“Whatever do you mean, Dr. Vladoc?”
“You've been too busy with your lab work and your crucifying my brother to notice that others are in the business of doing just the opposite-deifying him.”
“Really? And who are these fools?”
“The youth of this city. While you have been busily working behind these walls, tying up all the usual loose ends-and I include myself in the category of loose end- making it unequivocally clear that my brother was a vicious serial killer, the youth of Philadelphia have also been talking about Lucian Locke. They have, in fact, apotheosized the man as their light and savior.”
Jessica was horrified. “I had no idea.”
“And they continue to pen poems on the bodies of friends and on themselves, carrying on the tradition bom of the suicide pact of 'Lady Byron' and Harold Gordonn, continued by their spiritual son, Lucian Burke Locke. I fear nothing good can come of it.”
“We can't dictate lifestyles or faiths, beliefs in fetish objects or cults, Dr. Vladoc. All we can do is make sure that anyone turning such things into crime and murder is stopped.”
“Meanwhile, Jessica, I have felt it an honor to have worked closely with you and Dr. Desinor. Please give her my regards. I understand she is taking some R amp;R in Baltimore? Of all places to vacation… well, to each his own.”
“Where will you go now, Dr. Vladoc?”
“China perhaps…” He chuckled at his own joke. “At least as far away as China. I'm thinking perhaps people in Anchorage or Seatde might have me.”
“You've done nothing to deserve what has befallen you, sir, and without your help, we would still be stumbling about in the dark.”
“Yes, well, stumbling about in the dark is sort of the way the PPD brass put it to me. Not to worry. They offer a generous retirement package.”
Jessica saw a kindness in him she hadn't glimpsed before, his eyes as he smiled suddenly causing her to think of the actor/director/writer Peter Ustinov.
As they shook hands and said their final good-byes, she said, “If ever I'm involved in a case in the Pacific Northwest, I'll call on you.”
“Please do, by all means.”
Jessica turned her attention back to the labs where Shockley and DeAngelos and others were busy finishing work on the Poet Killer case. Through the glass partitions she saw that James Parry was on his way to bid her goodbye, knowing she was scheduled to return to Quantico that night.
“Jessica,” he said. “Couldn't let you go without saying so long.”
“This time face-to-face.”
“I thought we had hashed that out?”
“Yeah… yeah, we did. Sorry for the cattiness.”
“Without the cattiness gene, what kind of woman would you make?” he joked.
“How are you doing-I mean with your new digs and Philadelphia post, Jim?”
“It's not going to be so bad after all. We've come out of this shining, Jess, and it's largely due to your being here.”
“Don't be foolish. It was a team effort, all-almost all the way.”
“Give my regards and thanks to Kim when you see her. She was right on with her psychic hits all along. We've got to learn how to better read her”
“And tell Leanne thanks from us. It was a rocky start, but we did get the job done after all.”
“She's taken some time off, reassessing her life. Losing her lover, Donatella, has been an incredibly debilitating blow to her. She's not even sure she wants to come back to the force, but a lot of us are urging her to do so. She's too good to lose.”
“If you think that highly of her, why don't you send her to Quantico for basic training and put her on in your shop?” Hey, nota bad idea at that.” He paused, thinking. “I'll give her a call. See what she thinks of the offer. I'm sure it can be arranged. We've lost a couple of people to retirement.”
“Go for it, Jim.” Jessica smiled warmly at him.
When they shook hands, Jim held on to hers, squeezing it with obvious feeling, and smiling. “I sometimes so miss what we had together, Jess. I really, really do.”
“I know, Jim, believe me.”
“I wish the best for you, you know, even if it's with that Englishman.”
“Richard is his name.”
“Yes, well… settled our differences, then… I'll be off. Don't be a stranger when-if you're ever back this way.”
“You, too, whenever you're in D.C. or anywhere near Quantico, Jim. I mean that.”
Parry leaned forward to give her a peck on the cheek, but she pulled back.
“Bye now, Jim, and good luck here.”