NO one doubted the innocence of Dr. Peter Flavius Vladoc in the murders committed by his brother, but his gullibility in the matter and his total failure to recognize that a man he was treating was so seriously disturbed resulted in his ruined reputation as a psychiatrist. Finally, he had no choice but to pack his things and vacate his office at the PPD. He told Jessica that henceforth he'd concentrate on private practice, but he would have to do so elsewhere, somewhere far from Philadelphia, the city he loved.
“It's the price I must pay for being blind, but in the end, I fear that it will be Philadelphia that will pay a far greater price,” he declared, not a little pompously.
The DNA match on Vladoc's brother, Locke, was made, and there was no longer any doubt as to who the killer had been.
“What price is that, sir?” Jessica couldn't help asking.
“The final act in this morbid play of good and evil, Dr. Coran, I fear, has yet to be performed.”
“Whatever do you mean, Dr. Vladoc?”
“You've been too busy with your lab work and your crucifying my brother to notice that others are in the business of doing just the opposite—deifying him.”
“Really? And who are these fools?”
“The youth of this city. While you have been busily working behind these walls, tying up all the usual loose ends—and I include myself in the category of loose end— making it unequivocally clear that my brother was a vicious serial killer, the youth of Philadelphia have also been talking about Lucian Locke. They have, in fact, apotheosized the man as their light and savior.”
Jessica was horrified. “I had no idea.”
“And they continue to pen poems on the bodies of friends and on themselves, carrying on the tradition bom of the suicide pact of 'Lady Byron' and Harold Gordonn, continued by their spiritual son, Lucian Burke Locke. I fear nothing good can come of it.”
“We can't dictate lifestyles or faiths, beliefs in fetish objects or cults, Dr. Vladoc. All we can do is make sure that anyone turning such things into crime and murder is stopped.”
“Meanwhile, Jessica, I have felt it an honor to have worked closely with you and Dr. Desinor. Please give her my regards. I understand she is taking some R&R in Baltimore? Of all places to vacation... well, to each his own.”
“Where will you go now, Dr. Vladoc?”
“China perhaps...” He chuckled at his own joke. “At least as far away as China. I'm thinking perhaps people in Anchorage or Seatde might have me.”
“You've done nothing to deserve what has befallen you, sir, and without your help, we would still be stumbling about in the dark.”
“Yes, well, stumbling about in the dark is sort of the way the PPD brass put it to me. Not to worry. They offer a generous retirement package.”
Jessica saw a kindness in him she hadn't glimpsed before, his eyes as he smiled suddenly causing her to think of the actor/director/writer Peter Ustinov.
As they shook hands and said their final good-byes, she said, “If ever I'm involved in a case in the Pacific Northwest, I'll call on you.”
“Please do, by all means.”
Jessica turned her attention back to the labs where Shockley and DeAngelos and others were busy finishing work on the Poet Killer case. Through the glass partitions she saw that James Parry was on his way to bid her goodbye, knowing she was scheduled to return to Quantico that night.
“Jessica,” he said. “Couldn't let you go without saying so long.”
“This time face-to-face.”
“I thought we had hashed that out?”
“Yeah... yeah, we did. Sorry for the cattiness.”
“Without the cattiness gene, what kind of woman would you make?” he joked.
“How are you doing—I mean with your new digs and Philadelphia post, Jim?”
“It's not going to be so bad after all. We've come out of this shining, Jess, and it's largely due to your being here.”
“Don't be foolish. It was a team effort, all—almost all the way.”
“Give my regards and thanks to Kim when you see her. She was right on with her psychic hits all along. We've got to learn how to better read her”
“And tell Leanne thanks from us. It was a rocky start, but we did get the job done after all.”
“She's taken some time off, reassessing her life. Losing her lover, Donatella, has been an incredibly debilitating blow to her. She's not even sure she wants to come back to the force, but a lot of us are urging her to do so. She's too good to lose.”
“If you think that highly of her, why don't you send her to Quantico for basic training and put her on in your shop?” Hey, nota bad idea at that.” He paused, thinking. “I'll give her a call. See what she thinks of the offer. I'm sure it can be arranged. We've lost a couple of people to retirement.”
“Go for it, Jim.” Jessica smiled warmly at him.
When they shook hands, Jim held on to hers, squeezing it with obvious feeling, and smiling. “I sometimes so miss what we had together, Jess. I really, really do.”
“I know, Jim, believe me.”
“I wish the best for you, you know, even if it's with that Englishman.”
“Richard is his name.”
“Yes, well... settled our differences, then... I'll be off. Don't be a stranger when—if you're ever back this way.”
“You, too, whenever you're in D.C. or anywhere near Quantico, Jim. I mean that.”
Parry leaned forward to give her a peck on the cheek, but she pulled back.
“Bye now, Jim, and good luck here.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Robert W. Walker is the author of more than forty published novels, beginning with SUB-ZERO in 1979. He has millions of books in print. You can visit him at www.robertwalkerbooks.com.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
THE INSTINCT THRILLERS featuring FBI forensic pathologist Dr. Jessica Coran
Killer Instinct
Fatal Instinct
Primal Instinct
Pure Instinct
Darkest Instinct
Extreme Instinct
Blind Instinct
Unnatural Instinct
Grave Instinct
Absolute Instinct
THE EDGE THRILLERS featuring Detective Lucas Stonecoat
Cold Edge
Double Edge
Cutting Edge
Final Edge
THE GRANT THRILLERS featuring Medical Examiner Dean Grant
Floaters
Scalpers
Front Burners
Dying Breath
THE RANSOM MYSTERIES featuring 19th century detective Alastair Ransom
City for Ransom
Shadows in the White City
City of the Absent
THE DECOY THRILLERS featuring Chicago cop Ryne Lanarck
Hunting Lure
Blood Seers
Wind Slayers
Hand-to-Hand
THE BLOODSCREAMS SERIES featuring archeologist Abraham Stroud
Vampire Dreams
Werewolf’s Grief
Zombie Eyes
HORROR NOVELS
Dr. O
Disembodied
Aftershock
Brain Stem
Abaddon
The Serpent Fire
Flesh Wars (the sequel to The Serpent Fire)
Children of Salem
THRILLER NOVELS
Sub-Zero
PSI: Blue
Deja Blue
Cuba Blue (with Lyn Polkabla)
Dead On
Thrice Told Tales (short stories)
YOUNG ADULT
Daniel Webster Jackson & the Wrong Way Railroad
Gideon Tell & the Siege of Vicksburg
NON FICTION
Dead On Writing – Thirty Years of Writerly Advice
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