Hi everybody! (Hi, doctor Nick) :)
It's-a-me, Mario! :)
Another regular chapter, as promised :)
Awww thank you all for the warm welcome-back comment party you organized for me below the previous chapter! xD
Honestly, I thought you guys were going to flog me or burn me at the stake for not having written a word for five months, but noooo, you were most kind.
So imagine my surprise xD
I don't deserve this audience! xD
I am not reading other fanfics now :( I'm just focused on finishing this one cause I feel like I owe you guys that much. It's going to be the last one I'll write because I am very busy at work so I won't start new things :(
So we're moving very, very, very slowly towards the end of the story... Less smutty scenes as we are nearing the finale, I have to say...
You will be pleased to know that I have already made the layout for the remaining chapters with all the content and total number is... 31 :) So you will enjoy in six more chapters after this one.
Happy reading.
OLIVIA rolled her eyes as she glanced at her wristwatch for what it felt like a hundredth time and then cast a sideways look towards her equally impatient boss who had been tsking audibly for the last ten minutes.
-Agent Dunham, are you absolutely sure you specified...
-Yes, sir-she replied slowly and politely yet again to the same question, as if solving a rather simple math problem step by step with a small, ignorant child. –I told them they are needed immediately at the crime scene.
-In that case, Peter Bishop will have a lot of explaining to do.
-Sir-Olivia winced notably. -I forgot to tell you that he... He isn't coming to work today.
-Oh?-Broyles raised his eyebrows and looked at her. –And why exactly is that?
Her cheeks reddened as she struggled to come up with some acceptable excuse rather than telling Broyles Peter apparently got into a bar fight; she didn't want to strengthen Broyles's opinion on Peter as a troublemaker even more.
-He is not feeling well, that is all-she lied covering up for him, hoping that her voice maintained a calm tone. –I am certain he will reincorporate either late this afternoon or tomorrow morning at the very least.
-He'd better be-Broyles emphasized every word slowly and deliberately, being laconic and sour as always. –Wait a moment. How is Walter Bishop coming here then?
-He... Um...-Olivia didn't get to finish what was going to be another roundabout, sorry excuse for an explanation as a roaring engine sound was heard, followed by shouts and swearwords.
Then a yellow taxi came into their line of view, and it didn't stop until it hit several trash cans, which clattered joyfully, showing off their smelly content.
-You fucking idiot!
-Now, now, young man... There is no need for violence... We can solve this as grown-ups, can't we?
-Like hell we can!
Olivia approached the vehicle with an uncertain look on her face while Broyles opted to stand behind and observe, astonished at what was transpiring.
-Good morning. What seems to be the problem?-she inquired politely.
-Oh, Agent Dunham, thank goodness you're here! This young man here is still awfully angry with me even though I apologized to him several times...-Walter muttered embarrassedly.
-Just... Get out of the cab and give me my money!-the driver shouted unpleasantly at the mad scientist.
Walter did so and the yellow car sped away in the cloud of dust.
-Walter...-Olivia sighed exasperatedly. –Would you mind explaining me what that was?
-Oh... Well Peter called me cab and when I told him the direction, the youngster said: "That's not far from the city centre at all, it's just next to that McDonalds restaurant". Now I've never been there myself before I was institutionalized, I heard over the news it still existed and that it has become quite popular and when I asked Peter to take me there to see how the food was, he told me that it was out of the question, that everything they sold tasted like plastic and cardboard... But I was in a mood for a strawberry milkshake, you see-he smiled, staring somewhere aimlessly behind her shoulder. -I like to drink them in the morning, right after I do my nude push-ups in the living room and then...
-Walter!-she interrupted him rather impatiently. –Get to the point.
-Oh, yes, I apologize, Agent Dunham-he stuttered a bit. –I forget you are not as patient as Peter. Did you know that my boy listens to me and actually finds funny some things I say? Not all children think their parents have a sense of humor, so I am quite proud, you know-the digression earned him yet another incredulous glance from the blonde agent so Walter hurried on. –I asked the driver if they were selling milkshakes in that so called Mc Donald's and he said they were so I suggested we stop by that wondrous place. I wanted to buy a strawberry milkshake, you see-Walter leaned towards Olivia and whispered as if he were giving away some huge secret to her. –I don't know if I've ever told you that, but I love to drink them in the morning, especially after I...
-But why did he get angry with you?-Olivia tried to stop Walter from repeating himself.
-Well, I didn't want him to wait for me for too long, so I went into Mc Donald's, bought the milkshake and entered the taxi... But you see, Agent Dunham, my food taste is extremely sophisticated and it just so happened that this milkshake in particular tasted awful. I simply couldn't drink it and I... I spat it out-he finished, hiding his gaze from Olivia's incredulous penetrative stare. –All over that youngster's hair, if I may add... Then I laughed, which of course, wasn't the most polite thing to do, but I just couldn't contain it... He looked incredibly amusing. That reaction of mine must have triggered his fury, I daresay.
Olivia flashed a reluctant, small smile and raised one hand in the air, thus showing him she had heard enough.
-Well the important thing is you are here now. Follow me, we are going to visit the crime scene. I trust Peter has already told you what happened-Olivia was briefing him up as Walter clumsily nodded to ever straight-faced Fringe division boss.
-Oh yes, the most fascinating thing indeed, I can't wait to see the man in person-Walter blabbed on enthusiastically. –And Agent Dunham, I think we are going the wrong way because...
-Walter, I need you to focus. Just follow me, we are going to...
-Excuse me-a tall man in a dark grey suit approached them. –You with the FBI? Are you looking for the safes? I am the director of the bank, how do you do, right this way... They are in another direction, you see...
Walter let out a triumphant "Ha!" and smiled at Olivia.
-I told you so, Olivia, didn't I?
-Walter, have you been here before? I mean, how could you possibly know...
-It's a purely logical deduction, Agent Dunham... That was the basement staircase and the most heavily guarded safes are mostly located below the building level...
Olivia looked at him briefly but said nothing. They had already reached the safe and Walter stopped talking after having approached the man in the wall and having gazed upon him in awe.
-This... Is fascinating...-he muttered under his breath.
Olivia averted her eyes for the moment; she had seen worse things during her career but the sight of the man with a bullet through his forehead, halfway stuck in the metallic safe structure wasn't very pleasant.
-What can you make of it, doctor Bishop?-Broyles, as always, went straight to the point.
-I can't believe this has actually been achieved. Whoever has accomplished it... I... I don't know what to say. I admire this person greatly. You know, Belly and I had a project similar to this one years ago. We had been trying to concoct a certain type of serum which would lessen the remaining body pigment and transfer the matter into pure energy. The subject injected with the serum was supposed to become completely insubstantial; also, they would become able to move through thinner solid objects just like this one, for example.
-I am not sure if I am following you, doctor Bishop: you and William Bell made a serum that would turn people invisible and enable them to walk through walls?-Broyles stared at him skeptically.
-Oh, yes, among other things we've created. But, this state of invisibility was limited, you see. It was supposed to last only for an hour. Sadly, none of our test subjects would last that long. They would all turn visible again after mere half an hour or even less... There were also side effects, you know, and they included...
-So...-Olivia started cautiously not letting him finish the sentence, believing they had already got enough information...-if someone had been able to concoct this serum... And inject it... The state of invisibility and dematerialization would be artificially induced for a certain period of the time and the person could be invisible, as well as pass through walls?
-Right you are, Olivia-Walter nodded.
-Have you checked the surveillance cameras?-Olivia turned to the director of the bank.
-They have been disabled so there is nothing on them-he shrugged apologetically.
-So we can't tell for sure how many men were there with him-she concluded, disappointed.-But what is obvious is that they were some kind of special ops group, previously trained for this task. Just look at what he is wearing... They knew exactly what they were going after seeing how nothing else was stolen. Do we have the ID on the man?
-Negative. But his dental record is being checked as we speak; the results will come in later in the afternoon. I will inform you immediately, as soon as we find out who he is-Broyles replied serenely. –Meanwhile, I would like you to inspect this man's body. Your first hunch, doctor Bishop, is usually never wrong, and if you recalled that serum, maybe it has something to do with the case.
-Yes, indeed, Mr. Broyles. I am very intrigued by this case. This man and his "gang", as young people say today, could have ingested the serum or some other similar substance, stole what they needed from the safe, and then one of them unfortunately, suddenly violently materialized in the middle of the wall just as they were escaping. That's only a theory, however, and I would be delighted to examine it further in the lab.
-Very well, I'll leave you two to it. You have all the pieces of the puzzle. The who, what and why... That's your job now. I'll inform Agent Farnsworth that you're coming to the lab so that she might prepare the workspace.
Olivia nodded devotedly.
Walter said nothing, as he was still thoroughly inspecting the man's head with the battery lamp.
-And one more thing, Agent Dunham-Broyles turned around to look at her on his way out from the bank vault. -I expect you to tell me that Peter Bishop has rejoined the team in the afternoon, when I call you to give you the details about this man's identity.
-I expect so too-Olivia whispered barely audibly, and fidgeted nervously, watching her boss walk away and turning towards Walter.
This is going to be a long day-she thought with a sigh.
-There is just one small problem, Olivia. We need to extract him from the wall. Or, at least, a part of him.
-Yuck-a grossed out sigh escaped Olivia's lips. –I don't think I want to know any more details about that, Walter.
-Agent Dunham, you're sounding just like Asteroid on the very first day she started working with me. It's obvious that you haven't been spending enough time with us in the lab. You should come by more often, socialize with us, talk to Peter... My poor boy is lonely, Olivia... Having no one but corpses to converse with can become quite boring and tedious, you know?
Olivia coughed uncomfortably, averting her eyes from Walter and now decidedly staring at the man in the wall.
-Oh and about him... I believe his hand should do the trick-Walter exclaimed joyously.
-You're going to cut off his hand?
-That's the least I can take in order to examine the tissue. We are going to need an electric saw, agent Dunham. And there's only one place we can get it: the hardware store.
-Okay. Fine-Olivia accepted her fate and put herself in a robotic, stern, FBI agent mode, deciding to endure everything a day with Walter might bring. –There is a hardware store not too far from here, it's called Toolrack. I believe we can find it in there.
-Excellent!-Walter rubbed his hands excitedly as if they were going on a field trip. –Lead the way!
THE HARDWARE STORE was extremely spacious and very well lit, crowded with consumers who were moving up and down the aisles rapidly filling their shopping carts like diligent ants in the ant colony.
Walter was turning around and staring at almost everything with wonder, looking like a child in a toy factory.
Olivia almost lost him several times when he sneaked away to look at the kitchen utensils and appliances.
She was beginning to fully appreciate Peter's patience with his father.
It was the kind of tolerance she absolutely didn't possess at all.
-Look, agent Dunham! This is just what we need at our place! "Enjoy frosty drinks or milk shakes with the versatile and highly functional drink mixer that helps you make delicious shakes at home! Featuring an eye-catching chrome finish that compliments the durable and safe stainless steel mixing cup and compact design, it can be conveniently placed on all table tops. The drink mixer has a large 20-ounce stainless steel mixing cup that lets you mix your shakes easily without any spills". It's not expensive, either. It costs only 39.99 dollars!
-Walter! We are here for the electric saw!-Olivia exploded. -If...-her mind was working fast-if you don't step away from that kitchen appliance this instant I... I won't take you to the pastry shop afterwards.
The tactics surprisingly worked and Walter calmed down a bit, sheepishly following her towards the section that supposedly contained electric saws. They had a bit of trouble looking for it and they spent quite some time in there going around in circles.
-You know, Olivia, this reminds me of my supermarket shopping days with Peter. I do love frozen yoghurt, so I often get such a craving... But not all supermarkets sell them so when my son and I enter one, we sometimes spend a lot of time looking for frozen strawberry yoghurts... Much like you and I today.
-Yes, Walter, but it's a time we can't afford to waste. We need to solve the case as fast as we can... Where is the shop assistant when you need her?-Olivia was becoming increasingly nervous.
-It's so good to have him home, Olivia-Walter suddenly whispered shyly grabbing her by the arm and she covered away for the moment, surprised, before she hesitantly, uncomfortably reestablished the eye contact with the scientist.
-I... I can imagine that it is-she commented cautiously, not really knowing what to say. Olivia wasn't accustomed to leading this kind of conversation with Walter or with anyone, for that matter.
-Us living again in that beach house... It brings back some beautiful memories, Agent Dunham. He was such a smart boy when he went to primary school, Peter was. A bit on the chubby side, that's true...-Walter chuckled. –But with those blue, big, intelligent, brilliant eyes, that would follow me wherever I went around the house and his sharp, quick mind. You know, it's the eyes... When you... When you two came to get me out of... And when I first saw him after 17 years... I immediately recognized him as soon as our gazes met. And I regret now... Olivia... I regret all the time I spent away from him and his mother. I should have been with them more, I should have been...
Olivia remained silent and kept listening, wondering where Peter's mother was now, partly feeling like an intruder who was listening in someone's private thoughts and yet feeling strangely sorry for Walter after she noticed a tiny salty droplet sliding down his wrinkled cheek.
-You know, my favourite part of the week used to be Saturday mornings. The first day of the week when we could all actually have breakfast together. I was working in the city Monday to Friday with Belly, sometimes even 20 hours per day...
Olivia recalled that Peter had told her the exact same thing in front of the beach house couple of weeks ago, on the day when Astrid and she came to bring housewarming gifts to Bishop boys.
-But on Saturdays... I was a father. I would always wake up first, heat up the stove and start making pancakes. Peter would come quietly down the stairs and just look at me as if he couldn't believe I was really there. He used to love pancakes in the shape of... Damn it, I can't remember!-he suddenly screamed and several heads turned towards them as Walter went into a fit and started banging on his own head with both fists. –Why... Can't.. You.. Remember!
-Walter, calm down!-Olivia shook him hard and then slapped him right across the face which seemed to do the trick because Walter stopped hitting himself and started wailing in regret.
-What he could have become... He could have followed in my footsteps. But he didn't even study! He led a nomadic existence, he lied, he cheated... He taught on M.I.T. based on fraudulent credentials... Agent Dunham... I am disappointed he hadn't made more out of his life. Sometimes I look at him working in the lab and he looks back up at me, our gazes connect and I feel that same boy is here with me again. But agent Dunham... I know this may sound strange to you... Other times... I wonder if I have ever known him at all.
It doesn't sound strange at all, Walter-she thought observing the mad scientist. I know exactly how you feel.
-It's like I don't know who he is, who he's been, what he knows, and what he's done... And the eyes of a stranger look back at me accusingly... And I... I can't blame him for how he's turned out, because I know it's all my fault. I can only fully appreciate what I had and what I could have had... Now that I lost it.
Comforting words rapidly, instinctively flew out of Olivia before she could stop them.
-Walter... Don't think like that. I am sure Peter loves you. Underneath that sarcastic façade and grudging complaints he lets out every now and then, he is trying really hard with you, he arranged the beach house just for you two, didn't he? You are slowly paving your way back to being a family. And you are very affectionate and caring with him, it's obvious you wish to redeem youself for the past wrongs.
-Thank you agent Dunham-Walter quickly fisted the tears out of his eyes and then simply nodded in acknowledging her encouraging words. Olivia nodded briefly back to him as a silent understanding passed between them.
-Hi, can I help you find something?-a shop assistant interrupted their private trains of thoughts.
-Yes, um, we are looking for an electric saw-Olivia stated matter-of-factly.
-Oh and it should preferably have variable speed with an easily replaceable blade system-Walter pitched in enthusiastically. –We have to cut off a human hand and although with precision, mind you, so it might become a bit messy. Our bones, you see, miss, are sometimes very resilient... Hence the replaceable blade system.
Olivia uncomfortably followed the girl with her eyes as she apparently instantly ran away to the other part of the store as a reaction to Walter's words.
-Looks like we're on our own again-she attempted a joke and Walter, surprisingly enough, smiled. –Let's go and find that saw. We really need to figure out what happened in the bank. Who did this, what they want and what they are going to do next.
PETER glanced cautiously around the huge, old, poorly lit warehouse and eventually entered, blinking rapidly as his eyes accommodated to the semi-darkness that reigned in the, as it seemed, abandoned building.
-Come on in, Bishop, don't be shy. We don't bite, we're all colleagues and teammates here-mocking Loeb's voice greeted him from the shadows.
-Sure, sure, I'll just make myself at home-he groveled in reply.
A heavy scent of vomit lingered in the air and several men were sitting around on couple of makeshift beds, looking sick and extremely bad-tempered.
They raised their heads slightly as Peter approached them and grunted in acknowledgement. One of them, however, jumped up and sized Peter up menacingly.
-You the wise guy who invented this serum? You motherfucker, I'm gonna fucking kill you! I... became visible again just one minute after Lugo! I could have gotten stuck in that damn safe wall as well.
Peter stood still, unperturbed.
-Tough luck, huh?-he replied calmly, in a devil-may-care tone of voice, placing his hands in his pockets and deliberately turning away from the man, now facing Loeb and not paying even the slightest attention to the fact that the man in question had to be restrained in order not to hit him.
-Where is the box?-Peter winced in pain as he opened his mouth. His chin still hurt from the close encounter it had with Michael Kelly's fist last night.
-That's how I like you, Bishop. Straight to the point.
-I just want to get out of here as soon as possible-he muttered in a reply. –Okay, so you mentioned magnetic tumbler, old school chromo alloy... I'll get to work as soon as possible. I know you think it's practically unbreakable but there's no lock Peter Bishop hasn't opened yet-Peter even allowed a small proud smile to adorn his face as he knelt next to the safety deposit box and started fumbling around the lock with his long fingers, using the tools at hand.
Twenty minutes later, he wiped the sweat from his forehead and stood up.
-There-he mumbled, moving away from the box.
-Man, how did you do that?-another guy from the group with a thick beard approached slowly, staring at Peter in awe. I've been working on it for five hours and nothing. Nada. Zilch. You come over and crack it open in like... Twenty minutes?
-Who the fuck cares how he did it? What I want is to stop taking the serum that whacko made!-the tall, impatient man whose fist almost connected with Peter's nose a while ago spoke again.
Loeb reentered the room, pleased with Peter's progress.
-Well done, Bishop, well done. Too bad you're here only temporary. You would have made a great team member.
-Sorry, just passing-by-Peter grinned falsely.
-Hey Loeb!-the tall man spoke up again. His hands were shaking rather violently.-When are you going to tell us what's in the box? And what will be in the next box we go after?
-Even if I told you, be certain you wouldn't understand much. Suffice to say that it's a very complex device. You don't need to know anything more.
-Bullshit...-the guy whispered in reply and went over to sit on the bed yet again, clutching his stomach.
-I will be right back as soon as I place this box into a secure room. Don't move, Bishop.
-So...-Peter scratched his head uncomfortably and immediately regretted the movement since his entire scalp started to hurt like hell. –You don't even know what you're doing here? You're risking your lives and your health for the unknown content, huh? Real smart.
Peter knew the group was perfectly trained, and hired specifically to recover the boxes from the banks. Now, they had his serum as well. They were unstoppable. But as far as he was concerned, if he couldn't beat them since he was blackmailed, he most certainly could have some fun and sting them with his words, if nothing else.
The guy with the beard replied, approaching him.
-Well I took a look at his papers just now, while he was checking out that um... Device... Or whatever it was in that box we grabbed.
-And what did you see?
-It's a map of Germany.
-Germany?-Peter recalled Loeb telling him he wanted to free some kind of his personal Messiah from a German prison.
-Yeah, it's Frankfurt. Lines all over it. Lattitude and longitude. Looks like he's planning a damn invasion. I have no idea what's he up to anyway...
-How many more boxes are there?
-Why should we tell you, anyway?
-Okay... You're tough guys. Working for Loeb and all that. Loyal till the end. So I don't wanna press you 'cause I know you won't crack. All I want from you is... To show me your hands.
They shook their heads and turned away from Peter. He tried another approach.
-Right. Let me see if any of this rings a bell for you. You've been shaking uncontrollably. You vomited at least twice in the last five hours and your hair is falling out.
The tall guy came closer after a lot of hesitating.
-What's wrong with us?
-Serum side effects-Peter replied calmly. -Right now, you're in the "walking ghost" phase which I suggest you enjoy 'cause it a hell of lot better than the intestinal bleeding, delirium and coma phase you're gonna hit in a couple of days-he lied without moving a muscle on his face. -You violated the laws of physics. And mother nature is a bitch.
-How do we... How do we stop it, man? You made this shit, you know what it does, right? So you must know the cure for what's happening to us!
-Not so fast. Tell me what Loeb is doing. I'll share my info as well. He told me he needed to free someone from a German prison. Who is the man he wants to spring out? When is it happening? And where?
-Dunno man-the bearded man spoke next. –We... We have no idea. He doesn't exactly tell us his plans. We are freelance, hired out for a lot of cash. He equipped us, trained us. He didn't tell us anything. He made us steal this box but he wouldn't show us what this is all about, you saw it. That stuff about springing someone out from prison in Germany... It's the first time we're hearing it. But we do know one thing: he says that we need one more box and then he's got everything he needs.
-Okay. So one more box-Peter's mind was whirring.
He wondered if he was somehow going to be able to stop Loeb from getting it.
-He's hunting down the parts of the device. He'll probably use it to zap the guy out. Now it's your turn. Where do you think it's gonna happen?
-Well there's this I overheard a phone call once, he is going to a field, in Westford.
-A field. What field?
-We don't know... We... Look man... Tell us how to feel better.
-He won't tell us a thing. He's just getting the info from us and he'll leave us to rot!
-Hey, hey, hey... I am in the same mess as you are-Peter calmed them down. –Loeb blackmailed me to come here. Have you eaten after regaining the visibility?
-No, man.
-What do you mean, no?-Peter felt sorry for them. They didn't even know what they were getting into. -I told him to tell you to... The side effects of the serum are... Intense headache and stomachache, desire to vomit… Excessive hunger. You'd better have some painkillers and snacks ready for the next time. And be careful… Whatever you're doing while you're using the serum… Stop the operation after 20 minutes or so just in case… To avoid materializing in the middle of action.
-And you will be able to apply those advices as well, Bishop-Loeb sniggered, reentering the room. -All right everyone, listen up, we're headed out tomorrow morning. We are looking for the second and the last piece of the puzzle.
-Where are we headed?-men muttered unenthusiastically.
-Pennsylvania. That's where the last safety deposit box is.
-Excuse me for a sec-Peter flashed his most innocent smile-but I was under the impression just now that you told me that I was going to be able to apply the same advices as well. Or perhaps I misheard you, Loeb?
-No, you heard me correctly. You are coming with us. Raul Lugo is gone and you are more than enough to replace him. You're good with the locks, and the serum works its magic on you for an entire hour.
-No. That is absolutely out of the question. I gave you the serum and I told you I didn't care what you were going to do with it. Next thing I know you blackmail me to come and open up this box. Now this! I am not participating in a robbery!
-It's the last one Bishop. I don't have time to search for a new guy right now. You will have to suffice. Tomorrow, at four a.m., we're flying to Pennsylvania. You will come silently, and you will inject yourself. Or else.
Then Peter's phone suddenly rang, interrupting the uncomfortable silence.
-Peter Bishop-he swallowed after having seen Olivia's name on the display.
-Hi, Peter. Where are you?
-Um... At home, resting, why?-he prayed his voice sounded normal.
Loeb was staring at him like a vulture ready to pounce on its helpless prey.
-I've spent an entire day with your father-she chuckled a little and he smiled.
-And how was Waltersitting? Tell me he didn't give you yet another one of those-I-am–disappointed-my-son-hasn't-made-more-of -his-life-speeches?
The lack of Olivia's reply told him everything and Peter slapped himself across the forehead.
-He did, didn't he? Oh well. I'll have time to tell him my opinion on the subject when he gets home. How's the case coming?-he inquired, staring defiantly at Loeb.
-Walter cut the robber's hand off at the crime scene and we brought it to the lab together.
-So you are about to inspect the hand?
-Yes, Walter and Astrid will...
-Hang on a sec, Olivia... I just... I gotta go to the bathroom. Call you in five.-he lied lamely and then he hung up.
-They are going to analyze the tissue on the cellular level.
-You have to stop them from discovering the serum traces, Bishop.
-As soon as he saw the guy in the wall, Walter probably recalled the serum he and William Bell had been concocting. I mean there is no possible way for a person to walk through a solid walk and become invisible without the serum. Unless...-Peter stopped in mid-sentence.
-Unless what?-Loeb inquired cautiously.
-Unless you don't focus on a person and you focus on the obstacle instead-Peter finished quietly.
-What do you mean?
-Theoretically... Solid objects and walls can be weakened with... High frequency vibrations. If you possessed a device which would emit such vibrations, you would be able to disrupt the atomic structure of the solid matter and thus allow another piece of solid matter, in this case, human body, through it.
-I know. That was precisely the device I was trying to make with the help of Joanne Trotter and the knowledge of the victims she used to abduct for me.
Peter gave him a positively disgusted look before continuing.
-If a human being passes through thus weakened structure... There are consequences.
-What kind of consequences?
-Well let's just say the person would become radioactive. And that...-Peter swallowed. –That is the answer I need to... To trick my father. And to hinder his experiment. I can tamper with the evidence.
-How?-Loeb's pupils widened.
-I can examine the hand, disregard the traces of the serum and... Artificially induce radioactivity on human tissue. It's just the question of preparing the radioactive isotopes and then disintegrating them next to the hand. Electrons and positrons will be emitted and the radioactivity will latch itself to the hand, so to speak. Walter will then have to believe that the robber is radioactive and I will tell him there were no traces of serum in Raul Lugo's blood. That will make him abandon his first theory and he will go with the second one.
-Excellent, Bishop. Call Agent Dunham now like you said you would and tell her that you will be happy to help in hand examination even though you aren't feeling well. Tell them not to touch anything until you arrive. And Bishop: see you tomorrow at the airport. Three a.m. Don't forget to come or... Something will happen to the people you care about most.