'Arnold Peterson, David and Natasha Summers, Ignasious Schwenk, and myself were co-founders of an innovative, collaborative research project' Maggie stated quietly.
'What?' Mark exclaimed
'It was a project so secret, that even I don't know the full details' she continued dispassionately. 'What I do know is that this project was gonna set the world of Egyptology on fire'.
She paused allowing the information to sink in and looked at him appraisingly. Seated across from him in the laboratory, she liked what she saw. There was strength and intelligence behind those shrewd blue eyes. The snow white hair coupled with the well-cut, navy, double breasted suit lent an air of distinction. His manner was courteous, in an old fashioned gentlemanly sort of way, and yet she had no doubt that behind the amiable, distinguished façade lay a mind sharp as a razor and a will to match.
Maggie hadn't reached her current position without developing a certain degree of perceptiveness, an intuition, particularly where men were concerned. She prided herself on being an accurate judge of character. Doctor Mark Sloan was not a man to be taken lightly, whatever harmless or hapless impression he hoped to create. Right now he had been taken by surprise by the information she had imparted, but in contrast to a lesser man, he wasn't flustered. Rationally, logically he was reviewing what she'd said, that sharp mind assessing each and every possibility. Instinctively she knew his next question would be an insightful one. She was not disappointed.
'Professor Taylor' Mark said slowly 'When my son and his partner burst in here you told them to take what they wanted but not to hurt anyone.'
She nodded 'That's right, I did'.
'And yet' Mark continued 'when they identified themselves as police officers you seemed surprised'.
'Also correct' she agreed.
He stroked his moustache thoughtfully 'Two armed assailants burst into your lab and you don't seem at all shocked, but when they tell you that they're police officers that surprises you'. He looked at her closely 'Professor Taylor, if you didn't think they were police officers, who exactly did you think they were and is it really so usual to be held at gun point in your own laboratory?'
She took a deep breath 'To be brutally honest Doctor Sloan, I thought they were saboteurs here to destroy our research, to steal our notes, to obliterate the project. So many things have gone wrong, missing equipment, mysterious delays and then of course the murders'.
She smiled ironically 'You know Vicky thought the project was cursed? Silly girl had been spending too much time with the archaeologists'. She looked at Mark keenly 'I'm a little more cynical and a lot more experienced. I don't believe in superstitious hocus pocus. Doctor Sloan, whatever has gone wrong with the project; there's a human hand behind it'. She paused 'I've had my suspicions for a while now that a rival research group is out to make sure that this study is never completed'. Her voice was almost fierce, eyes burning with determination 'We're so close, so damn close. Despite everything we could still succeed'.
Mark scratched his head, thinking hard 'Do you really believe people would resort to murder over a research project?'
She laughed, but the sound was harsh, bitter 'Oh come now Doctor Sloan, you're a medical man. Surely you can appreciate the money, power and prestige a ground breaking research project can bring?'
Mark sighed, his thoughts going back to other cases. She was right, of course she was right. Money, power, status, he'd seen it before and no doubt he'd see it again. It never ceased to amaze him what motivated people to kill, the strength of those base emotions – greed, envy, lust, pride.
'Professor Taylor' he said candidly 'I appreciate your point, but you know I still can't help wondering what's so special about this project of yours that you'd expect an armed gunman to attack you in your lab'. He spread his hands and shrugged, smiling benignly.
Maggie smiled back tightly. He was baiting her, she knew it, but what the hell, she'd told him this much, she had nothing to lose by telling him more. She took a deep breath and faced him, speaking slowly and clearly.
'With our chemical technology combined with their archaeological expertise, we were going to be able to unlock some of the biggest mysteries of all time. Can you imagine the amount of money people would pay to discover the secrets of the Pharaohs? With Arnold's knowledge of carbon dating and David's expertise in archaeological fieldwork technology, we believed that a detailed analysis of a mummy could be completed without the sarcophagus being disturbed. If all had gone to plan we would have been able to disclose Tutankhamen's height and weight, his facial features, his age, the cause of his death, may be even what he ate for breakfast – all without disturbing the corpse inside'.
Mark let out a low whistle 'I see' he replied 'And I can understand why you would wanna keep that a secret'. He paused 'But one thing still puzzles me.'
Taking the bait Maggie looked at him curiously.
'Where exactly does the Natron come in?' he asked with a slight smile.
She swallowed in surprise; he was sharper than she'd thought. She'd been right about this Doctor Sloan; he was smart, very smart. Recovering herself she smiled back 'And what makes you think Natron is an issue?'
'Well' Mark said 'Isn't it an embalming fluid used by the Ancient Egyptians in their mummification process?'
'I'm not an archaeologist' Maggie began
'No' Mark interrupted 'you're a chemist and Natron …' he said firmly 'is a chemical compound – sodium carbonate and bicarbonate if I'm not mistaken'.
'You seem very well informed Doctor' Maggie said smoothly.
Mark smiled at her 'Oh well you see I've been doing a little research of my own' he replied genially.
She shrugged her shoulders in acquiescence 'Part of our research has been into the drying effects of Natron, since it contributes to the aging process of the corpse' she said reasonably. 'In fact both Vicky and Eric have spent most of their time doing exploratory work on carbon compounds to replicate Natron'.
As if remembering his existence for the first time, she looked across at the boy. He was huddled on his lab stool, staring blankly into space. Despite the best efforts of herself and Doctor Sloan, Eric Scott was obviously still in shock. In his current state he was of no use to anyone. As soon as she finished up here she'd drive him home.
'Is that right Eric?' Mark said gently, placing a reassuring hand on the young man's arm.
Slowly Eric nodded. Meeting Mark's gaze for the first time he turned pleading eyes to the doctor 'Vicky didn't do it Doctor Sloan, she wouldn't … she couldn't'.
'That's okay son' Mark replied 'I don't think she did it either'.
'Why didn't you tell us this before?' Steve asked angrily, still struggling to come to terms with the new information.
Vicky looked at him desperately 'I wanted to, but we were sworn to secrecy. If anything got out it could jeopardise the project. Professor Taylor and Doctor. Schwenk wanted everything to carry on as normal. Me, Eric and Nate; we were told that it was vital not to mention the project to anyone'.
'Not even the police?' Tanis said in disbelief.
Biting her lip ruefully Vicky nodded.
Steve and Tanis exchanged glances.
'So you broke the law because one of your professors told you to?' Steve said harshly 'Do you realise that right now I could charge you with obstructing the course of justice'.
'I just …' she stammered
'You just what' Steve said shortly. His patience was tried to the limits – who the hell did these academics think they were?
'You don't understand what it's like, the hierarchy, the power they have' she gasped.
'You're right I don't' Steve said in disgust.
'And the phone calls from Schwenk?' Tanis asked, although she could already guess the answer.
'About the project' Vicky said dully 'With David …' she corrected herself quickly 'I mean Professor Summers gone, Doctor Schwenk was heading up the archaeology side. He had quite a few questions about the exploratory studies Eric and I were carrying out'.
'How do you explain your prints on the key chain?' Steve said firmly, not ready to give up quite yet.
Vicky looked at him. Her face was still pale, her eyes red, but her voice was getting a little stronger 'John Anderson, the porter, works across both sites' she explained. 'Since I started at UCLM we've become pretty friendly. He's really good about me working late; sometimes he even lends me his keys. It's against regulations of course, but John isn't one for sticking to the rules'.
'And he lent you his keys last night?' Steve asked ruefully.
She nodded miserably 'But I put them back in his office Lieutenant, I swear'.
'And the affair with Peterson?' Tanis prompted.
Again the girl shook her head 'Professor Peterson was a great man and it was a privilege to work with him, but no I didn't have those kinds of feelings for him'. She paused and choked back a sob 'If anything he was kind of a father figure to me.'
'But it was you in Cairo' Steve said stubbornly 'The description we finally got from the hotel clerk fits you exactly'.
She nodded. 'They were both in Cairo to carry out some field research for the project, although of course that was a secret'.
'So as a cover Peterson presented at a conference and Summers went on a dig' Tanis surmised. Vicky nodded again 'Slick' Tanis said to Steve 'You have to admit it's slick'.
'Too slick' he groaned 'All this secrecy hasn't made our job any easier and it may have cost three men their lives'. He looked at Vicky 'and what were you doing in Cairo Miss Harris, assisting on the project?'
The girl blushed and nodded once more, her eyes fixed firmly on the table. Reading the signs Tanis raised her eyebrows 'Is there something you'd like to tell us Vicky?' she paused before continuing more gently 'Maybe something you haven't been able to tell anyone before?'
Vicky looked at Steve apologetically 'The night Professor Peterson was killed' she said slowly 'I told you I was at the cinema, alone' she paused 'I wasn't, I was with someone'.
'Who?' Steve asked bemused. His theory was all shot to hell and right now he was lost in a sea of confusion. Tanis was quicker.
'David Summers?' she prompted.
Vicky looked back down at the table, suddenly subdued 'Yes' she said quietly.
'You and David Summers!' Steve exclaimed, the penny finally dropping. Vicky remained silent.
'I think you've told enough lies Miss Harris' Steve said impatiently 'You owe us the truth'.
Vicky took a deep breath. Looking at helplessly at Tanis she started 'David and I ….' pausing she reached for a tissue to swipe at tears that had sprung unbidden from her eyes. She tried again 'David and I …..'
'Were having an affair' Tanis finished off for her.
'Yes' Vicky replied 'But I didn't kill him' she turned a face wet with tears to look at Steve 'I loved him and he loved me'. For the first time since the arrest she regained some of her spirit. Raising her chin defiantly she looked both cops in the eye. 'He wanted to carry on seeing me, but his wife had found out and said it had to stop. She said it would ruin his career and hers. He told her that he couldn't end it and she said if he didn't find a way to stop it then she would'.
Author's note: Thanks for your continuing encouragement – it's a complicated plot, but things are starting to unravel (I hope!!)