"For nothing is hid that shall not be disclosed, nor anything secret that shall not be known and come to light." (Luke 16:17)

Transcript: Prisoner 287945, Interview #1 (with Polygraph Exam)

Interviewer (I): Lieutenant Daniel Aerger

Forensic Psychophysiologist (FP): Dr. Frank Horvath

Prisoner (P): Commander Nicholas Blaine, New Gilead District

June 2, 21:50

[48 minute pre-test not transcribed. Prisoner's responses prove him legally competent.]

I: So, that was the pre-test. We're going to start now with the questions that matter. First, state your complete name.

P: Nick Blaine. Nicholas, legally, but I never go by that.

I: Do you know why you're here today?

P: No.

I: Do you think the Government of Gilead arrests and interrogates innocent citizens?

P: I assume you think I've committed a crime.

I: Answer my last question.

P: [Pause] Sometimes Gilead arrests innocent citizens, yes. Why interrogate anyone, if you're completely sure what they've done wrong?

I: So what crime have you committed?

P: I don't know.

FP: That's deceptive.

I: You don't know which crime I'm referring to, or you don't know whether you've committed a crime?

P: I don't know what you're talking about. I'm a commander, seated on the Council of New Gilead—

FP: Still deceptive.

I: You know what you've done wrong. [Silence.] Commander Putnam has given us a lot of information about you. Who is Commander Putnam?

P: Warren Putnam is the High Commander of the New Gilead District. I've known him for about six years.

I: So what crimes of yours does he know about?

P: He believes I helped Commander Fred Waterford's handmaid escape from the house.

I: What's the handmaid's name?

P: Offred, of course. For Fred Waterford.

FP: Deceptive.

I: Do you know her real name, from before?

P: Yes.

I: What was that?

P: June Osborne.

I: Do you know Miss Osborne well?

P: She was the handmaid.

I: Yes, you said that. Now answer my question.

P: Of course I knew her. We both lived in the Waterford house for two years.

I: Who told you her name?

P: She did.

I: Why? It's illegal to use a handmaid's former name.

P: [Pause] I don't know why she told me.

FP: Deceptive.

P: I guess she wanted to be known.

I: And you knew her. In the Biblical sense?

P: Is that what Putnam said?

I: You knew her in the Biblical sense? You lay with her?

P: That would be a felony.

FP: Deceptive.

I: Answer the question.

P: Putnam doesn't know…

I: Did you fuck the handmaid, Blaine!

P: No.

I: [Pause. To FP:] That's not deceptive?

FP: No, sir.

I: You've never had sex with June Osborne?

P: Yes.

I: Yes, you never have, or yes, you did?

P: Right.

I: What does that mean? [Pause.] Who is the biological father of Nichole Waterford?

P: Her parents are Fred and Serena Waterford.

I: Her biological parents?

P: No, they used a handmaid as a surrogate.

I: Are you her biological father?

P: That would be illegal.

I: Commander Putnam claims that you're the biological father of that child.

P: How would he know? He never witnessed a Ceremony at the Waterford house.

FP: Deceptive.

I: Answer the question. Are you the father?

P: I already answered this. The Waterfords went through three Ceremonies a month with the handmaid, every month, for a year and a half, just as the law requires. If he's not the father of that child, well, there must be something wrong with him.

I: Women are responsible for fertility, Blaine. It's never a man's fault.

P: Well, there's clearly nothing wrong with that handmaid's fertility—she's delivered two healthy children. So Fred Waterford must be the father. You've just proven it.

I: Do you have any children?

P: [Pause] No legitimate children, no.

I: But you have a little bastard or two running around somewhere?

P: Any man who's had sex might have fathered a child. You never can be sure, can you?

I: Now answer my question.

P: I don't know if I have children. Maybe.

FP: Deceptive.

I: Is Nichole Waterford yours?

P: No.

FP: Still deceptive.

I: I'll take that as a yes, then. Did you help June Osborne get an airplane, in order to kidnap children and fly them to Canada?

P: No, I knew nothing about that.

I: [To FP] Deceptive?

FP: No, sir. Not at all.

I: Did you help Osborne escape from the Birthmobile near the Magdalene Colony?

P: No, and I didn't know where she ended up, and I didn't sneak her into Canada. I was at the front in Chicago for weeks previous to those events. I was nowhere near her.

I: All right. She ran away from the Waterford house a year before that, while pregnant. She was missing for over two months. You were in the household at that time, correct?

P: Yes.

I: Do you know how she got out?

P: She was in the hospital for a routine baby check, and snuck out of the hospital.

I: Did you help her escape?

P: No.

I: Do you know who drove that vehicle out of the hospital?

P: Maybe she just walked out.

FP: Deceptive.

I: Do you know where she was?

P: No.

FP: Completely deceptive.

I: Who told you where she was?

P: June told me. Later.

FP: Wrong.

I: Who helped her? Where was she kept for two months?

[20 seconds, silence]

I: You have nothing to say about that?

P: I wasn't in the hospital that day, but somebody probably helped her get out. I guess. I don't know anybody's name. Nobody knows the next link in the chain.

I: Are you part of Mayday?

P: Anybody in Gilead can be part of Mayday. It's just individuals who do small things to help people they care about. It's not a big paramilitary organization or something. There's no organization at all, really.

I: Have you helped anyone besides June Osborne?

P: No.

I: Where was she for those two lost months?

[Silence]

I: Who killed Fred Waterford?

P: I don't know.

I: Your fingerprints were on his handcuffs.

P: I took custody of Waterford once he was brought across the Canadian border, and I put those handcuffs on him. I also held the cuffs when I placed Commander Waterford in the van.

I: Did you kill Fred Waterford?

P: No.

I: Did June Osborne kill him?

P: I don't know who killed him. I wasn't there.

I: Osborne's fingerprints were also on the handcuffs. Did you give Waterford to her?

P: The Eyes of God have control over border policy. I was supposed to be there.

I: Was Osborne there too?

P: At the border? No, of course not. No civilians. It was just us Eyes, Commander L…another commander, and the Canadian agents.

FP: Deceptive.

P: Oh, and I think an American government official was there, too.

I: How did Waterford end up dead in a forest, then?

P: I took the commander to the local Eyes headquarters, near the border. I'm not sure where exactly; I wasn't the one driving. I dropped him off there and returned home to Boston. I have no idea what happened after that.

FP: That whole paragraph was one long lie, I think.

I: Nice story. Now tell me what really happened.

P: That's what happened.

I: What's the name of your Mayday contact? You asked someone to get Osborne out of that hospital and into a safe house. Who did you ask?

P: I don't remember their name. And they're dead now, anyway.

I: Where did you meet this person?

P: I don't remember.

I: Then how do you know if he's dead?

P: I think they are.

FP: Deceptive.

I: They? How many?

P: I don't know.

I: Where were you yesterday? Your driver says you were gone overnight.

P: I went to the border, to inspect our troops stationed there.

FP: Deceptive.

I: Did you meet Mayday contacts there?

P: No. I don't know anyone like that.

I: Did you break any laws this week?

P: No.

FP: Deceptive.

P: Yes, I broke speeding laws. I drove over the limit. A lot.

I: Did you meet any Canadians this weekend? Or anyone who lives in Canada?

P: I met with the border patrol.

I: Did you also meet June Osborne this week, in order to plot against Gilead?

P: No.

FP: Deceptive.

I: You saw her?

P: She's not plotting against Gilead.

I: How would you know that, if you haven't seen her?

P: [Pause] You think she's this big fierce warrior trying to overthrow your government. That's a fucking joke. She's a tiny little woman. Why are you all so scared of her?

I: It's our government, Blaine, not mine. We are all subjects of Gilead. Did you see Nichole Waterford this weekend?

P: [Pause] You think any mother in her right mind would bring that baby that close to the border?

I: Well, nobody said Osborne is in her right mind. She's a terrorist and child trafficker. Now answer the question.

P: I'm done. I'm not answering any more questions about June Osborne or her daughter.

I: Oh, yes you will. You can talk here, in this nice room with a glass of water in front of you, or someplace else. Trust me, this way's much nicer. Maybe you need a little time in the box. Some time alone, to consider your options. It's a very small thank tank—have you ever been in those before? You clearly need some time to count your blessings and reflect.

[Silence. End of interview #1]

June 3

A squadron of Guardians brought the prisoner, now dressed in the standard beige robe which always reminded Lieutenant Stans of an old-fashioned hospital gown: uncomfortable, awkwardly shaped, immodestly short. He smiled pleasantly as the disheveled man placed in front of him, and gestured at the wooden chair facing his.

"Blessed morning, Commander Blaine. Please have a seat."

The prisoner sat slowly, muscles straining at the effort after hours spent cramped in a small box. His joints cracked as he half-fell into the chair. He eyed the pitcher of ice water on the table, then read the quote from the Book of Luke written in large red letters on the wall.

The Lieutenant leafed through the thick manila folder in front of him for a few minutes before speaking. "Do you know how lucky you are, Commander?" He looked up, probed Blaine's flat eyes. The prisoner stared back, expressionless, mute. "I read through your file. What a sad life you had in the time before. Alcoholic father and brother, drug-addicted whore of a mother, child abuse claims. Three assault charges against you before you were even eighteen, barely even a high school diploma, chronically unemployed or underemployed. Only God's grace saved you from all that and allowed you to flourish in Gilead. The best decision of your youth was joining the Sons of Jacob. We gave you structure, purpose, class, a calling. How lucky you are."

"Praise be," Blaine muttered.

"Indeed. Praise be to God. Amazing grace, to save a wretch like you. Our state has dealt with you so graciously. You owe us so much. We gave you a fulfilling career, even putting you on the Council. A beautiful home with an entire household to serve you. Not one but two youthful, fertile, God-fearing wives. And what do you do with all of those gifts? Get on your knees every night and thank God for delivering you into Gilead? No. You plan rebellion against our godly nation and fornicate with another man's handmaid." He pursed his lips disapprovingly. "You risked everything…for such a harlot as that handmaid. Did you know she was married, in the time before?"

Stans paused, looking at Blaine, waiting for an acknowledgement and answer. He waited 37 seconds. Finally: "Yes, I know that."

"She was married to an adulterer. She was pregnant with their child while he was still married to his legal, godly wife. Osborne was a home annihilator. Then she became a handmaid, choosing to spend her days having sex with several different commanders, one after the other, year after year, while conceiving a child with you on the side. Two bastard children, two fathers. Now she's back with her cuckolded husband in Canada while still, assumedly, fucking you whenever she can. And you, you're not much better. Your flagrant adultery—right under your wife's nose, in the Waterford home—drove your first poor wife into the arms of another, leading to her tragic death. That girl's death is on you. Your fault. And yet, we showed you mercy and provided you with a second wife, whom you've now managed to impregnate while continuing the same adulterous sins as before, cheating on both wife and mistress."

Nick Blaine actually chuckled at the last word.

"Did I say something funny, Commander?"

He shrugged lightly. Said nothing.

"I don't find it funny at all. I find your life tragic. A good-looking, intelligent, virile man like you, so charismatic in his commander's suit, brought so low. Look at you now. What a disappointment. An embarrassment of riches, all squandered." Again, he waited for some response, this time without success. "So quiet. But you were so talkative yesterday with my colleague; I read the long, meandering transcript." His tone turned supportive, wheedling. "Unlike Lieutenant Aerger, I only have four questions for you. Four simple questions. If you answer them, we'll get you a nice warm shower, a tailored suit, and a chauffeured ride back to your comfortable home in Boston. Your Martha will be cooking you a hearty dinner tonight, and you'll have your Council seat back tomorrow. However, if you choose willful disobedience and refuse to answer me, your day will not go well. We will use more vigorous means of extracting information. You will talk or you will die. It's that simple." He lifted an eyebrow. "Do you understand?"

"Sure. What are the four questions?"

Stans smiled encouragingly. "Simple questions. Where is June Osborne now? Where is Nichole Waterford? What are the names of your Mayday contacts? And who killed Fred Waterford?"

Nick Blaine sat back in his chair, squared his shoulders. "Okay, here it goes. Write this down. Canada, Canada, I only know two names, and I don't know."

"Well, that's a start. Let's try to be a tad more specific. Where in Canada is she?"

"I assume she's with Luke—her husband—in Toronto. With Nichole. Have you tried ringing Luke's doorbell and asking him?"

The lieutenant smiled indulgently. "He's not there. The house is occupied by someone else."

"Oh. Well, I guess they moved. Probably to avoid you people."

"You saw her two days ago. Where? What's the address?"

"I didn't—"

"Don't waste my time, Blaine. Satellite images tracked your car to the border, then twenty miles into Canada."

"No. I was in the No Man's Land between the two countries, not in Canada proper. I was meeting with Eyes and local tribespeople about border security."

"The Eyes have no record of any meeting."

"It was off the books. I passed two dozen checkpoints on I-93, you can check…."

"We did. You were on the I-93. Then you got off the highway and crossed into Canada."

"Well, maybe I got lost." He shrugged again.

"You were there for…what did they used to call it? A booty call."

"No. Why would I drive that far just to have what I could get at home from my wife?"

The interrogator didn't respond to Blaine's question. "Where were you? We traced your car to within a ten-mile radius; we just need the exact address of her house. I promise you, no harm will come to June. She's a national resource, a fruitful woman who's given two healthy children to our state and can certainly contribute more. Perhaps we could even place her in your household as your handmaid. As a reward for your help in bringing her home. She could be yours, completely legally. Wouldn't you like that?"

Blaine stared hard at him. "No."

"Just tell me the address."

"I wasn't with her!"

Stans sighed. "All right, we'll get back to that. Who killed Fred Waterford?"

"I told you, I don't know. I dropped him off at the Guardians' station, and went home. I know he ended up in No Man's Land, but I don't know how or with who."

"Nobody touched his handcuffs other than you and Osborne. Nobody else's DNA was on the body."

"Well, maybe he was brought to No Man's Land and then someone grabbed him, and June happened to be there. I don't know. I haven't seen June in many months, long before this, so I haven't asked her."

"Are you glad Waterford's dead?"

"That's a fifth question."

"All right, fair enough. You said you have two names of Mayday contacts."

"Yeah. I used to trade alcohol and pills for the Waterford household with a woman named Beth; she was a cook at Jezebel's in downtown Boston. I believe she was active in the resistance. So was the bartender there, Robbie. Bobby? Billy? Something like that."

"Beth Freitag?"

"I never learned her last name. Thirties, brown hair and eyes, used to be a professional chef."

"She's dead. I threw her off of the roof of this building myself." He watched Blaine carefully for a reaction. A muscle in his cheek twitched, otherwise nothing. He has a good poker face, Stans mused. "Billy the bartender disappeared a while ago."

"Oh. Sorry. I haven't had any contact with anyone associated with Mayday in months, so my information is pretty out of date."

"What about the man who helped Offred out of the hospital while she was pregnant? You said yesterday that he was dead. What was his name?"

"Joe. Or Jeff. Maybe Jim."

"Why would you trust a total stranger to help your lover like that?"

"I was told by Beth that he did this sort of thing. But at Jezebel's later, I was told he was betrayed and killed."

"Do you know anyone else in Mayday? Or anyone who is currently breaking our laws?"

Blaine looked pensive for a moment. "There is one man that I'm sure about. Warren Putnam."

"The High Commander?" Stans asked incredulously. After half-baked answers and outright lies, Blaine volunteered this?

"Yes, Commander Putnam. He's skimming from several government accounts, paying someone in the UK to launder the money, exchange it into British pounds, and deposit it into a Swiss bank account for his wife to access. He ordered me to drive Mrs. Putnam and their daughter Angela to Canada, which I did. Officially, they were kidnapped by terrorists. But they're alive and well in Toronto. Living off of Gilead's coffers."

"Well, we will certainly check that out. Thank you for the tip. Now, back to June Osborne. Let me show you a map of where your car was seen, and you can point to the location where you met with her." He took a paper roadmap out of the file on his desk.

"Lieutenant, please listen to me. I'm trying to be honest and helpful here. But I do not know where she is. I haven't seen her, or her daughter, and don't know where to look other than Toronto."

Stans ignored that and unfolded the map. "All right, here's the last location the satellite picked your car up. So it's somewhere around here. Just point us in the right direction. We'll find her. We'll treat her gently, don't worry."

The prisoner didn't even glance at the map. "I'm not worried. But I have no idea where to look for her. If I were June, I'd be as far away from the border as I could get. Start with the Yukon."

"The Yukon, that's very funny."

"No, I'm serious. She probably wants to be very far away from Gilead."

The Lieutenant's face hardened. He was tired of playing games. "Bullshit, Blaine. Bull. Shit. She's right on the border, near you, near her husband. And you are not leaving this prison until you tell us where she is. I don't think you understand the gravity of your situation." He pressed a button under his desk. A pair of Guardians entered the room.

"Take the prisoner to room 27." To Blaine, he added: "You need an attitude adjustment."