The Serpent's Kiss

69

After Stillwater and Church left, Matt Gray checked his watch. The local news cycle started at 5:00. If he made a statement now, it would make it on both the five o’clock and six o’clock broadcasts. He clicked on his radio and called the office, reading off the license plate of the Subaru and asking for a DMV verification. Feeling energized, Gray said to Zoelig, “How soon can you get at the body?”

Zoelig sighed. “In a few minutes. Why?”

“I want to verify this guy’s ID.”

“Derek gave us a visual identification.”

Gray sneered. “If Stillwater told me the sky was blue I’d want verification.”

“In a few minutes, Matt. I take it you’re planning a press conference?”

“Yes.” Gray turned, looking for Roger Kandling, wanting him to organize the conference in the next few minutes.

“Matt,” Zoelig said, voice soft.

Gray turned. Zoelig waved him closer. Gray approached, impatient. In a low voice so bystanders couldn’t hear, Zoelig said, “Do you think a press conference is premature?”

“You’re a technician, Zoelig. Stick to your area of expertise.”

Zoelig glowered at him. “Gray, don’t make me drop-kick you off the top of this parking structure. I’m not a technician. Are you planning on announcing that this guy is The Serpent? That The Serpent died by his own hand by accident?”

“Wait and see, Zoeig,” Gray said. “Wait and see.” He moved away, then turned back to Zoelig. “Oh, and Zoelig. Don’t threaten me again, or you’ll find yourself working anti-terror in South Dakota.”

Zoelig didn’t blink. “Give it your best shot, Gray.”

Gray, finding his threat to be hollow, turned and strode away. He found Kandling and told him to organize a press conference in front of the casino in ten minutes. Kandling said, “Who’s running it?”

“Me.”

Kandling looked relieved. “Sure. Ten minutes.”

And ten minutes later Matt Gray stood in front of the doors to the Greektown Casino, the media spread out in front of him, cameras and microphones ready.

“I am Matthew Gray, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Here is the official statement.” He cleared his throat, scanned the crowd, looking right into the cameras, lingering for a moment at the CNN, FOX and ABC cameras, making sure he looked authoritative. “The individual calling himself The Serpent who committed two acts of chemical terrorism in Detroit today has died by his own hand, apparently by accident. The Serpent has been positively identified as Dr. William Harrington, the director of the Wayne State University Center for Biological and Chemical Terrorism Research, professor of biochemistry, and adjunct professor, Department of Public Health. Harrington’s body was found in his vehicle on the top level of the Greektown Casino parking garage with several canisters of sarin gas in the rear cargo area. Apparently at least one of the canisters leaked, killing Harrington before he could mount his attack on the Greektown Casino.”

A reporter interrupted. “What was his motive?”

Gray said, “We’ll probably never know his real motive, but it’s quite possibly linked to his divorce. His ex-wife, Rebecca Harrington, an employee of the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, was found murdered in her Ferndale home earlier today. Rebecca Harrington’s lover, and the cause of their divorce, was the assistant director of the Center for Biological and Chemical Terrorism Research, Dr. Bradley Simmons, who died this morning during the attack at the Boulevard Café.”

“You’re saying this was all caused by some sort of sick love triangle?” a reporter called out.

Gray nodded. “Those elements are definitely there. Clearly, Harrington must have been suffering from some level of mental illness—”

”You mean he was crazy?”

Gray felt like he was losing control of the press conference. “Crazy is a legal term,” he said, “not a psychological one. But yes, don’t you think a mass murderer could be defined as crazy?”

Another reporter shouted, “What of your previous statements about Derek Stillwater?”

Gray paused. “Although we no longer feel that Dr. Stillwater was involved with the attack, we believe that his conduct today was unprofessional and quite possibly illegal. He is currently under investigation by the Justice Department pending a congressional hearing concerning his conduct last month for the events at U.S. Immunological Research in Baltimore. I intend to conduct a personal investigation into his actions today, as well. It is my recommendation to the Attorney General and to the Department of Homeland Security that Dr. Stillwater be asked to resign.”

The reporters clamored for more, shouting to be heard. Gray smiled and pointed to Steve Shay. “Yes?”

“What of reports…”

And so it went.