Salvi stared out at the road ahead. “Why would Attis risk his Complex? All that he built? All his hard work? He’d know suspicion would fall on the Subjugates.”
“Maybe he couldn’t help it? Maybe that’s why he’s so understanding of the monsters he houses. Because he’s one himself. Or maybe he just didn’t think he’d be caught.”
Salvi sipped her coffee, mind turning over. “There was opposition to the Solme Complex being built and not just by some of the residents in town. Attis told me he’d received threats from a nearby survivalist community.”
“Yeah, I saw Riverton’s notes on Garner Town. But to kill innocent women just for the sake of getting the Complex shut down?” Mitch said. “That’s a long shot. Even for those crazy gun-loving survivalists.”
“Maybe,” she said, “but it’s also a motive. But I think if anyone wanted the Complex shut down, it would be someone closer to the situation. Someone in the town itself. Last night in the city, the church I saw, the high-tech one, it was called the Church of Connectivity. It’s geared to target all the tech-heads. Attis owns the church, and Kevin Craydon, Tobias’ roommate, is working for him.”
“So?”
“It has BioLume lighting everywhere. It’s across from the SlingShot station.”
Mitch shrugged. “He said he was studying to become a teacher so he could spread the word of God. Maybe he’s practicing on the tech-heads.”
Salvi nodded. “I saw him encouraging some techies inside.”
“So? What are you thinking?”
“The Church of Connectivity goes against everything that Bountiful encourages. It considers all that tech sinful, that’s why they pulled away from it. And there is Kevin partaking in it, in the city. Dancing with the devil at Attis’ request.” Mitch glanced at her as she formed her thoughts. “Kevin is Tobias’ roommate. He encouraged Tobias and Sharon to go into the city, to help him with the sinners. He would’ve spent plenty of time with Sharon. Maybe he’s the one who tempted Tobias and Sharon into U-Stasis. The Church of Connectivity was offering all these games and apps for Christianity. Maybe he was the doorway that led Sharon online. Maybe it was online that Sharon met her killer. Or maybe Kevin was her killer. Maybe that’s the possible love triangle we should be looking at. Not Sharon, Tobias and Ellie.”
“Maybe.” He nodded. “Or maybe Sharon’s killer was mowing her lawn and saw her undress through that open bedroom window of hers.”
Salvi stared back at him.
“Besides, it doesn’t explain the second vic.” Mitch tapped his fingers on the steering wheel. “Only two Subjugates align with the murders of both vics. Lucius Dolles and Edward Moses,” he said, staring back at her.
“If we’re comfortable ruling out Fontan Pragge and Serene-41. Pragge had similar offences to Moses. He never killed but he raped.”
“But with his current mental capability, could he have undertaken these attacks? Both Dolles and Moses were in town around the time both the vics were killed, the crimes fit their previous MO, mostly, and they are both physically and mentally capable.”
“Attis would argue that physically and mentally they aren’t capable.” Salvi looked out at the road ahead again. She pictured the group of Serenes and Subjugates standing clustered out the front of the Sharon’s funeral; saw two of them with broken concentration; their heads not lowered, mouths not praying. It was Lucius Dolles and Edward Moses. Dolles watching the dog pissing on the tree. Moses watching her.
“Dolles never killed anyone before,” she said. “He had class issues and could, I suppose, have something against these pure women now, but after the treatment he’s received I don’t see him suddenly turning to murder and carving into those dead bodies.”
“Depends how much they were tortured at the Complex. Who knows what that treatment does to their brains, Salvi. Besides, Moses never carved words into his victims either.”
“No, but he raped them, then he murdered them. And each crime was different. He cut one’s throat. He didn’t mind the sight of blood. Neither does our killer.”
“Yeah.” Mitch nodded. “But that would mean the years of treatment he’s had, the brain tweaks, haven’t worked.”
“Or they’ve made him worse,” she said quietly. “Or he’s too smart for his own good and he’s playing the system to survive… or seek his revenge upon those who torture him.” Mitch stared at her. “Let me go in today,” she said.
“What?” he asked.
“Let me interview him.”
“Subjugate-52?”
Salvi looked at him. “Yes,” she said plainly. “Let’s see if I can get a rise out of him. Let’s see if I can draw a code blue on that halo of his.”
Mitch stared back at her. “That’s exactly why they won’t let you interview him. You might cause a setback.”
“If they’ve done their job,” she said, “then he won’t react to me. If they’ve failed, and he does, then Subjugate-52 will become our prime suspect.”
And hopefully, she thought, that will erase Mitch from the list.
“But how did he get away from his escort?” Mitch asked. “The Subjugates always have a Serene escort that stays close.”
She shrugged. “Maybe the escort worked outside the house, while Moses went inside. The second vic was a hit and run, remember. The killer worked fast.”
“Even if he did it in record time, the Serene wouldn’t have left his side.”
“Maybe he threatened the Serene? Subjugate-52 is still a little intimidating, don’t you think?”
“Maybe,” Mitch said.
“Or maybe he threatened the Serene with Bander.”
“What do you mean?”
“Last time we were at the Complex, I saw the caretaker in action. In the grounds. He lost his cool and he was beating on a Subjugate pretty bad.”
“When did you see this?”
“I went to the bathroom. I heard yelling, climbed up on the bench and looked through the mesh airstrip. I saw the whole thing.”
“And you’re just telling me this now?”
Salvi shrugged. “I’m sorry. I got out of the bathroom and you were about to interview Moses, then we got the call about the second vic.”
Mitch exhaled heavily, eyes narrowed in thought. “I don’t care much for Bander, but I got to sympathize with his job. I imagine he’d have to beat on a Subjugate every now and then to keep them in line.”
“There’s beating them, and then there’s beating them. He wasn’t holding back.”
Mitch darted her a glance. “You think it was an accident him running into you at the bar?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know,” she said, then looked back at the road. “The bar was right by the SlingShot station. It’s possible.” She looked back at him. “You’re thinking he could’ve done this? He’s as adamant as Solme is at protecting the Complex.”
Mitch shrugged back and exhaled heavily. “Until we get the new DNA warrants, we can’t rule anyone out.”
“No,” she said. “We can’t.”
“This is against our policy,” Attis Solme said. “I cannot allow it.”
“Why can’t I?” Salvi asked, as she and Mitch sat in his office. “It’s just talking.”
Doctor Remmell stood beside them, a slight furrow across his brow. He’d joined the meeting at Attis’ behest. “We don’t put our Subjugates in situations that may trigger unwanted emotions,” he answered for the mayor. “Having you sit there and interrogate him may do that.”
“You let the Subjugates into town to interact with women all the time,” Salvi argued.
“Yes, with the guards and their Serene escorts,” Remmell pointed out.
“There’ll be a guard in the room,” Salvi said. “And if you like, have the Serene escort there too.”
“No,” Remmell said, looking at Attis for backup. “Not Subjugate-52.”
“Why not?” she pushed.
“He’s been doing very well. You will not jeopardize our work on him.”
“Hide?” he asked her with raised eyebrows.
“Why are you so afraid that I will set Edward Moses off? Is he that borderline? One conversation with me could set him off?”
“It won’t,” Remmell said confidently. “I told you when you first came here, that there is no Subjugate we are more proud of.”
“Then prove it,” Salvi challenged. “Let me talk to him.” She turned back to Attis Solme. “I promise to be nice.”
Attis stared at her, mind ticking over.
Mitch sat forward. “Both Subjugate-52 and Subjugate-46 were in town on both days our victims were attacked.”
“As were many other people in town,” Attis told him.
“You want to find the person who killed your friend’s daughter?” Mitch asked him.
Attis stared at him. “Of course I do,” he said. “But you won’t find him here.”
“Then let me speak to Subjugate-52,” Salvi said. “Let me erase all doubt and prove that the Solme Complex is doing good things. That your treatment works.”
Attis looked back at her. “And if I don’t?”
She shrugged. “Then you’re obstructing a murder investigation.”
“I’m not obstructing anything.” Attis stared at her with cold eyes, the normally pleasant smile falling from his face. “I’ve told you, Detective Grenville can interview him.”
“Mayor Solme–” Salvi began, but he cut her off.
“I wouldn’t say any more if I were you, Detective. You’re already this far away from me making a complaint to the Chief of Police. I’m more connected than you think I am.”
“And what would you make a complaint about?” Salvi said. “Me doing my job, trying to catch a killer.”
“My Subjugates are not killers! Not any more.”
“Then prove it.”
“This is borderline harassment and I won’t stand for it,” Attis said. “Especially coming from officers of your stature.”
“Excuse me?” Salvi said.
Attis looked at Mitch. “Surely you of all people would understand what it’s like to be accused of something you did not do, Detective.”
Mitch’s eyes narrowed as he looked back at him.
“Yes, that’s right. I’m capable of undertaking investigations too,” Attis said, then looked at Salvi. “And you, Detective. You’re a particularly interesting one.”
“As are you,” Mitch countered. “Would you like to tell us about your church in the city?”
Attis paused, staring at him. Dr Remmell glanced between both men, seemingly unaware of what Mitch was referring to. So Remmell didn’t know…
“The Church of Connectivity,” Salvi said. “It’s incredibly high-tech, with a robo-preacher and all. Doesn’t that go against your way of life here in Bountiful? To embrace all that technology?”
“Look around you, Detective. I embrace technology here at the Complex,” he said in a low, almost threatening voice. “I make no secret of that.”
“Yes,” Salvi said, “and now you’re embracing it in the city and drawing in all the tech-heads. Why is that?”
“I’m a religious man, spreading the word of God. You know that.”
“Yes, apparently so. But you’re also a businessman. I know you’re keen to get neural implants back on the market. You’ve been testing things out here with the Subjugates’ halos. But they’re criminals. No one cares about them. Your work is still very much underground. You want to widen the scope, don’t you? And if you can clear the tech-heads off the street, give them what they want – technology – then convince them to trial the neural implants that your company Neuricle Corporation is working on… Just imagine how many faces you can turn to God if you can control their minds.”
“Is it such a bad thing if I clean up the streets? Get people to believe in something other than themselves?”
“It depends how much mind control you plan to implement. A whole city full of Serenes scares me a little to be honest. Especially while you’re sitting back and getting rich off all the implant sales and your slave labor.”
Remmell continued to dart glances between the two. “We’re getting off track.”
“What I’m doing in the city is no business of yours, Detective,” Attis said, ignoring him. “I am doing nothing illegal.”
“Does Kevin Craydon know what you’re really up to?” she asked. “He’s working for you, right?”
Again, Attis stared at her for a moment. “Kevin is a devout follower of God. It is his wish to bring more people to our way of life. Again, he is doing nothing illegal.”
“Not illegal, no. But how does Preacher Vowker feel about Kevin hanging out in the city among all that sin, dancing with the devil? Encouraging the tech-heads to embrace all those Christianity apps and games? I particularly like the one where you encourage players to punish sinners with lashes and nails through their body parts.”
Attis offered no reply.
“Vowker doesn’t know, does he?” Salvi said.
“Preacher Vowker knows that I do not shy away from technology. If I did, he wouldn’t have all my Serenes helping his Children of Christ, would he?”
“For a fee, yes.” She motioned to her iPort. “Our AI has also done some investigation, Mr Solme. I know that the residents of Bountiful donate a large portion of their income to the Children of Christ. In return they get the free labor of the Serenes and Subjugates. You make out like they’re doing free community service, but you’re skimming your cut off the top. Preacher Vowker gets the lion’s share, though, and the free workers are a draw card, luring more and more Christians to move to Bountiful. More faithful residents, more money. You don’t just get them to hand over their souls, their very freedoms, but their wallets too.”
“That’s something for you to speak to Preacher Vowker about.”
“You both benefit, Mr Solme. He gets rich, and you get to use Bountiful as a testing ground for your neural implants. But you’re a businessman and progress must be too slow for you. That’s why you’re branching out into the city, wanting to start testing on the desperate tech-heads. I don’t think you like the preacher holding you back. Do you get a secret satisfaction from taking Kevin into the city and telling him to embrace the technology that Vowker tells him to avoid? Tell me, were Tobias Brook and Sharon Gleamer working for you too?”
“I don’t see how this is relevant.”
“Sharon Gleamer is dead. So is Rebecca Carson. We need to explore every avenue of possibility. If Sharon was playing around with technology on your behalf, that may have exposed her to a killer.”
“I thought you suspected Subjugate-52?”
“As I said, we need to explore every avenue.”
“The Church of Connectivity is purely an avenue to God. And Subjugate-52 is soon to be a Serene. Both avenues are closed.”
“Not until we say so,” Mitch spoke up. “You can let us go in and speak to Subjugate-52 today or we will come back with a warrant… and anything else we dig up.”
Attis’ mind toiled as he stared back at them. The man’s face was tight. It was clear he was working hard to hold down his anger. “I’ll be speaking with Detective Lieutenant Ford about this.”
“As will we,” Mitch said.
“You think she’s going to be able to do anything about it?” Attis smiled.
“Yes. She has connections too, Mr Solme,” Mitch said.
“Yes, and she also has a past, Detective. A past, that if it came to light, would see her lose her job. A past that only I am privy to. Her career depends on me keeping her confidence.” He leaned across the table toward them. “So, you see, that avenue is closed also.”
“Did you just openly admit to possibly blackmailing Detective Lieutenant Ford?” Mitch asked, tapping his badge. “That’s not very Christian of you.”
“We all work toward the greater good,” he said, sitting back in his chair. “It is God’
s will.”
“It’s not God’s will,” Salvi said. “People who say that are looking for a reason to excuse something terrible. To shirk responsibility. We are all responsible for our own actions and the consequences born of them.”
“Tell that to Detective Lieutenant Ford.”
The silence sat as they stared at each other and Doctor Remmell continued to dart his eyes back and forth between them nervously.
“I think I’ve made my position clear,” Attis said. “I am a Christian man, and I am also a businessman. A strong man. I do not bow or break at others’ commands.”
“Whatever you say,” Mitch said. “Now back to Subjugate-52. You’ll let Detective Brentt interview him, yes?”
Doctor Remmell moved uneasily at Attis’ silence. “Mayor Solme,” he spoke up. “I highly object to thi–”
“Look, I believe you!” Salvi said, leaning forward to Attis, trying to convey to him her passion. “We may not see eye to eye on things, but I honestly believe you might be fixing them here. But we need proof of that. Let me talk to Moses. Help me clear his name from our suspects list. Show me what a good job you’ve done.”
“Mayor Solme,” Remmell began. “I–”
Attis threw his hand up in the air to hush him. He stared at Salvi for a moment, his mind ticking over.
“Show me how strong your faith is,” she said. “Show me how you’ve turned these monsters back into men.”
The silence sat again for a moment, before Attis finally moved. “Doctor Remmell,” he said, his hard eyes fixed on Salvi, “allow Detective Brentt an audience with Subjugate-52.”
Salvi and Mitch walked down the tubular corridor awash in the soft green BioLume glow. Headed for the interview room, Doctor Remmell stalked ahead angrily, not trying to hide his displeasure at Attis’ decision.
Mitch leaned over to her and whispered. “Do you actually believe what you said to Solme?”
“No. Not yet,” she said, subtly unbuttoning the top of her white shirt. Just a little. Just enough to enable Subjugate-52 to see her décolletage. Mitch caught what she did, his eyes glancing between the top of her unbuttoned shirt and her face.
“Visual stimuli,” she whispered. “Let’s call it a live test.”
The Subjugate Page 23
