Page 37 of The Secret of Secrets

Alex had employed both, and despite the dubious legality of his methods, he had managed to access information he was not supposed to have in order to track them down. A disturbing image now sat on his screen. Alex tried to conjure any benign explanation for what he was looking at, but his mind kept returning to the only logical conclusion…a chilling one.

Whoever wants to kill this PRH book…has killed a PRH author.

Chapter 24

In the darkness of the hidden alcove, Langdon studied the alphanumeric keypad on Gessner’s private elevator, his mind already replaying their meeting with her last night.

Gessner was humorless and severe, with pale skin, taut lips, and her hair pulled back tightly like a flamenco dancer. Langdon had disliked the neuroscientist from the moment they met. She had joined them at the Four Seasons bar, CottoCrudo, after Katherine’s lecture.

“Dr. Gessner!” Katherine said warmly, leaping to her feet as the woman approached the quiet booth Langdon had chosen in back. “Thank you for joining us and, of course, for inviting me to lecture here in your exquisite city.”

The woman offered a perfunctory smile in return. “Big audience tonight,” she said, her English slightly laced with a Czech accent. “You’ve made quite a name for yourself.”

Katherine politely shrugged off the compliment and motioned to Langdon. “That’s very kind. And I’m sure you know my colleague, Professor Robert Langdon?”

Langdon stood and extended his hand. “A pleasure.”

Gessner ignored it, simply sliding into the booth with them. “I hope you haven’t ordered drinks yet,” she said. “I’ve asked them to bring over some local favorites.” She turned to Langdon. “Professor, I’ve ordered you the ‘Luce’—CottoCrudo’s signature concoction of Canadian whiskey, cherry bitters, maple syrup, and bacon.”

Bacon? Langdon would have much preferred his usual Vesper martini with Nolet’s Reserve gin.

“And for you, Katherine,” Gessner said, “I ordered Staroplzenecký—a local Bohemian absinthe. We joke that if you can still pronounce its name, you need to drink another.”

A power play disguised as hospitality, Langdon suspected. There were few spirits stronger than Bohemian absinthe, and Katherine was a lightweight when it came to alcohol.

“Generous of you,” Katherine said graciously. “I have so enjoyed being here and speaking in your magical city. It’s been quite an honor.” Langdon admired her poise, along with her elegant profile, softly framed by cascades of long dark hair.

Gessner shrugged. “Your talk was entertaining, but I found your subject matter, how shall I say it…predictably metaphysical.”

“Oh,” Katherine said. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

“I mean no disrespect to noetics, but legitimate scientists like myself give no credence to ethereal notions like the soul, spiritual visions, or cosmic consciousness. We believe that all human experience—from religious ecstasies to debilitating fears—stem from nothing more than brain chemistry. Cause-and-effect physics. The rest is…delusion.”

Did she just call herself legitimate and Katherine delusional? Langdon bristled, but Katherine smiled and gave his leg a playful squeeze under the table.

“I find it curious,” Gessner continued, “that after your doctorate in neurochemistry—the most materialist of specialties—you drifted away into the oblivion of noetics.”

“You mean California?” Katherine quipped. “I guess it made me want to see the bigger picture.”

“I’m sorry,” Langdon interjected, unable to contain himself. “But with such a low opinion of noetic science, why did you invite Dr. Solomon to speak?”

Gessner seemed amused by the question. “Two reasons, really. First, our original speaker—Dr. Ava Easton from the European Brain Council—had to cancel. We needed another female to fill her spot, and I figured someone like Katherine would jump at the chance. And second, I read an interview in which Katherine generously confessed that one of my articles had helped inspire part of her upcoming book.”

“True,” Katherine said. “I wondered if you saw that.”

“I did see it, Katherine,” Gessner said, her patronizing tone more suited to addressing a child. “Although you didn’t mention which of my articles inspired you?”

“ ‘The Brain Chemistry of Epilepsy,’ ” Katherine replied. “European Journal of Neuroscience.”

“A bit outside the purview of a noeticist, no? I do hope you’re not twisting my research to fit your own conclusions.”

“Not at all,” Katherine said.

Langdon marveled at Katherine’s politeness. More than I could muster for this woman.

“Nonetheless,” Gessner replied, “as a professional courtesy, I’d appreciate a chance to read that section in advance. You must have a copy of your manuscript with you.”

“Actually, I do not,” Katherine said truthfully.