InSight

enough to leave his safe haven and find his ex-wife.”
    “I know nothing about that. We’re doing our best to return him to this hospital where he’ll be well taken care of.”
    “Really.” Luke hoped the word sounded sarcastic. “I’m confused. If Receptormine is such a miracle drug, how come Stewart Gentry isn’t taking it?”
    Scanlon jerked to attention. Luke imagined the haughtiness in his voice. “What are you talking about? Stewart’s been on the drug since we developed it.”
    “I have some of Stewart’s pills. I think the FDA would find their composition interesting because, you see, they’re not anti-psychotics at all. They’re hallucinogens. Don’t you find that fascinating, Doctor ?”
    Scanlon’s ghostly white face turned even whiter, and his tiny body affected an almost effeminate pose. He cocked his head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
    “I’m talking about the secret lab where this drug is produced.”
    “Synthetec is the only pharmaceutical lab in this city. If anyone else is producing drugs here, I certainly don’t know about it. Since you’re accusing Synthetec of developing an illegal substance, I suppose these pills of yours have their mark on them?”
    Luke hoped Scanlon wouldn’t bring that up. He said nothing.
    “No? I’m shocked! You come in here attacking my good name with no proof. I think you’re a perfect candidate for Receptormine , Detective. You’re delusional. Hallucinogens, secret laboratories. Where do you get these ideas? I’ve wasted enough of my time. I suggest you think long and hard before you repeat these ridiculous accusations, or my lawyer will slap you with a slander suit that will break you.”
    “Go ahead, because you’d have to prove the allegations false. They’re not, and we both know they’re not.”
    “And you have to prove they are, Detective McCallister. You can’t do that.” He pressed the intercom button and the secretary opened the door. “My secretary will see you out. Good day.”
    An over-the-shoulder glance caught the Casper-like figure reaching out with a shaky hand for the phone before Luke cleared the doorway.
    * * * * *
    C arlotta Gentry picked up the phone and heard Herbert Scanlon’s frantic voice.
    “He was here, Carlotta. That McCallister cop was here.”
    “We knew he was there, Herbert. Why are you all in a tizzy?”
    “I’ll tell you why.”
    Carlotta heard Scanlon’s deep controlled breaths in her earpiece.
    “McCallister knows about the drug, he knows about the lab, he knows everything. He’s going to blow this whole thing wide open. I can’t have that. That’s my tizzy.”
    She always worried about Scanlon. He was the mad scientist with no concept of anything other than his experiments on the human brain and the drugs that alter its function. She had to keep him under control.
    “Stop it, Herbert. He doesn’t know everything. If he did, we wouldn’t be having this conversation. He only suspects, and suspicions don’t mean shit. Nothing’s going to happen. Detective McAllister won’t say a word, and my police department wouldn’t listen anyway. Don’t I always take care of things?”
    “Don’t forget Archer. He’s a rogue cop who won’t be silenced. He’s smart, honest, and doesn’t give a rat’s ass about bucking your authority or anyone else’s.”
    “This is still my city. I admit, Archer is a problem. It hasn’t been easy working around him, but I’ve managed. Bottom line: If I want Archer taken care of, he will be. And it will be a tragic accident in the line of duty.”
    “This is different. If Stewart talks to the wrong people—”
    Carlotta felt the heat rise on her face. “I thought you said he wouldn’t.” She pulled a lace-trimmed handkerchief from her jacket pocket and dabbed her forehead. “You assured me that the only person he trusts is Abigael.”
    “You hear what you want, no matter how many times I explain the facts. There is no sure thing when it comes to the mind. Stewart has been conditioned not to say anything about Martin and that other business, but in spite of all my tactics, he’s refused to give up the information you want. At least not to us. Your ex-daughter-in-law is our last hope, but it doesn’t seem like Stewart has opened up to her either.”
    “Not yet, but he will. Stewart was always my most unpredictable child. Unpredictable and uncontrollable. I had hoped he’d tell Abigael before anyone else got involved, but that