interview," said Beckett.
"What if he did kill Grodin?" Stretton asked. "What are you going do?"
"What are you going to do?" answered Beckett. "Arrest him?"
"I have no powers of arrest here," Stretton said. "I'll write up my report and he can be sent back later on or not at all. I imagine it would become political. Out of my hands, if so."
"Prenum didn't like people in his personal space," started Beckett, thinking of McKay's bruised hands.
"Thirty-eight people died because Prenum wanted help with his nuclear program," said Stretton. "That's bad enough for McKay and I think it's likely that deep down he knew they were dead. Some of them could have helped Prenum's program as well but only McKay was there. He had to have wondered. Prenum needed McKay's help but he didn't know that anyone else on the away team was qualified. Prenum wouldn't have touched McKay, not even to hit him."
"Prenum murdered some of the away team personally, though," pointed out Beckett.
"True," agreed Stretton. "But I think in one important way, Prenum was an ascetic." He hesitated. "I have no evidence of this whatsoever, but have you ever read the Marquis?"
"Bits," said Beckett revolted.
"Do you know the story of the servant with syphilis?" asked Stretton.
Beckett froze and stared at Stretton. He remembered his first impression of him: canny, one to watch. Then Beckett left the mess hall at a run. When he got to the infirmary, Sheppard was pacing up and down the corridor outside. McKay was sitting in his office. He wasn't doing anything, just sitting.
He looked up at Beckett. He had on his brave face, the one that nearly broke Beckett's heart every time he saw it. It meant he was deathly afraid but taking action nonetheless; it meant that he thought he was going to die but was taking a step into the unknown anyway; and when he showed that face to his friends it meant he trusted them-perhaps more than he ought to. McKay looked down at his bruised hands.
"Carson," he said softly. "That policeman would like to go home."
"I'll tell the medical staff to have a break," said Beckett.
He walked back into the infirmary, called the evening shift staff together and told them to leave. A few looked back at McKay then at Beckett and asked if they could stay to help. No, said Beckett. McKay didn't like the crowds of people around right at the moment. Could someone call Dr Heightmeyer and ask her to come to the infirmary, please. One of the nurses said, I will, Dr Beckett; will Dr McKay be all right? He's mobile and in one piece, and he's still obnoxious. Not much change there, he said. Beckett made it a joke. The staff accepted this, as they always did when Beckett wasn't telling the truth. He was a good liar. Sheppard was hovering in the doorway watching him with knowing eyes. He motioned Beckett out.
"What aren't you telling anyone?" he asked. "What did Cameron say?"
"He said that Rodney should talk to Dr Heightmeyer," Beckett gave a little bit of information. "He said that Rodney will have known that the others were dead because none of them came to help."
"Shit," Sheppard swore. "Why are you getting rid of your staff?"
"Because," Beckett said patiently, "Rodney doesn't want anyone around and I'm perfectly happy to indulge that if it means that I can examine those bruises. DI Chatham"-Sheppard looked away uncomfortably-"said that she thought he'd been beaten."
"You'll tell me what you find?" Sheppard asked.
"No, I won't," Beckett said with asperity. "Not unless Rodney allows it." Sheppard looked mulish and Beckett caved a little. "I'll tell you what I can."
"You'll come up to Elizabeth's office?" Sheppard sounded just a little bit pathetic.
"Yes," said Beckett. "When I'm sure that Rodney is okay. Now, go away before he changes his mind."
He made sure the police standing vigil were out of McKay's sight-it was the back area of the infirmary anyway. It was four hours before he got to Weir's office and he went reluctantly. He spent time with McKay concocting a safe-to-tell-people story, and left him with Heightmeyer who, knowing McKay of old, took him firmly in her care and marched him off to her office despite his protests. You need to talk, Rodney, Beckett told him. McKay looked ashamed and said, it had only happened the once. He didn't think Prenum knew. No, Rodney, Prenum knew, Beckett said. Did Carson think that policeman would say anything? No, said Beckett. Did Sheppard know? He didn't want Sheppard to know. Above anyone else, he didn't want Sheppard to know. Rodney, said Beckett gently, rape is not the fault of the victim. McKay sat in his chair and shook. They're dead because of me, he said. No, Rodney, Beckett said, they're dead because of Prenum. I'll talk to that policeman tomorrow, Carson, said McKay. About Peter. I can do that for Peter's family. Beckett leaned on the infirmary wall after Heightmeyer and McKay left and wept at his bravery.
"He's fit for interview," Beckett announced coming into Weir's office.
"You're not serious?" asked Weir as Sheppard said, "You're kidding."
"He's lucid, sane, and physically he's not doing too badly," said Beckett mentally crossing his fingers at the white lie. "It's mostly bruising-he was beaten when he didn't cooperate-but nothing's broken."
"He was injured in the Genii attack," said Weir.
Beckett semi-shrugged. "I think the Genii doctors need booting out of the profession," he said, "but they didn't do a bad job of patching him up. I'm more concerned about him mentally." Weir started to speak but he held up his hand to stop her. "It's weighing on his mind that people were killed so Prenum could get to him. As it would, obviously."
"But …" protested Sheppard.
"Rodney is also feeling guilty that DI Chatham was killed," said Beckett.
"Cameron …" Sheppard tried again.
"Colonel, what Mr Stretton said to Rodney didn't cause his feelings of guilt," said Beckett, deliberately adding, "What happened to Colonel Sumner wasn't your fault but did that stop you from feeling guilty?"
Sheppard face went still. "You fight dirty, Carson," he said in a low voice.
"When I have to, Colonel," answered Beckett. "Rodney's way of handling his guilt over DI Chatham is to want to do the interview. He knows about deaths abroad from stuff in the papers about Princess Diana. He said he'd do it for Peter's family."
"He's not going to be there without me," said Sheppard. "Or you."
"They'll allow one person there, Colonel," said Beckett. "I'll be outside and if I think that Rodney's losing it, I'll stop the interview."
"I think I'll be there, too," said Weir. "I'm not happy about this, Carson."
"Then we're back to where we were at the beginning," said Beckett. "I thought we'd got past the 'bad police officers' stage. Rodney wouldn't be here to interview if it weren't for them. They have to do their jobs and I've asked Mr Stretton to be careful in the interview."
"And how is he?" asked Weir. "Is he fit to interview anyone? Are any of them?"
"They'll be fine," said Beckett. "They want to leave."
McKay came to the interview looking irritated at being escorted by a hovering Sheppard. Heightmeyer, Weir and Beckett met them outside the room where Miller had been interviewed. Breen was fiddling with the camera and acknowledged McKay with a nod.
"You don't have to do this, Rodney," said Weir. "You can leave it for a while."
Breen glanced at her but went back to the camera without saying anything.
"And yet, here I am, being the brave little soldier," said McKay mockingly. "Oh sorry, Colonel, didn't mean to step on military feet."
"Doesn't matter, Rodney," said Sheppard.
"Stop it," snapped McKay. "You're tiptoeing around me as though I'm going to break. It was nice to start with but when you stopped feeding me it just became annoying."
"So, you're fine, huh?" Sheppard asked looking a little annoyed himself.
"Of course, I'm not fine. I got captured, injured, tortured and you"-he waved a finger in Beckett's face-"did not rule out radiation poisoning. I could be dying for all you know. You didn't even talk about it and got me to the infirmary under false pretences. What sort of doctor are you?"
"A geneticist," said Beckett playing along, catching Heightmeyer's eye. "I like science experiments." McKay's mouth did its guppy impersonation. "Daniel"-Breen looked up-"Where's Mr Stretton?"
"On his way, sir," said Breen. "He stopped off at the infirmary to see Ade."
Stretton walked in with Tynan in tow. He looked over the crowd.
"Are we set, Danny?" he asked.
He was wearing a rollneck sweater that hid most of the bandage on his neck but McKay's eyes drifted to it. Stretton still looked shattered as though he'd got no sleep and was masking it.
"Yes, boss," said Breen.
"Dr McKay, after you," said Stretton. "Colonel?"
"Coming," said Sheppard. He caught Stretton's arm. "Cameron … look, I …"
Stretton looked down at Sheppard's hand and said, "I know" and nodded at Heightmeyer. Sheppard took his hand away and chewing his bottom lip, followed him into the room.
Beckett noticed that Stretton was wearing an earpiece. Breen handed Heightmeyer a set and said, "Just speak when you need to, ma'am, but remember, Mr Stretton will hear anything you say."
The door slid shut.
They took a minute to settle and Tynan flicked on the tape.
"Interview with Dr Rodney McKay. The time is 9.07 am. Those present, Detective Sergeant Benjamin Tynan and Commander Cameron Stretton, Greater Manchester Police. Also present, Colonel John Sheppard, United States Air Force. Dr McKay, I must caution you that you do not have to say anything but it may harm your defence if you do not mention, when questioned, something you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence. Do you understand the caution, sir?"
"Yes," said McKay.
"Dr McKay, you understand the reason for this interview?" asked Tynan.
"You're interviewing me for the coroner's inquiry about Peter Grodin. I read the papers, I know what it's about," McKay said.
"This wasn't in the papers, sir," said Tynan testingly.
"Paris. Princess Diana," said McKay. "Commonwealth brethren-it makes the news."
"You were on the mission to try to fix the Legrange point satellite, sir?" Tynan was being obvious.
"It wasn't a satellite; it was a weapons platform," put in Sheppard.
"Thank you, Colonel, but please let Dr McKay respond to any questions," said Tynan. "Your role is to advise Dr McKay and you're not to take part in the interview outside of that."
Sheppard immediately said, "I don't think …"
Stretton said nothing but put his finger to his mouth. Sheppard frowned but settled down.
"Dr McKay?" asked Tynan. "Please answer the question."
McKay looked between Sheppard and Stretton, who was looking at his hands and not watching anyone at all.
"Um, yes," said McKay. "It was Lt Miller, Peter and me."
"What did you say to Dr Zelenka before you left?" Tynan asked.
"Huh?" said McKay. "Goodbye, maybe?"
"Did you say something about your qualifications?" Tynan said, his face looking bland.
"Probably," said McKay. "I am the most qualified person here."
Outside, Beckett and Weir winced. Weir breathed, "Rodney …"
"Sounds a bit arrogant, sir," said Tynan.
"I'm also extremely arrogant," agreed McKay one-upping him.
"What did you talk about on the way to the satellite?" Tynan went on.
"The Wraith, what else?" McKay said. "We were all going to die and frankly, I didn't want to."
"What happened when you got to the satellite?" asked Tynan.
"We fixed it, it broke again, Peter died," McKay replied succinctly.
"Some details would be useful, Doctor," said Tynan not reacting to McKay's snotty voice.
"Like what?" McKay asked in his you're-really-stupid voice.
"Tell me about the artificial gravity," said Tynan. "What happened there?"
"Here we go," said Beckett quietly.
"It wasn't on, it came on, I fell and hurt my back," said McKay.
Stretton started tapping a finger on the table. He didn't seem impatient. It was an idle gesture. He still wasn't watching McKay but Sheppard was watching him. He looked concerned.
"When you turned on the artificial gravity, how far did you fall?" Tynan inquired.
"I didn't turn it on, Peter did," corrected McKay.
"What did you say to him?" asked Tynan.
McKay opened his mouth but nothing came out. Eventually he said, "Nothing ...?"
"Dr McKay," said Tynan. "Did you say to Dr Grodin that he assumed with your life when he thought the gravity would come on more slowly?"
McKay gaped at him. He was pale. Not scared just aghast.
Stretton finally looked up. He let out a breath and said, "Dr McKay, did you kill Dr Grodin?"
Sheppard looked sick.
"What?" McKay stood up agitatedly.
"Sit down, please sir," said Tynan in a warning tone. Stretton put a hand on his arm and Tynan glanced at him and sat back.
McKay sat and stared at Stretton.
"Dr McKay, did you kill Dr Grodin?" Stretton repeated.
"No!" said McKay clearly distressed. "No!"
Stretton watched him for a little while and said nothing. Sheppard shifted in his chair. Tynan's eyes flickered from Stretton to McKay. He looked a little confused, as though Stretton's action was unexpected. McKay sat still, despite his anxiety and watched Stretton back. He didn't try to look sincere; he just looked hurt. Beckett glanced at Heightmeyer. She was watching both of them but didn't seem inclined to interfere. Beckett held his breath.
Stretton blinked, tapped his finger again, and said very suddenly, "Thank you, Dr McKay. Interview terminated 9.18 am." He leaned past Tynan and clicked off the tape. Tynan looked at the tape and back at Stretton.
"That's it?" asked McKay baffled.
"Yes, that's it," said Stretton briefly. "Thank you for your time. Ben, pack up. We're leaving."
"Cameron …" said Sheppard.
"Now, Ben," said Stretton ignoring Sheppard.
He walked out of the room and past Weir and Beckett without saying anything. He inclined his head at Heightmeyer who smiled at him and nodded. McKay came out looking bewildered.
"He's strange," he complained.
Breen glared at him but McKay didn't notice. Breen said, "You just got let off the hook, sunshine."
"Danny," said Tynan warningly. "We're leaving. Dr Beckett, Mr Stretton will be down in the infirmary."
"I've made arrangements," said Beckett. "All the documentation is ready. The carpenters made a casket. It's nothing fancy."
Tynan and Breen drew together. "Thank you, Dr Beckett," Breen said gruffly.
"Can I help?" asked Sheppard. "With your gear."
"It's just this stuff, sir," said Breen. "Everything else is ready to go. Tapes, Sarge?"
Tynan handed him the audiotape and Breen marked it off, putting it in a plastic bag, and sealing it. He did the same with the digital videotape.
They started making their way upstairs, Heightmeyer hanging back with McKay. Weir and Sheppard broke into a run as the gateroom alarm blared and a call came over the PA. Heightmeyer pulled McKay away, not letting him follow them. She made shooing motions at Beckett.
"Unauthorized off-world activation," the gate tech called. The shield was already up by the time they got there. "It's the Genii, Dr Weir. Ladon is asking to come through."
"Lower the shield," said Weir curiously.
Ladon came through with armed guards and the Atlantis marines stiffened and raised the guns. In the midst of the guards were three men, their hands tied.
"Tell your men to put their weapons down, Ladon," Sheppard called.
"We're not here to attack, Colonel," Ladon answered. "They're here to guard the prisoners."
The police arrived, carrying their luggage and gear as Weir, Sheppard and Ladon conversed quietly. Stretton frowned at Ladon and joined them, clearly reluctantly, when Sheppard waved him over. Beckett moved up, too.
"What now?" Stretton said.
"These are the men complicit with Prenum. He"-Ladon indicated a goonlike creature-"is the one who shot your officer."
Stretton went very still. "And why did you bring them here?" he asked.
Ladon said, "For you to take the appropriate action."
"No. No," said Stretton immediately. "The crimes took place on your soil. Your people. Don't palm them off onto me."
"You don't think they should be punished?" asked Ladon looking puzzled.
"I'm the wrong person to be asking," said Stretton tensely. "Excuse me."
He went across to his team and said something. Barker looked at the Genii thoughtfully. The police stacked their gear neatly and all of them left. Beckett presumed they were getting the rest of their things.
Beckett excused himself and went down to the infirmary. Stretton was standing next to the casket, which was on a gurney. He picked up the paperwork that Beckett had left, sagged back against the wall, straightened, walked around the casket and then slammed the envelope down on the nearest desk.
"Why did you stop the interview with Rodney?" Beckett asked, giving Stretton a chance to control himself.
It took a moment. "Because it was an accident and I'm over wasting anymore time on it," Stretton said. He still sounded angry.
"You thought it was a waste of time? All along?" Beckett queried.
"Partly," said Stretton honestly.
"Did you have a choice in coming?" he asked.
"Yes," said Stretton. "It wasn't until we got to Cheyenne Mountain that we found out how long it would take. Too late to back out then."
"You don't think you were sent here because of you," remembered Beckett.
"No," said Stretton. He picked up the paperwork again tapping it against his leg. "Anyone could have done it but I suppose they would only take a senior officer."
Something didn't ring true about that but Beckett couldn't put his finger on it so he changed the subject.
"Rodney's getting some help," said Beckett.
"Good," said Stretton.
"Have you ever worked in … I suppose the name has changed," said Beckett.
"Sapphire," said Stretton. "No, couldn't handle it."
Beckett was surprised. "Really?" he asked.
"I have daughters, Dr Beckett," said Stretton. "They think I'm overbearing as it is."
Breen arrived with Tynan.
"We're good, boss," said Tynan. "We can take her now."
Stretton looked down at the paperwork and nodded. "Ade coming?" he asked.
"Nope," said Breen. "Said he needs to sort something out first. He said he'd meet us in the gateroom-to make sure I left, he said."
As Stretton started to follow them out, Beckett stopped him.
"Did Barker give you the information about Michael?" he asked.
Stretton considered him. "Yes," he said. "Katie asked him for the full report. He doesn't like people, he says, but he's a strict catholic moralist deep down. He's also a police officer. When he has evidence, he'll produce it, however reluctantly."
Beckett nodded. "I was curious, that's all," he said. "It doesn't matter."
There was a crowd in the gateroom but most people held back. The Genii were still there; Ladon was in Weir's office. He came down and went to speak to Stretton. Tynan moved in front of him, cutting off his access.
"Goodbye, sir," Tynan said pleasantly.
Barker was standing close to the Genii, waiting for Breen. They moved out of the way of the gate as it kawooshed open.
"Stay in touch," Sheppard said in his cheerfully threatening manner. Ladon raised an eyebrow. Sheppard strolled over to Stretton as the Genii disappeared through the wormhole. "We gave Ladon some info on trials and innocent until proven guilty."
Stretton just nodded and the gate kawooshed opened again. Weir came down the steps and said, "Thank you for your help, Mr Stretton. You know, you never did say who Peter was connected to."
"I don't know any lack of oxygen people, Dr Weir," he said.
"That's not an answer," she said.
He gave her a sudden smile. "No, it isn't, is it," he said. "Thank you, Dr Weir." He shook her hand.
Sheppard was hovering, arms folded. He stepped forward as Beckett heard a cheerful, "Hey, sexy!"
Cadman brushed past and hugged Stretton who looked startled. She bounced back and winked, saying, "See ya." She walked backwards into Sheppard who looked disapproving. She blushed, waved at Breen and Tynan who had smiles on their faces, and disappeared.
"I won't hug you," said Sheppard.
"Thank you," Stretton said sincerely. He held out his hand. "Colonel."
"Cameron," said Sheppard.
They gave each other the same weirdly understanding nod that they did when they found the bodies. Sheppard shook Tynan's and Breen's hands. Beckett nodded at them both, looking back to see Stretton watching him.
"Dr Beckett," he said.
"Mr Stretton," Beckett replied.
Barker pulled Breen in for a hug and said something quietly. Breen suddenly smirked, looked at the wormhole, and said, "You're a good lad, Ade."
"Let's go," called Stretton.
They had a couple of marines helping them through. The marines grabbed the police's gear as the officers escorted the coffin. They didn't look back at the crowd watching them leave. As the wormhole shut down, Rodney McKay charged into the gateroom.
"You're too late," said Sheppard. "They've gone."
"What?" said McKay distractedly. "Who?"
He spotted Barker, standing watching the gate, his hands in his pockets.
"You!" McKay pointed. "I went past your lab! Your insects aren't there! They're poisonous! Are they poisonous? I don't want to get bitten by a poisonous insect in my sleep!"
"They're not poisonous, Doc. They're like fleas," said Barker.
McKay immediately began scratching and demanded, "Where are they?"
Barker looked serenely at the gate.
"I dunno, Doc," he said with complete tranquility. "They must have escaped."
Beckett remembered how close Barker-a strict catholic moralist-had been standing to the Genii and started to smile.
TBC …
Notes:
The story of the servant with syphilis: From the Marquis de Sade's Philosophy in the Bedroom which ends in a character ordering his servant, who has syphilis, to rape a woman. I've not read any of the works of this misogynist sicko; it was bad enough reading the summary.
Commonwealth brethren: Canada is, of course, part of the Commonwealth. Hurrah!
Sapphire: Sapphires are The Met's specialist rape and sexual assault units. Each policing area of London has one.
Catholic: note the small 'c' in the text meaning broad or liberal rather than the big 'C' denoting Roman.
Next chapter: The End.