|
|
|
|
|
|
|
virus," Jack heard himself say. "His house is where we disposed of the stuff and the dead test animals. It was just a bunch of trees in the woods at the time. We hired a backhoe and dug a hole and laid out the containers and covered them up. I guess there was a leak, because the boy's sick." |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jerry's eyes focused like a cat on a bird. "And somebody doesn't want anyone to know?" |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"And you think it might be this Julius Wick." |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"Do you have any idea where Mr. Wick might be found?" |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"No kidding." Mars' face lit up. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jack then told about the news coverege he had followed of Julius Wick's new post. Jerry Mars listened with great interest. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"Do you have any idea about the kind of effect the virus might have on Matthew?" |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
And Jack described what he remembered of the lab animals and the awful fits of violence. When he got through, he felt less relieved than drained. He had gotten it out, but somehow the actual articulation of all the sordid details left him feeling hollow, sullied. Before Jerry Mars left, Jack asked him if he would be called as a witness. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mars shook his head. "I'm a private investigator, not a law-enforcement officer. I cannot issue arrest warrants. It's possible I might drop back, in case I've got a few more questions, but your identity and this conversation will remain completely confidential. I can promise you that," he said, and held out his hand. "I can't thank you enough. You can rest assured that you may have helped save Matthew Hazzard's life." |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"You have my card, in case you think of anything else." |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jack nodded and watched him get back into his car and drive off. He walked out to the road, which was empty in both directions. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Back inside the trailer, he drank a glass of milk, felt better, and |
|
|
|
|
|