Soon a very tall, muscular, good looking man with matching dark brown hair and eyes is brought into the room surrounded by several armed Candor and Dauntless guards. He, too, is made to sit in the interrogation chair in the center of the room. I see he isn't a carbon copy of his twin brother but I definitely notice a resemblance. I think back to when I looked at his Dauntless file, and I note he's aged quite gracefully. He doesn't seem to have any wrinkles on his face and only a little gray at his temples. He looks like the distinguished member of society he portrays. I wonder what we'll learn from his interrogation. I notice he can't keep his eyes off of Miles.
Tobias' phone sounds, and he looks at it expecting an update on Dru's whereabouts. Instead confusion crosses his face. He hands it to me so I can read the message.
Four
I tested my DNA against the unknown sample. I needed to know if my brother was personally killing people or not. I just got the results, and what I found surprised me. I am a familial match to the unknown DNA sample, although it isn't close enough of a match for it to be Asher's DNA. It has to be from a son. I didn't even know he had a son. I hope you find this information useful.
Dr. Zander Parrish
Asher must have a son who he drew into this mess. I hand Tobias his phone, and he gets up and immediately shows the text to Miles, Jack, and Niles. They all shake their heads in disgust.
"I think we need to get DNA samples from each of the suspects," Tobias says to Jack and Niles. "Do you have someone who could do that?"
"We do but since we have to send our results out to Erudite, we wouldn't have them back until next week at the earliest, and who knows if their lab is trustworthy."
"Do you have DNA kits?" I ask, approaching them. "I could perform the tests on Ben and Asher. I had one performed on me so I know how they work. Four can call Dr. Parrish and have him collect the kits and take them back to Dauntless for analysis. We would have the results by the end of business today."
"Okay. That sounds good. Adam," Jack says. A blonde-haired boy comes running to his side. "Please collect two DNA kits and bring them to me." He doesn't say anything to Jack, he just quickly leaves us behind. Tobias pulls his phone out again and calls Dr. Parrish. He tells him we are going to collect DNA samples from the prisoners, and we need him to run them. He agrees and leaves Dauntless immediately.
"He's going to hop a train," Tobias says. "When he gets here we'll give him the DNA kits and our car. We need them as soon as possible."
"How will we get home?" I ask.
"If he hasn't returned by the time we're ready to leave, we'll jump the train. Are you okay with that?"
"I'm okay with that, but he isn't going to be," I say. "You know I'm not supposed to run on my ankle for another month, Four."
"I know and I wouldn't consider it again but this is extremely important," he says.
"I know," I say.
"Shall we get this interrogation underway?" Niles asks as Adam makes his way back to Jack with the two DNA kits he requested.
"As soon as Tris administers the tests, you may begin," Jack says. I follow Adam to the third floor to Erudite's holding room where Ben is sitting on the low bench at the back of the room. He looks like he's still under the effects of the truth serum. I hand both kits back to Adam and open the top one. I take the swab out of its package and walk toward Ben.
"I'm going to administer a DNA test," I say to him. I hold up the swab. "I'm going to run this swab around your cheeks. Please open your mouth." He sits looking defiant and doesn't move. Damn, he reminds me of Eric. Purple-Hair and Snake-Tattoo just happen to be guarding him, and I glance over at them.
"The lady said to open your mouth," Purple-Hair says in a very intimidating voice. Then a creepy smile crosses his lips. "Or would you like me to open it for you?" Ben slowly opens his mouth, and I run the swab quickly along both cheeks. I put it in the long glass tube, write his name on the sticker, seal the tube, and put it back in the box. I take another sticker and seal the box. Once the box is sealed, I write Ben Riley's information on it.
"Thank you for your cooperation," I say to Ben. Then I add quietly to Purple-Hair, "Thanks."
"You're welcome, Tris," he says in a much more conversational tone. I follow Adam back to the top floor of the Merciless Mart and go to the center of the room to get Asher Parrish's DNA. He's much more cooperative. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Tobias reach into his pocket and once again takes out his phone. He starts nodding to himself as he reads the message.
"Miles, Jack, Niles," Tobias says. They walk over to him.
"Dru has just been taken into custody," he says. "She was at the tracks talking to someone who fit Cameron's description. Unfortunately, he got away. My guards are bringing her, her husband, and younger son here."
"Very good," Jack says. "Too bad your soldiers couldn't have picked up Cameron also, then we could have totally wrapped this up today." When I finish with Asher's DNA test, I put both boxes on Tobias' empty chair. He has elected to stand during this interrogation. I think he's getting anxious.
"Asher Parrish," Niles says with a smile, "my name is Niles Murphy. I'm going to be conducting your interrogation today. We are using a stronger form of the truth serum since one of your members actually withheld information until he passed out yesterday. I'm sure being the leader of Erudite you understand why we never want that to happen again." He opens up the black box and takes out an alcohol swab. He hands it to Niles who immediately tears into it and wipes off the left side of his neck. It seems he's been through this before. Niles takes the truth serum out of its box and administers the drug into Asher's system. Just like everyone else, he slumps in his chair, and his eyes glaze over. Niles starts the interrogation with the same basic questions.
"What is your full name?" Niles asks.
"Asher Zekiel Parrish," he says looking slightly confused.
"What are the names of your parents?"
"Amelia and Zachariah Parrish."
"What faction were you born into, and which faction did you choose?" he asks.
"Dauntless born, Erudite chosen," Asher says.
"What are the full names of your children?" Niles asks since we now have DNA proof his son is helping him.
"Cameron Nathaniel Wright and Alec Zander Parrish," Asher says proudly. Wait, what?
"He just lied. How did he do that?" I say louder than I think. Disapproving eyes turn my way.
"What do you mean he's lying?" Miles asks. "It's impossible to lie under truth serum."
"All I know is I have DNA confirmation that I am related to Cameron," I say. "The only way that's possible is if Cameron is Nathan's son, not Asher's." Asher looks even more confused.
"Why do you think Cameron is your son?" Niles asks Asher.
"Because it's the truth," he says. "I don't know what this little girl is talking about. Cameron has been and always will be my son." There's one thing I know for sure, he believes what he's saying right now. I wonder if Dru told him that and if she did, why she would do something so hurtful.
"How do you know he's your son? What's your proof?" Niles asks him, thinking the exact same thing I am. Confusion fills Asher's face.
"His mother told me, and that's all the proof I need." He's not lying, Dru is.
"Did you have your son, Alec, assault a member of Dauntless?" Anyone in this room who can see his face knows this question catches him off guard. He had no idea we linked Alec to the assaults.
"Yes," he says. We now know all the players … I think.
"Asher," Niles says turning his attention back to the prisoner, "is your allegiance with your chosen faction?"
"Yes," he says. "Of course."
"I need you to tell me what you know about the lists of suspected Divergents at Erudite, Candor, Amity, and Dauntless," Niles says. Asher looks shocked.
"How did you find out?" he spits out. "Each faction has two lists. The first is made up of Divergents and the second consists of classmates of the Divergents who are informing on them to us." Niles is quiet for a while.
"How do you know the people are Divergent?" Niles finally asks.
"We don't," he says. "We only suspect them of being Divergent."
"And you think it's okay to kill someone you think might be Divergent?" Jack asks interrupting what Niles was going to ask.
"Yes," he says. "It's better to be safe than sorry, don't you think?" Wow. What a way to think. This guy's crazy.
"How do you determine who goes on the lists?" Niles asks.
"First, we look at every 16-year-olds aptitude test results. They tell a lot about a person."
"How is it you get this information?" Niles asks, interrupting Asher.
"It's given to us freely by the factions since we provide the serum for the aptitude test," he says. "We're also given all information from each faction if it's serum or simulation related. For example, all fear landscape data from every member of Dauntless is automatically forwarded to us." I meet Tobias' eyes. Neither one of us knew that.
"Why would our factions be sending you this information?" Niles asks.
"Because the more information Erudite can gather, the better our research is. And the better our research the easier it is to improve the living conditions in our city. It's very simple." He is one arrogant son of a bitch.
"Please continue telling us how you establish these lists," Niles says.
"First we look at a person's aptitude test results. Then we look at their initiation data. This is when a person's divergence is clearest to us. If it's determined that a certain person is Divergent, their name is added to the list. When we add a name to the Divergent list we must then find a classmate to inform on them. Offering a few points to people to have them say where someone is or what they are doing for research purposes is beneficial. We also have Erudite plants in each faction who are very helpful and still loyal to Erudite."
"First of all, I need to ask this," Niles says visibly shaking. "The classmates think they are helping Erudite with research? They don't know they are contributing to peoples deaths. Did I understand you right?"
"That's right," Asher says smugly.
"Second, I need the names of the spies in each faction," Niles says. This is the first time that Asher looks like he doesn't want to answer a question and he flinches.
"The Amity spies are Erica Lawrence and Stuart Fillmore. Erudite's are Steve Anderson and Jenny Klein. The Candor spies are Alex Darby and Ben Shaw. Dauntless spies are Dante Reyes and Samuel Donovan," he reluctantly says. Dante and Samuel? That can't be right. They are two of Tobias' closest friends, two of my friends. The pain that hits me is crippling. I manage to look up into Tobias eyes, and I see shock, fear, anger, and disbelief mingling together. He looks very lost right now. I reach out my hand, and he takes it firmly in his. We just sit here while all the other council members are making frantic calls to their factions to have these spies arrested.
"Are you two okay," Caleb whispers.
"They're friends," I say. "Dante and Samuel are our friends."
"I'm sorry," he says. "You better tell someone so they can be arrested." He's right. I look at Tobias again, and he takes his phone out of his pocket and texts Will two names, Dante Reyes and Samuel Donovan. Immediately, Will texts back a question mark. Tobias has to tell Will to arrest them and have them brought to Candor for interrogation.
"Why do you feel the need to eliminate Divergents?" Niles asks Asher. I can tell this question makes him angry.
"Divergents are highly dangerous to other people, and they don't deserve to live," he says.
"What made you come to this conclusion?" Niles asks.
"Dawson Andresen was Divergent, and he made it his mission in life to make everyone around him miserable," he says. I notice Miles sit down on an empty bench at the mention of Dawson's name.
"Who is Dawson Andresen?" Jack asks.
"I just told you," Asher answers spitefully.
"You will answer my questions when I ask them," he shouts. "Do you understand me?"
"Yes," says Asher, narrowing his eyes at Jack.
"Who is Dawson Andresen?"
"He's a boy I grew up with in Dauntless. He was Divergent, and he terrorized our faction. If you saw him coming, you wanted to turn around and go the other way. People who tried to stand up for themselves were often put in the infirmary for days by his hands. He developed a crush on my girlfriend and made our lives a living hell." He stops for a moment, takes a couple deep breaths, and wipes forming tears out of his eyes. "He raped her and tossed her into the chasm. She survived but she was never the same. He's the reason why I know all Divergents are dangerous and need to be eliminated." The silence in the room is palpable. Without saying her name, he just confirmed Dru was the rape victim I read about in Dawson's file. I don't blame Asher for his anger, not in the least, but he's taking it out on innocent people. I look at Tobias for a long moment before I get up and walk over to Niles.
"Ask him if he killed Dawson," I say. His eyes widen at my request like he's asking me if I'm sure. "I'm sure."
"Asher? Did you kill Dawson Andresen?" he asks. Asher's head snaps up, and the tears in his eyes start to flow down his cheek.
"Yes, I did," he says, emotion thick in his voice making it hard for him to answer. He obviously is thinking of Dru and not the monster he killed. "He's the first Divergent we killed."
"Who is we?" Niles asks. Asher starts squirming in his seat.
"Dru and Miles," he squeaks out before he can't control himself and he's useless to us. He cries silently for a few minutes. When he finally gains control of himself he continues. "We dropped him in the chasm just like he dropped her. If I could have found someone to do every single vile thing he did to her, his body would have been found not only battered and bloodied at the bottom of the chasm but violated as well. She didn't deserve that. All she ever did was tell him no, and it changed her life forever." Niles and Jack slowly turn toward Miles who is still sitting on the bench, hanging his head.
"Are you talking about Dru Wright and Miles Randolf?" Niles asks.
"Yes," Asher says. Jack walks over to Miles and stands before him.
"I'm not a part of this," he says. "I swear, Jack."
"We'll figure that out later when you go under truth serum," Jack says, clearly upset. "Take him to the holding room. Murder is a very serious crime, my friend. If you confirm your part in his death, we won't have any alternative than to execute you for your crime." Miles doesn't resist and doesn't say anything as he's lead out of the room.
"But now you are changing innocent people's lives forever," I say to Asher, ignoring Niles and Jack who are stunned over the turn of events. "How do you live with yourself?"
"You act so innocent but I know your secret," he says. "I had Eric add your name to the list myself, Divergent." Gasps circle the room. I shake my head at him and maintain my composure, not letting anyone know how much what he's saying bothers me.
"I'm not Divergent," I say innocently.
"I know better," he argues. "You and your boyfriend both are Divergent." Hearing that, Jack and Niles interrupt our exchange.
"Do you have any other questions for the prisoner?" I look at Tobias and he shakes his head. I think we've learned everything now. What the lists mean, who's behind them, and why they were started in the first place. Two damaged people wanting revenge. It's sad.
"No, we don't," I say. "And Jack, I'm sorry for overstepping my bounds and asking him a couple questions. I apologize." He just looks at me then nods his head at Niles.
"One last question, Asher," Niles says. "What is your greatest regret?"
"I regret I decided to go out with my friends the night that animal raped Dru, and I wasn't there to protect her," he says. "Not only was her life changed forever that night but my life was never the same after that day either. I've always regretted that decision, and I will regret it for the rest of my life."
"Thank you for your honesty," all the Candor in the room say in unison.
"Why didn't you tell me you two are on Dauntless' list?" Jack says, extremely upset.
"We didn't think it was relevant plus until Jason mentioned Divergents, we didn't know what the lists represented in these people minds," Tobias says. "I tried to figure out what all the people on our list had in common but it's obvious now ... nothing."
"I don't think this has anything at all to do with Divergents, Jack. Asher and Dru have a very real grudge but they're taking it out on random people trying to make themselves feel better, and they recruited her son and his gullible friends to help them. They grabbed hold to the fact that Dawson said he was Divergent, which other's dispute by the way, and decided to make it their mission in life to destroy people who remind them in some small way of that monster. Yes, my name is on Dauntless' list, but I'm not Divergent," I say to Jack Kang. He looks skeptical so I add, "If you don't believe me, I'll go under truth serum. I don't have anything to hide."