Brannigan observed Agent Nehnja approach him inside Inova Fairfax Hospital and glanced at his chronograph Citizen. “You get lost in Arizona or take the Pony Express home?”

A travel-weary Paulan rolled his eyes. “My flight was delayed. Twice. I got back as fast as I could.”

“We caught a break from the Jenkins’ wiretap. A recent conversation with Marvin Tibbs implicated our ophthalmologist in illegal human trials.”

“What does that get us?”

“Faith Galloway.” Brannigan removed his coffee lid and set it by his phone on the high bar table inside the hospital café. “I went to Marvin Tibbs’ work address with a search warrant and found Faith Galloway prepped for surgery with her guide dog bleeding on top of her.”

“What happened?”

Brannigan finished his coffee and put the lid back on when the text message he’d been waiting for arrived. “Tibbs drugged her and tried to rape her. The crime scene unit found a hidden camera inside a cabinet. This over-educated pervert’s been abusing his own patients.”

Paulan squinted through bloodshot eyes, courtesy of a four a.m. flight into Reagan National Airport. “Tibbs didn’t strike me as the deviant type.”

“Sometimes the most vile predators are the ones you least expect. Men like Tibbs define a different class of sociopath.”

“Where’s Faith?” Paulan asked.

“Upstairs. Doctors have her under observation while the anesthesia Tibbs gave her wears off. There’s an officer stationed outside her room.”

“Was Ronald Neyman involved?”

Brannigan got up and ditched his coffee. “Not to my knowledge.”

“So Tibbs acted alone?”

“Appears that way.”

“Where is he now?”

Brannigan proceeded through the hospital lobby toward the ER entrance with Paulan in tow. “Falls Church police have him in custody. He’s being treated at this hospital for a dog bite to his arm. The dog’s at a surgical vet with multiple stab wounds. Doesn’t look good.”

“Did you locate Mira Galloway?”

“Not yet. What about our last victim, Daniel Streak?”

Paulan referenced his notes. “I’m still waiting on his medical records. He’s no dummy. Went to Stanford on a full scholarship. Earned a graduate degree in computer science. Published papers on network security and intrusion detection. He has an older sister who resides in Portland.”

“That explains his travel plans, but what’s his connection to Ronald Neyman?”

“They both have mental health issues and a haloperidol prescription from Faith Galloway. Seems possible Streak and Neyman were acquainted in a previous life.”

“Possible…” Brannigan thought out loud, processing his own theory on Streak’s connection to Ronald Neyman. “Did you find any information on the Lindquist drug we found in Streak’s apartment?”

“Not yet.”

“What happened in Arizona?”

Paulan kept pace with Brannigan toward the far end of the ER, where a Falls Church officer waited outside a locked room. “I’ll tell you later.”

Brannigan displayed his FBI credentials to the officer. “Give us a minute.” He waited for the officer to unlock the door and step away. Then he entered the room with Paulan to find Marvin Tibbs handcuffed to a hospital bed with part of one arm wrapped in gauze and his green scrubs spattered with dog blood. “All patched up?”

“I want my lawyer,” Marvin requested without making eye contact.

Brannigan motioned toward Paulan. “My partner, Agent Nehnja. I understand you had a rough morning. We’d like to chat with you about what happened.”

“I’m not talking without my lawyer.”

“Granted, but the sooner you cooperate with us, the sooner we can negotiate the rape charges.”

“I didn’t rape anyone.”

Brannigan presented his phone to show Marvin the photo of an open condom wrapper. “Do you often rely on prophylactics during surgery?”

“I never touched her.”

Brannigan selected a photo of Faith on the table with her legs apart. “This one came out a little blurry, but the other pictures on your hidden flash drive are crystal clear. We call this ‘damning evidence.’ Enough to earn you ten to fifteen years in prison. For each count. Given the photos of five other women you assaulted, you’ll serve two lifetimes before the state grants your first parole hearing.”

“Faith needs me.”

“Where’s Ronald Neyman?”

“Who?”

Paulan stepped closer to assert himself into the interview. “Don’t insult us, Dr. Tibbs. We can prove you were involved in illegal human trials with other patients, including Ronald Neyman.”

Marvin bowed his head. “I have no idea where he is. If I did, I would tell you. Neyman is a menace to society. The sooner you find him, the better.”

“Where’s Mira Galloway?”

“I have no idea.”

“What can you tell us about Daniel Streak?”

Marvin tugged on his handcuffed arm. “He was one of Dr. Jenkins’ coma patients. Streak suffered a head injury in a car accident that killed his parents. He spent three years in a vegetative state before Dr. Jenkins revived him with a prototype treatment.”

“What type of treatment?” Paulan asked.

“You wouldn’t understand.”

“Was Lindquist Pharmaceuticals involved?”

“Not that I’m aware.”

“How much were you involved?”

“Only from a research perspective. I helped Dr. Jenkins modify the treatment protocol to obtain FDA approval for human trials.”

“Which was denied.”

“Ultimately, yes. But for all the wrong reasons. Steven Jenkins is a brilliant mind. A genius when it comes to understanding neuroscience and the human brain. His diagnostic accuracy is unparalleled.”

“When’s the last time you saw Dr. Jenkins?”

“I can’t remember.”

Brannigan looked at Paulan and shook his head. “Two nights ago, we traced a call from Jenkins’ cell phone to yours, asking about relocating his comatose wife to a different facility.”

“There’s no crime in that.”

“Where is Cynthia Jenkins?”

“At her home in Cold Spring, New York.”

“Why the sudden change in venue?”

“Jenkins wouldn’t say, but he has enemies. Not everyone wants to see him succeed. Cynthia’s health is failing. She’s been comatose for more than a decade and will likely remain that way, but Jenkins still believes he can revive her.”

“Like he did with Daniel Streak and Mira Galloway?”

“Yes.”

“And Ronald Neyman?”

“Neyman was a lab rat. A diagnosed schizophrenic who’d been in and out of treatment before his coma. Some sort of freak construction accident. After the FDA denied our application for human trials, Jenkins revived Neyman with a newer, more experimental treatment. One he kept off the FDA’s radar. Daniel Streak took longer than anticipated to recover from his coma, but the treatment finally worked. Jenkins thought he’d perfected the protocol and continued to help other patients diagnosed with similar brain injuries.”

“What about Jenkins’ wife?”

“The treatment doesn’t work for every patient.”

“Why not?” Paulan asked.

Marvin tugged on the handcuffs. “There’s the million-dollar question. The one that keeps Jenkins up at night. He’s obsessed with saving his wife.”

“What is it you’re not telling us?”

“What do you mean?”

Brannigan encroached on Marvin’s personal space. “You put a woman’s life in danger with intent to inflict bodily harm. I’m familiar with your type and what you’re capable of.”

“I had no intention of hurting Faith. I only wanted to be closer to her. At one time, Faith and I shared an intimate connection. Our feelings are mutual, I assure you.”

“So you decided to sexually assault her while she was under general anesthesia?”

“I’m not discussing Faith without my lawyer.”

“Then tell us where Ronald Neyman is.”

“I told you already. I don’t know.”

“Does Jenkins?”

“If he did, he would have told me.”

“How can you be certain?”

“Because Jenkins wants to find Neyman as much as anyone. He’s convinced Neyman stole a portion of his research data on illegal human trials and attempted to blackmail him for it.”

Brannigan signaled for Paulan to leave with him. “We’re done here.”

Marvin jerked his handcuffed wrist along the bedrail. “Where are you going? You said you could help me with the charges.”

“My advice,” Brannigan offered, “find yourself a good lawyer.”

* * *

Paulan followed Brannigan toward the stairs. “Why did you cut him off?”

“I need to talk with Faith Galloway.”

“You think he’s lying about Neyman’s whereabouts?”

“He’s a pervert who got caught with his pants down, and now he’s shining the spotlight on Dr. Jenkins and Ronald Neyman.”

“Could Marvin Tibbs be involved with Daniel Streak’s murder?”

Brannigan shook his head. “By pouring Drano down his throat? Tibbs doesn’t have the stomach for it.”

“He did try to kill Faith’s dog.”

“Killing a domestic animal in a fit of rage and looking someone in the eye while you torture them to death requires very different mindsets.”

“Daniel Streak had the cyber skills to hack Dr. Jenkins’ server. If those files contained any reference to illegal human testing, Tibbs could stand as much to lose as Jenkins. My intuition tells me Jenkins and Tibbs were both involved in Daniel Streak’s murder.”

Paulan trailed Brannigan up the stairs to the seventh-floor recovery wing. “I don’t suppose we could take the elevator next time.”

“I thought you liked to run.”

“Run, yes. Needlessly climbing stairs on two hours sleep, not so much.”

“The climb will clear your head.”

“Or prompt a heart attack.”

Brannigan waited for Paulan to catch up. “Good thing you’re already in a hospital.”

“And to think you traded stand-up comedy for a career in criminal justice…”

“I’ll talk to Faith. You talk to Dr. Jenkins again. Find out everything he’s hiding about Ronald Neyman and Daniel Streak.”

“What if he refuses?”

“Then get creative. If we arrest him, he’ll throw his lawyer at us.” Brannigan stepped onto the seventh-floor entrance. “What happened in Arizona?”

Paulan shrugged. “I spoke to a retired detective named Patterson. He’s convinced Ronald Neyman was involved somehow with the skydiving accident but couldn’t prove it. He believes Neyman wanted both sisters dead. Mira’s fiancé, Adam Thompson, was collateral damage.”

“Neyman feels a connection to these women. He’s driven by a need to terrorize. He gets off on it. Killing them would leave him empty. Talk to Patterson again. See if he can tell us something more. And where the hell are Neyman’s juvenile records?”

Paulan braced himself for Brannigan’s reaction. “They were expunged.”

“Jesus Christ! Why didn’t you share this sooner?”

“I’ve been busy.” Paulan snagged a tissue from his pocket to blow his nose. “I hate flying. Nothing but a germ pit at thirty-thousand feet.” He sneezed with the tissue covering his face. “Did you interview Margaret Galloway?”

Brannigan approached a nurse’s station for directions to Faith’s room. “More like she interviewed me. You should have seen her expression when she saw Ronald Neyman’s photo.” As the pair approached the room, a doctor stepped out, checking his phone. “How is she?” Brannigan asked, proffering his credentials.

The doctor viewed the FBI credentials through tired eyes. “She’s recovering. The sedative in her system is wearing off. She’s lucid enough to speak, but I suggest you keep your conversation to a minimum.”

Brannigan turned to Paulan. “Let me know what Jenkins says. I’ll work with Faith to find her sister. Without Neyman’s juvenile records, Jenkins could be our only shot at unraveling the primary stressor from Neyman’s past and lead us to his location.”

* * *

Brannigan approached Faith’s bed with his badge. “Faith Galloway?”

“Are you a doctor?” Faith replied to the blurry image standing at the foot of her hospital bed. “I don’t recognize your voice.”

“No ma’am. My name is Special Agent Brannigan. I’m with the FBI.”

Faith sat up and tucked a pillow behind her back. “FBI? What are you doing here?” She put her hand out, still groggy and lightheaded from the residual drugs in her system. “Let me feel your badge.”

Brannigan laid the bi-fold badge holder in her hand. “You’re a hard woman to find.”

“Maybe I don’t want to be found.”

“Do you know a man named Ronald Neyman?”

Faith sniffed the leather badge holder before she opened it and placed her index finger on the smooth metallic shield. “He was my patient.”

“I understand you’re a doctor.”

“Psychiatrist,” Faith added. Suspended in silence like a submarine at full stop, she traced her fingertip on the top of the shield to feel the stamped letters that spelled out Federal Bureau of Investigation. “Does that surprise you, Special Agent Brannigan?”

“Should it? I found a haloperidol prescription with your name on it in Daniel Streak’s apartment.”

Faith traced the bottom of the shield. “Do you have a first name?”

“Mark, but I go by Brannigan.”

Faith returned the badge. “Where’s my dog?”

Brannigan pulled a pen and notepad from his pocket. “Do you remember what happened before you were brought here?”

“I was prepped for eye surgery. The rest is hazy. Why am I here?”

“Your ophthalmologist tried to assault you.”

“Marvin Tibbs? I’ve known him for years.”

“We recovered recent videos of you in addition to illicit photos from other patients in his care.”

Faith lifted her knees up and pulled her bed sheet above her chest. “What are you saying? Marvin assaulted me?”

“No ma’am, but I believe he intended to. Your dog attacked him at some point. Tibbs stabbed him with a scalpel to fend him off.”

“Is my dog alive? Where is he?”

“He’s in critical condition at a local veterinary hospital. Their staff is top notch. They treat K-9 dogs injured in the line of duty.”

“Is this supposed to make me feel better?”

“I’m sorry about what happened.”

“Where’s Marvin now?”

“We have him in custody.”

“How did you find me?”

“A lot of hard work and a little luck. I went to question Dr. Tibbs about an ongoing investigation regarding your former patient, Ronald Neyman, who escaped from a psychiatric hospital in Upstate New York. I understand he has a history of stalking you and your twin sister, Mira.”

Faith bent forward and ran a trembling hand through her hair. “Ronald Neyman tried to kill us.”

“In a skydiving accident.”

“I wouldn’t call it an accident, but yes. How did you know?”

“I’m involved in a manhunt for Ronald Neyman. Your history with him revealed itself during our investigation.”

“Investigation of what?”

“I can’t disclose details, but I have substantial reason to believe you and your sister are in danger. You’re under police protection at the moment, but your sister… We haven’t been able to track her down. Anything you can tell me about her whereabouts would be helpful.”

“Mira spent the last ten years—”

“In a coma. I’m aware. I understand she made a miraculous recovery.”

“I met up with her after she was released. My boyfriend, Julian, hired her to work for him. I’m sure he can help us find her.” Faith scooted herself out of bed, uncertain of her balance, and held the railing for support while she used her free hand to feel the empty space. “I need my clothes. Can you find them for me?”

“You should stay here.”

“Am I under arrest?”

“No ma’am.”

“Stop calling me ma’am. You make me sound old. Now give up my damn clothes. I need to see my dog.”

“Your personal effects were collected as evidence when we found you.”

“Then I’ll leave here naked if I have to.”

“Please don’t… Ronald Neyman tried to kill you and Mira once before. I have strong reason to believe he’ll try again.”