Cain's Blood Read Online Free PDF Page B

violence.”
“Safe?” erdman’s smile was genuine, a scientist discussing his favorite subject. “Genetically and statistically undeniable. It’s not even close.
The chromosomal allele for this mutation travels only on the X gene.
Think of this allele as the genetic antidote, a code in the DNA that can
‘fix’ the violent abnormality. however, this particular remedy travels
only on the X chromosome. remember enough high-school biology?
females are born from XX chromosomes. So they’ve got a likely chance
to have a cure for any aggressive mutation in the womb.”
“And men are Xy.”
“Very good, you remember. So, men have only a fifty-fifty shot of
carrying the natural cure to an overly aggressive XP11 strand. We’re
hereditarily predisposed to retaining the affliction.”
“half the world is hereditarily predisposed to violence?”
“We make up ninety-five percent of the prison system. Ninety-nine
percent of rapes. And ninety-nine percent of death row.” The smile
turned wry. “Guess you can say it’s in our blood.”
“Guess you can.” Castillo nodded. “What was in the fish tank?”
erdman blinked. “Sorry?”
“Speaking of blood, you can tell there’s some floating in the fish
tank. Someone may have only dipped their hands in, but looks like the
rocks were disturbed also. A child could tell something was tossed in
there. So, what was it?”
erdman pretended to check his notes, clearly already knowing
what’d been found. “It was a key,” he said. “We don’t know to what yet.
Nothing here or his other office across the compound at DSTI. We’re
still looking into it.”
Castillo thought about requesting the key to see what erdman
would do but figured it wasn’t worth adding to the evident animosity;
locks had stopped being an issue more than a decade ago. he asked,
“Was Jacobson’s lab office also destroyed?”
“No. Nor is there any record that he even went there last night.”
Castillo didn’t respond. he leaned on the edge of an upturned desk
and reached down to retrieve one of the splintered picture frames. The
photo inside showed two men shaking hands. The first man was a former vice president. The other, a tall, lean, gray-haired man who looked
like someone you might bump into on a private golf course. Except
smarter, Castillo decided. Much smarter. Someone who truly understood
the world’s secret levers and cogs. “This Jacobson?”
erdman nodded.
Castillo scanned the room. “The boys and he were in some kind of
group meeting, yes?”
“first and third Thursday of every month for this group. Our psychiatric head, Angela Corwin, and Dr. Jacobson always run the session
together. ran.” Down the hall, Dr. Corwin had been found nude and
murdered in her own office. “Though I didn’t think he’d make this
one.”
“Who?” Castillo had lost track of the present. “Who wouldn’t make
it, Doctor?”
“Jacobson. Been out for weeks,” erdman said. “Pneumonia or . . .
Just said he wasn’t feeling well. Was working from home. Came in only
yesterday. Last night.”
“Why would a geneticist take any part in such talks?”
“Dr. Jacobson’s core discipline is behavioral neuroscience. his
achievements in genetics evolved from that.”
“And who assigns particular students to specific group meetings?”
“Varies. Case counselors. Occasionally, Jacobson himself.”
“right.” Castillo squinted at erdman, finally voiced the obvious.
“So Jacobson let them out. This was all intentional, premeditated even.
you guys good with that? explains the trouble-free escape, the transmitters, the missing security recordings. Why these six kids. The key. his
own disappearance.” Castillo could tell from the scientist’s expression
that DSTI had already considered this possibility, and maybe right from
the very start. They just hadn’t wanted to concede it out loud yet.
“But why?” erdman asked. “Why would a man do something like
that?”
“Was he