7: THE SUSPECT

EILEEN WARNER SAT at the table. She wore a gray shirt and sweatpants, and her wrists were shackled to the table with a pair of handcuffs. Her long brown hair covered half of her face, but she made no effort to brush it away. She furrowed her brow and jutted out her jaw, creating an almost Neanderthal appearance. Charles sat to her right, with Finn and Lenny to her left, and Arthur in the corner with his camera. Howard walked in and sat beside Charles, whispering something into his ear. Claire sat at the far end of the table, opening the case files and flipping through the photos.

Hanna could feel Eileen’s glare as she walked to her seat. She sat across from her, straightening her back and clearing her throat. “Hello, Eileen. My name is Hanna.” She stuck out her hand, but Eileen did not shake it. “I already know who you are, so I suppose there’s no point in you introducing yourself. I would like to start off by letting you know why you’re here.”

“I know why I’m here,” Eileen scoffed. Her teeth were stained an ugly brownish-yellow. “I’m here because the government set me up. They all want to see me rot in jail.”

“The government set you up?” Hanna asked.

“That’s right. They set me up so they can make money. They’re going to make a fortune off me.”

“I’m sorry. I don’t think I understand.”

“What’s not to understand? They’re always lying. This is just another one of their schemes. People call them conspiracy theories, but they’re not theories. They’re facts.”

Hanna watched her crazed eyes twitch. “That’s an interesting theory…”

“It’s not a theory,” Eileen interrupted, slamming her fist on the table. “It’s fact.”

“I apologize,” Hanna said in a calm tone. “I don’t mean to question your facts, but why would they set you up?”

Eileen leaned forward and lowered her voice. “I would tell you if these suits weren’t listening. They’re all in on the scheme. You can’t trust any of them. Not a single one. They’re always watching. Always listening. And if you say the wrong thing, they snatch you up and feed you to the wolves. All for their own benefit.”

“Benefit?” Hanna asked, tilting her head. “What kind of benefit?”

Eileen crossed her arms. “Nope. I’m not talking. It’s not going to happen. Not in front of these guys. Not in front of the camera.”

Hanna glared at Howard with her best I told you so face. Howard shrugged and whispered to Charles again.

Charles nodded and stood from his seat. “Arthur, turn off the camera. Let’s give these two some privacy. I hear there’s a fantastic bakery across the street. We’ll grab a dozen doughnuts and come back in a half hour.”

Finn shot up from his chair and scrambled to the door. “All I heard was doughnuts.”

Arthur popped the camera off the tripod and followed the rest of them out of the room, leaving Hanna alone with Eileen. Hanna interlocked her fingers and placed her hands on the table. “No more suits. No more SCB. It’s just me and you.”

Eileen whipped her head around to look behind her. “They’re always listening. What, are you wearing a wire? Did they tap the room? They think they’re so clever, but I know all of their tricks.”

“No. The room isn’t tapped. I have no wire. It’s just me and you. No one else is listening.”

Eileen stared at her, tilting her head up and squinting. “Okay,” she said, nodding. “I’ll take your word. You know, us women have to stick together. And I’m not including that government bitch out there.”

Hanna glanced through the small viewing window in the door, where she could see the back of Claire’s head. “That’s right. I’m not with the SCB. I’m not with the government. I’m just here to talk. Woman to woman.”

“Damn right.” She snorted a wad of snot to the back of her throat and swallowed. “What do you want to talk about?”

“You said the SCB set you up. Why would they do that?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” She threw her head back and shouted at the ceiling, “Hollywood!”

Hanna jumped in her seat, almost falling out of her chair. “I’m sorry?”

“Hollywood, honey. It’s where all of the money is. Movies. Entertainment. Celebrities. Gossip. That’s all people care about.”

“I’m afraid I don’t follow.”

Eileen slammed her hands on the table and leaned forward. “Think about it, man. They want to make a movie about me. Eileen Warner, the Beantown Slasher. I already know they’ve been talking with some hotshot Hollywood producers. They’re trying to sell the rights to my story, but there isn’t even a goddamn story to sell. It’s just something they made up. Hell, they probably have a whole team of writers.”

“That’s quite an interesting theory.”

“Quit saying it’s a goddamn theory.”

Hanna raised an apologetic hand. “Sorry. I’ll stop doing that.”

“It’s fact, I tell you. They’ll make a movie out of anything these days. They’re running out of ideas, so now the big production studios have to sign deals with the government to fabricate stories for them. The suits get a cut of the royalties and they both win. This scheme reaches higher than you know. I think the president might even be involved.”

“So, they framed you to make a big Hollywood movie.”

“You’re goddamn right, and it’ll probably be a hit. People love this kind of trash. Killer on the loose type of deals. And when I’m finally locked behind bars, they’ll find someone else to frame and make a sequel. They don’t care about the people. All they care about is money. That’s why I don’t trust a single one of them. They’re all greedy pigs.”

“If it’s okay with you,” Hanna said, “I would like to move away from the SCB. I’m not interested in them. I want to learn more about you. Where are you from? What was your childhood like?”

“You want to know about my childhood? Why is that any of your business?”

“I just want to get to know you a little better.”

Eileen shrugged. “I guess chatting with you is better than having the suits come back in. So, you want to know about my childhood. I was a shitty kid, I’ll admit. They always tell you how important school is, but I learned pretty fast that it’s just a way for the government to keep you in line. I dropped out, and look at me now. I’m doing just fine. No high school degree. Not a single day of college. I didn’t need any of that to get by.”

“They tell me you’re a prostitute.”

Eileen chuckled. “That’s at least one thing they didn’t lie about.” She snorted again, this time holding one nostril closed. “Yeah, I’m a prostitute, and I’m good at it. I make a good living. I’ll tell you, men are stupid. They’re easy to manipulate. The funny thing is some of them don’t even want sex. Some just want me to take off my shirt and do a little dance. Easiest hundred I’ve ever made. It’s pretty pathetic what guys will pay for, but as long as they’re paying, I’ll keep delivering. Supply and demand. I didn’t need school to learn that.”

“What are your clients usually like? What kind of people are they?”

“Men. I don’t turn down women, but it’s mostly men.”

“What kind of men? Younger? Older?”

“Middle-aged dudes who are bored of their marriage. Most have kids. They always talk about their kids. It’s a little weird, to be honest, but as long as they’re paying, they can talk about whatever the hell they want. Their kids, their day at the office, their mother. There was this one guy that wouldn’t shut up about his new puppy.”

“So, it’s not a very diverse group of people.”

“No, it’s not. Pretty much all just rich white guys looking for a fun night away from their families. Corporate types. Some guys tell their wives they’re going on a business trip and book me for a week.”

“It sounds like you’re popular.”

“I take pride in customer satisfaction. I get lots of repeat customers because I pay attention to them. I give them what they need. They like to stay in touch afterward, so I’ve built up some good relationships. It’s all about having a good network of contacts. A lot of my clients just give me free stuff because they like me so much.”

“So, you have a close relationship with your clients. What about the three murder victims? You knew them, correct?”

“Yeah, I knew them. Tony had it coming. He was a jerk. The other two were push-overs.”

Hanna recalled the three victims from the case files. Anthony Higgs was the first of the three. “Okay, let’s start with Tony. Why do you say he had it coming?”

“Because he was an asshole. He never called me by my name. He would just call me bitch. I didn’t mind, but he was bound to piss someone off eventually.”

“And then Cameron Shultz and Tucker Wright. You say they were push-overs? How so?”

“Cam was a quiet one. Whenever he came over, we would barely speak. We just got right into it. I get it. He was shy. But Tucker was an interesting one. He wasn’t the brightest guy in the world, but he was definitely a talker. He would yap on and on about his wife, complaining about every single thing she did. From what he told me, she sounded like a crazy bitch. That’s why I never got married. I don’t want to deal with that crap. The poor sucker probably pissed her off, and she snapped. Grabbed a knife and went psycho on him.”

“I read his file,” Hanna said. “His wife was at her sister’s house at the time of the murder.”

“That’s what they tell you, but how can you really know for sure?”

“Her sister and mother both vouched for her.”

“Have you spoken to either of them yourself? Have you considered the possibility that those guys out there are lying to you? Or maybe her sister and mother are lying. People lie about pettier things than that. She’s family. They’re obviously going to protect her, even if they know she killed him.”

“I suppose I can’t know for sure.”

Eileen nodded. “That’s what I’m saying. You have to question everything they tell you because, chances are, not of word of it is true.”

“Have any of your clients ever gotten violent?”

“Some are a little rougher than others, but nothing I can’t handle. I mean, look at me.” She gestured to her plump body. “I don’t starve myself. I know how to use my own weight to my advantage.”

“But none of them have tried to hurt you.”

“There were a few, I guess. But like I said, I handled them.”

“How did you handle them?”

“I kicked them out, for Christ’s sake. I told them to get the hell out. And they always listen. I carry a gun, just in case, but I’ve never had to use it.”

“And what about Tony? Did he ever try to hurt you?”

Eileen shifted her eyes. “You’re starting to sound like those pigs out there. What’s your angle?”

“I don’t have an angle. It just seems like you have a pretty dangerous job. I wouldn’t be surprised if you found yourself in a position where you had to defend yourself.”

“Look, Tony was an asshole, but he never tried to hurt me.”

“What about Cameron and Tucker?”

Eileen leaned forward and glared into Hanna’s eyes. “I didn’t kill them. I had no reason to. They were good paying customers. Regulars. The way I see it, whoever killed them owes me a month of rent.”

Hanna held eye contact with her. “The evidence against you is strong.”

“Obviously it’s strong,” Eileen said, leaping from her seat, but getting pulled back down by her shackles. “That’s because they made it up. They’re not half-assing the damn thing. It’s the government. They have the resources to do whatever the hell they want. You shouldn’t trust anything they say.”

“Because of the movie.”

“Yes, because of the movie. They don’t care about the victims or the families. All they care about is money.”

Hanna spread her palms on the table. “I think I have all of the information I need. Now, I’ll tell you the real reason I’m here. I own a company called Core Tech Computing. You’ve probably never heard of it. We’re small. We specialize in an emerging field called cerebral infiltration. Thought-hopping, if you will.”

Eileen sneered. “Thought-hopping? That sounds like some grade-A hippie nonsense to me.”

“It’s actually quite sophisticated. We have a computer that allows us to enter a person’s mind. We can see their memories and search their subconscious. The SCB has hired me to infiltrate yours.”

“So, you are working with them,” Eileen yelled, lurching forward. “You’re just another lying pig.”

“I assure you, I have not lied. But regardless of whether you trust me or not, you claim to be innocent. That means it is within your best interest to cooperate. I’ll enter your mind and find enough evidence to clear your name. After that, you can go home and live the rest of your life.”

“Why would I trust you? They’re paying you. You’ll just make something up to fit their story. This whole thing is a fool’s trap, and I ain’t no fool. There’s no way in hell I’m letting you poke around my brain.”

“They aren’t paying me at the moment,” Hanna said. “For transparency’s sake, I get paid once the case is closed.”

“That’s even worse. It just means they still have all the leverage. They’ll keep your money until you give them what they want. The whole thing’s a scam, and I’m not doing it.”

“I’m afraid we don’t need your permission. We will enter your mind. Whether you cooperate or not will determine how long we’re in there. Like I said, if you have nothing to hide, I would advise cooperating.”

“Oh, you would advise that? Well, I would advise you to step off. I ain’t trusting no one but myself.”

“So, you’re choosing the hard way.”

Eileen sneered. “That’s right, hun. I’m not making it easy for you. I’ll fight. I’ll struggle. I’ll make this case a living nightmare.” She grinned and lowered her voice to a sinister tone. “You’ll wish you never met me.”

Hanna stood up. “We’re done here.”

“You’re going to hate me when this is all over,” Eileen shouted, standing up with her hands still tethered to the table as Hanna walked to the door. “You hear me? I’m going to make you miserable.”

Hanna ignored her and left the room. The others were no longer gathered outside. Their voices were emanating from down the hall. She followed the sounds of conversation to the kitchen, where she found the others gathered around a box of doughnuts. Russell was in the corner, chipping away at a chunk of ice and collecting the shards in a plastic cup.

“What are you doing?” Hanna asked.

Russell glanced over his shoulder. “Finn wanted an iced coffee. I got the coffee maker going, but all of the ice in the freezer fused together. I’m chipping it apart.”

Lenny walked over to observe his progress. “And Russell has decided that the best tool for the job is a boxcutter. Of all the things he could have chosen, he went with a boxcutter.”

Russell continued to chip away. “The boxcutter is one of the most underrated tools. Do you have any idea how many times I use this boxcutter every day? More than you would think.”

“To cut cardboard,” Lenny said. “Not ice. It’s not meant for ice. You’re just dinging up the blade.”

“The blade’s fine, and it’s getting the job done. If I really put my weight into it, I bet I could even split this chunk in half with just one swing.”

“I’ll take that bet,” Lenny said, reaching for his wallet. “How much are we talking? Ten? Twenty?”

Russell stopped chipping and stretched his arm. “I’ll take twenty.”

“No, you won’t,” Hanna said. “You’ll ruin the counter.”

“But we need to settle this argument.” Russell said. “How will we know who is right?”

“Lenny is right. The boxcutter would never make it through that ice. Argument settled. Now put that back in the freezer before it melts. You have enough ice for a cup of iced coffee.”

Russell opened the freezer and tossed the chunk back inside. “Who drinks iced coffee in the winter, anyway?”

Finn shrugged. “I just prefer iced over hot.”

“You know it’s below freezing out there, right?”

“Record lows,” Howard said. “Hasn’t been this cold in over a decade. The Charles River is frozen over.”

“And still not a single flake of snow,” Russell said, pouring coffee over the freshly chipped ice. “We’re missing the only fun part of winter. Nobody just likes the cold.”

Howard scrolled through his phone. “Snow’s coming soon. The forecast says it’ll snow in a couple of days. Same day as that chocolate festival down the street. It’s supposed to be a big one.”

Russell handed the cup over to Finn. “We’ve got record low temperatures and an incoming snowstorm. Meanwhile, this guy is sipping on iced coffee.”

Finn poked a straw through the ice and took a sip. “Look, I know it’s weird, but I’m standing by it. Coffee tastes better cold.”

“Blasphemous,” Howard said. “The ice just waters it down.” He glanced at Charles. “Do you want to weigh in on this?”

Charles grabbed a plain doughnut from the box. “I enjoy a good iced coffee every once in a while, but nothing beats dipping a plain doughnut into hot coffee and letting it soak.” He dipped the doughnut and took a bite. “Hanna, you’re done with Eileen. Did you get what you needed?”

“I think so, but I don’t expect her to cooperate going forward.”

“Neither did we. She was very resistant in our own interrogations. I was hoping she would trust you a little more, considering you’re not officially with the SCB.”

“I lost her trust near the end of our talk, but she did tell me a few things.”

“Don’t keep us in suspense,” Howard said. “What did you learn?”

“I learned that she dropped out of high school when she was young. Fell into prostitution as a way to support herself. Now she makes a respectable living from her work.”

“We knew all of that. Tell us something that isn’t already in her file.”

“She has very little respect for men. She thinks they’re easy to manipulate. Specifically, married men.”

Howard nodded. “That fits the killers M.O. The three victims were men, and they were all either married or in a committed relationship.”

“She wasn’t hostile towards them.” Hanna said. “She almost sounded sorry for them.”

“Maybe she sees herself as a savior. Killing these men is setting them free from the trappings of marriage.”

“That’s possible, I suppose, but they were also her clients. She was keen on satisfying her customers. It seems like she is willing to put up with almost anything to make a quick buck.”

“Did you learn anything else?” Charles asked. “Anything pertaining to your ability to infiltrate her mind?”

“She’s certainly delusional and extremely paranoid. She thinks you’re framing her so you can turn her story into a Hollywood movie.”

Howard chuckled. “We’ve worked with Hollywood in the past, but never on an open case.”

“Will her state of mind impede your ability to work with her?” Charles asked.

“I don’t believe so. She definitely isn’t stable, but we knew that going in. I didn’t notice any red flags.”

“Good. And what’s the status of Claire’s training? Is she ready? With Eileen Warner here, I would like to get started as soon as possible.”

“I agree,” Hanna said. “The longer we wait, the less reliable her memories will be. Claire is ready.”

“Less reliable? Will they be reliable enough to hold up in court?”

Hanna shrugged. “Tentpole memories stay strong, but newer ones tend to degrade over time. If she does have memories of the murders, it’ll be hard to know what condition they’re in until we see them.”

“Okay,” Charles said, dunking the last of his doughnut into coffee and popping it into his mouth. “Hanna, Claire, and Russell. You three get set up. Howard, escort Ms. Warner to the lab.”

They all dispersed.

Russell walked alongside Hanna. “What is she like? Is she nuts? I want to know what kind of trouble we’ve gotten ourselves into.”

Hanna kept her head forward as they walked. “It will be a different experience, for sure. She’s not like Dennis. She has a rough past. We’ll have to be careful.”

“Are you sure you still want to go through with this? We can pull out of the deal right now.”

They entered the lab, where she saw the condition of their equipment. The broken headband. The cracked monitors. No money to replace them. The research she had spent a decade developing was now on the brink of death. “No. We stick to the plan. We do this, we get paid, and we save Core Tech Computing.”