22
"Idon't know what your witness is talking about," Elana said. "I haven't gone near the engineering room. It's not my area. My focus is on the mental health of the crew. I don't handle technical things. Yes, I have a cursory understanding of how everything works in the habitat—we all do. It's part of the redundancy and safety protocols. But I leave that in capable hands, unless it's an emergency."
"So you're going on record and saying you didn't go into the engineering room at any time before Weyland’s death,” I said with a hint of doubt.
She took a deep breath and considered it. "I'm saying that I did not go into the compartment immediately preceding his demise. I’ve been in the compartment multiple times during my stay in the habitat. We all have. On the surface, Tristan built an exact replica of the habitat where we all trained and became proficient in all of the functions aboard the facility. Have I been in the compartment? Yes. Did I sabotage the breaker in an attempt to kill Commander Weyland? No.”
“Where were you at the time of the incident?”
"I was with Dr. Norrington.”
"What were you doing?"
"At that time, I believe we were discussing various concepts surrounding group dynamics and behavior in confined spaces and how that was playing out in our short duration.”
"Did you ever discuss murder?”
Elana gave me a flat look. "To be honest, that is a scenario I had not anticipated. I'm completely blindsided by this. You’re sure he was murdered? You're convinced there's no way this could have been an accident?”
I considered it for a moment. "Here's what I know to be true. Somebody tampered with the breaker box. Commander Weyland is dead. I can only assume he was the intended target. Perhaps there was someone else, and Commander Weyland just had bad luck.”
"Sometimes things aren't as they seem," Elana said.
"I'm keeping my mind open to all possibilities.”
We stared at each other for a beat.
”What was your relationship like with Weyland?”
“Professional,” she said, not leaving room for anything else.
“That’s the extent of it?” I said with more doubt.
“Yes. I don’t get involved with people under my care. What were you expecting? Something tawdry, like the rumors about Quinn?”
"What are your thoughts on those rumors?"
"It's none of my business.”
"If true, it could harm group cohesion and cause a situation like we had here today. I would argue that it does concern you. Itisyour business."
She frowned at me. "As far as I knew, they were just rumors."
"Did she ever say anything to you personally?”
"No."
I gave her a doubtful look. "Part of your job is to provide one-on-one counseling. Surely if anybody's got an idea of who might be a psychopathic killer, it would be you. You're in a unique position to have insight."
"And I am bound by doctor-patient confidentiality. Which I will not compromise, no matter what the situation. In my opinion, from what I know of my coworkers, no one has expressed an intent to harm.”
She couldn't reveal prior confessions, but she could intervene if a patient expressed a credible threat.
"I’ll ask in an indirect way. Is there anybody we should pay special attention to?"
She smirked. "I think you should pay special attention to everyone.”
"Why do you say that?”
