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’t believe a number of the participants were, either. Isn’t that what we discovered, Kev, when we read through the files?”
“Those files are sealed,” McNamara said.
“Seals were made to be broken.” Lucias continued. “Just like rules. You broke a number of rules, Grandfather, in the name of science. Why shouldn’t Kevin and I do the same, in the name of . . . entertainment?”
“What have you done?” McNamara demanded.
“Nothing to concern you.”
“It concerns me when I’m ordered into Interview. And it best concern you as well, as questions will be asked about murdered women that lead to you.”
“To us?” Kevin set down his drink. “But that’s not possible. How could they know—”
“Shut up.” Lucias sprang to his feet. “What did they say about us? What did you tell them?”
“I didn’t want to believe it.” McNamara braced a hand on the back of a chair, forced himself to stand when he wanted to sink. “You murdered those women.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Murder? You’ve lost your mind. If you’re in some sort of trouble with the police—” Lucias’s tirade was cut short as McNamara slapped him.
“You disgust me. All of my hopes for you, my dreams, and look at you. You’re worthless, you and your pathetic friend. All of your talent, wasted, wasted on games, drugs, and your selfish pursuit of pleasure.”
“You created me.” Tears, hot with humiliation from the slap, stung Lucias’s eyes. “You made me.”
“I gave you all that was in my power to give. Every advantage. And it was never enough.”
“You gave me orders! Expectations. I’ve detested you all my life. I live as I choose to live now, and there’s nothing you can do.”
“You’re right. Quite right. And nothing I will do. I won’t clean up your mess this time. I won’t pay to have you protected, nor will I sacrifice myself to shield you. When they find you, and they will find you, I won’t lift a hand.”
“You won’t let them take me. I’m all you have.”
“Then God help us both.”
Changing tacks, Lucias grabbed McNamara’s arm, put a plea in his voice. “Grandfather, we mustn’t argue like this. I apologize. I was overwrought. Kevin and I have been working very hard.”
“Working?” McNamara repeated. “How did you come to be monsters? With so much at your fingertips.”
“We’re scientists, Dr. McNamara.” Kevin ranged himself beside Lucias. “This is all a mistake. That’s all. Just a mistake. There was an accident.”
“Yes, an accident.” Lucias tried to nudge his grandfather into a chair. “And perhaps we got a little carried away. But these things happen when you try to . . . expand the box. You understand that. They were only women. Test subjects.”
“Take your hands off me. You’ll face this, both of you. You’ll pay the price for your actions. If you want my help, you’ll come with me to the police tomorrow. I’ll arrange for a legal team, and a psychiatric study.”
“We’re not crazy! You’d let them lock me up? Your own flesh and blood.” He leaped, knocking over a table as he fell on top of his grandfather. The priceless lamp that stood on it crashed and showered glass. Enraged, McNamara shoved Lucias aside and tried to regain his feet.
“For years I tried not to see what you were. Allowed myself to see you—both of you—as what I knew you could be.” He managed to kneel, braced a hand on the arm of the chair.
“What we’ve done is no different from what you did a generation ago.” Lucias swiped a trembling hand over his mouth. “You dosed test subjects, some with their knowledge, some without, for the purpose of copulation and conception. You did it for procreation, so you say. We’re doing it for fun. And with more style.”
“You’ve killed.”
“A lab rat is a lab rat and an acceptable sacrifice.”
It was horror now that clutched in McNamara’s throat. “You’ve destroyed yourselves. I’m going to the police. The two of you are nothing but an experiment gone wrong.”
With a cry of fury, Lucias snatched up the base of the lamp, used it like a club.
“We’re men! Men!” Blood sprayed over the chair, the rug as McNamara slumped to the side, flailed out to try to defend himself. “They’ll send us to prison. To prison. Stupid old bastard!” He staggered to his feet, screaming as he pounded his grandfather to the floor. “I won’t go in a cage because you have no vision.”
