The Authorities by Scott Meyer

Author:Scott Meyer
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, azw3
ISBN: 9780986239946
Publisher: Rocket Hat Industries
Published: 2015-10-01T05:00:00+00:00

* * *

For the remainder of the interview, Sloan channeled her questions through Professor Sherwood. He and Sambucci stood in the parking lot where the fight had come to an abrupt end while the rest of the team waited in the van, listening to the interrogation over the party line. The police were present, but were understandably keeping their distance until Professor Sherwood finished his business and collected his tiny, buzzing assistants.

“He says he was at work when the murder took place,” Professor Sherwood said.

“We know,” Sloan said. “We heard him, though it was a bit hard to hear him over the buzzing.”

Sherwood said, “Please try to speak up.”

“Yes, sir,” Sambucci nearly shouted. “I’ll try, sir. I’m just . . . oh, God, I’m just so nervous, sir.”

“I know,” Sherwood said. “Try to calm down. It’s just a three-pound beard of bees. If memory serves, the world record is a little under ninety pounds. Can you imagine what that must have felt like?”

“Oh, God,” Sambucci moaned. “Oh, God!”

“Now, now, there’s no need to cry. You’re in surprisingly little danger. I’ll remove the bees as soon as we’re done talking.”

Sloan said, “He implied earlier that he knew some helpful information. Please suggest to Mr. Sambucci that this would be an excellent time to share it.”

Professor Sherwood paraphrased Sloan’s words, and Sambucci said, “Yeah, uh, okay. A few months back, the group started acting funny.”

“Funny how?” Sherwood asked.

“Uptight. Weird. You know, funky.”

“Weren’t you all being treated for social problems? Wasn’t it normal for them to be uncomfortable in groups?”

“No, not, uh, not always. A few of them would usually be talking when I showed up for a session, but they’d always stop when I came in.”

“Why?” Professor Sherwood asked.

“Because they’re stuck-up assholes.”

“Yeah,” Sloan said. “That’s one theory.”

Sherwood chose not to pass that particular comment along. “But then things changed,” he pressed.

“Yeah, I came in one day, and everyone was on edge. Nobody talking. Lots of tension.”

“Why?”

“Dunno. They didn’t tell me and I didn’t care enough to ask.”

“Okay, what else can you tell us?”

“That’s all I got,” Sambucci said.

Sloan said, “Remind him that he told us he had information that would help us.”

Professor Sherwood said, “You claimed to have information that would help us. Once you’ve told us everything, I’ll have my colleagues bring me a smoke pot, and I’ll scrape off the bees. Not before.”

Sloan added, “And try to sound angry.”

Professor Sherwood said, “Dammit!”

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I don’t know anything else. Really! I figured if there was good money in it, I could ask the other patients, you know, since I already know them.”

“And if the money wasn’t good?” Sherwood asked.

“I figured if I got paid up front it wouldn’t matter if I really helped you or not. I’m sorry!”

Sambucci was wailing with fear and regret, not at all responsive to Sherwood’s attempts to calm him. Then the wailing suddenly cut off.

“Nghuu! Dare’s un in mu mouf!”

“I’m sorry,” Sherwood said. “What?”

“A bee ids in mu mouf!”

“Oh! There’s a bee in your mouth! I see! That’s okay.

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