I knew then that I could no longer be an observer, a journalist who wrote about these things or talked about them in a podcast. I knew that I could not be a sideline reporter. I needed to be in the game.
On the first working day of the new year I drove downtown in my replacement Range Rover, found parking, and walked into the offices of RAW Data in the Mercantile Bank building. I asked to speak to Rachel and soon enough was directed back to her office. We had not spoken since the day the Shrike had been killed. I didn’t bother to sit down. I expected this to be quick.
“What’s up?” she asked tentatively.
“I have an idea and I want you to hear me out,” I said.
“I’m listening.”
“I don’t want to just tell murder stories on the podcast. I want to solve them.”
“What do you mean?”
“What I said. I want to work murders on the podcast. We bring in a case, a cold case, discuss it, work it, solve it. I want you to be part of it. You profile the cases, then we go to work on them.”
“Jack, you’re not—”
“It doesn’t matter that I’m not police. We live in digital times. The police are analog. We can put things together. Remember that woman who called the podcast? Charisse? She said nobody’s working that case. We could.”
“You’re talking about being amateur detectives.”
“You’re not an amateur, and I know when we were working on the Shrike you loved it. You were back doing what you were meant to do. I took that away from you but now I’m offering it back.”
“It’s not the same, Jack.”
“No, it’s better. Because we have no rules.”
She said nothing.
“Anybody can run background checks,” I said. “But you have a gift. I saw it with the Shrike.”
“And you’re saying this would be a podcast?” she asked.
“We meet, talk about the case, record and post it. The advertising will fund the investigations.”
“It seems kind of crazy.”
“There’s a podcast out there about a housewife who got a serial killer to confess. Nothing is crazy. This could work.”
“And where do these cases come from?”
“Anywhere, everywhere. Google. I’m going to find the case Charisse called about. Her sister’s case.”
Rachel was silent for a long moment before responding.
“Jack, is this...”
“No, it’s not a lame attempt to get back with you. I know I ruined it. I accept that. This is exactly what I just said it is. A podcast. We go after those who think they got away with it.”
She didn’t respond at first, but I thought I saw her almost nod when I had spoken.
“I’ll think about it,” she finally said.
“Okay, that’s all I ask,” I said. “Just don’t think too long.”
Having made the pitch, I turned and left the office without a further word. I walked out of the elegant old building and onto Main Street. There was a chill in the January air but the sun was out and it was going to be a good year. I headed down the street to my car. My phone buzzed before I got to it.
It was Rachel.
Author’s Note
This book is a work of fiction, but FairWarning is a real news site offering tough watchdog reporting on consumer issues. It is a nonprofit founded and edited by Myron Levin. The author is a member of FairWarning’s board of directors. FairWarning and Myron Levin’s name were used with permission. Go to FairWarning.org for further information and to consider making a donation to support its important work.
The genetic research explored in this novel is based on fact and current understanding of the human genome. The reporting regarding government oversight of the genetic-analytics industry is also based on current standards. Any errors or omissions are strictly the fault of the author.
Acknowledgments
The author gratefully acknowledges the help of many in the research, writing, and editing of this book. They include Asya Muchnick, Emad Akhtar, Bill Massey, Heather Rizzo, Jane Davis, Linda Connelly, Paul Connelly, Justin Hysler, David Vasil, Terrill Lee Lankford, Dennis Wojciechowski, Shannon Byrne, Henrik Bastin, John Houghton, Pamela Marshall, and Allan Fallow.
The author also acknowledges the book Our Genes, Our Choices: How Genotype and Gene Interactions Affect Human Behavior by Dr. David Goldman, founder of the Laboratory of Neurogenetics at the National Institutes of Health.