Page 186 of The Bone Code

“Once the vessels were modified, could they be changed back?” Ryan asked.

“No. Since Huger’s virus targeted stem cells, the changes were permanent.” I narrowed my eyes to indicate he should change the subject. He didn’t.

“That’s where GeneFree came in?”

“Yes.” Spearing an olive a little too forcefully.

“How?”

“Yeah, how?” Anne echoed.

“Huger’s testing could determine where you and your pet stood.”

“And?”

“If Lassie was infected with capno, one of Huger’s other websites could provide the secret potion to cure her.” Resigned to the fact that, despite my disapproval, we would talk about this. “And if testing determined that you carried the gene making you susceptible, GeneFree had the magic wand to block adhesion of the nasty little molecule.”

“Huger hoped all that would make his sites worth millions to some large corporation,” Anne said.

“Payday.” Vislosky’s tone was coated with disgust.

“Melanie’s role would have been to spike certain batches of vaccine. When she got cold feet and threatened to blow the whistle, Murray and Huger took her out.” Anne’s revulsion was as palpable as Vislosky’s. “And poor little Ella just happened to be with her mother that day.”

“Who fixed the system so Melanie could work in Canada without a visa?” Vislosky asked.

“Unless Huger talks, we may never know that. Though it appears he arranged for the jobs at InovoVax through some family connection.” Ryan turned to me. “Didn’t Melanie say that in the video?”

“Yes. And she alluded to a strange bond between Huger and Murray. She said it was as if the two fed off each other. Murray was flashy, an attention seeker, a big spender, addicted to fast cars and boats. Huger was an introvert, bitter at being ignored by his parents following the death of his brother.”

“Right.” Vislosky snorted. “Blame the parents.”

“After Melanie was killed, Murray must have altered the batches himself,” I added. “Dora Eisenberg said he was at InovoVax practically twenty-four seven.”

Anne voiced the question that Ryan and I had considered.

“Do you suppose they made other attempts during the fifteen years between the murders in Montreal and those here in Charleston?”

“Again, unless Huger talks, we may never know,” I said.

“How could someonedosomething so diabolical?” Far too much emotion from Anne.

“Maybe the scheme evolved as Melanie implied.” I was thinking aloud in stream of consciousness. “Both men were brilliant, talented. Murray craved money and adulation. Huger was driven by a need to prove himself in general and to his parents in particular. He resented that his father had lost the family fortune and wanted to show that he could get it back. Perhaps alone, neither would have acted as they did. But together, the catalysts of need and greed led to murder.”

“How do you say shitbag in all caps?” Anne asked.

“Lethal injection.” Vislosky forked a hunk of turkey the size of Kansas into her mouth.

“Huger must be facing godzillion charges?” Anne directed this to Ryan.

“Adulterating or misbranding a food or drug. Placing an adulterated substance into interstate commerce. Kidnapping. Attempted murder. Murder. Canada will push hard for extradition.”

“Ain’t gonna happen,” Vislosky snapped. “Huger’s staying right here in the U S of A. In South Carolina, a death-penalty state.”

“Any way to connect Huger to the explosion at InovoVax? Other than the fact that he was conveniently inMontréal—Anne exaggerated the French pronunciation—at the time?”

“Claudel’s hoping to tie him to the purchase of the Semtex,” Ryan said.

“Here’s tole détective.” Anne raised her glass.