Alex Cross Page #4

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With a line like that I should

have let him kill you. I'm kidding.

Detective, Dr. Cross.

Jean Mercier.

Oh, I'm so sorry. My ring.

My only vanity, 14 carat.

It was given to me by the King of Cambodia.

Thank you all for your courage on Eric's behalf,

he and Cloche are both like family to me.

Working for you seems to be pretty

dangerous these days, yeah?

May I speak with you alone, Dr. Cross?

Moutish Corporation presents

a new vision for Detroit.

What do you think?

Are you like everyone else, Dr. Cross?

Do you see around you only death and decay?

Sir, you don't want to ask

me that question, I'm a cop.

This city will be born once again.

A global center

of manufacturing and innovation.

But this time hydrogen

engines, nano-technology.

Thorium mini-reactors, the future.

Mr. Mercier, you and I, we both know that your

employees, they're not the target, you are.

Have any idea why?

You have done your homework.

Please sit down.

- You know, there are many reasons why.

- I understand that, Sir, I am not here to judge you.

I'm just looking for leads.

Whoever killed poor Fan Yau

tries to kill Erich last night, yes...

- I am quite sure his ultimate target is me.

- Have any idea who he may be?

I don't have the slightest idea.

But...

I don't want to die.

Forgive me.

The pressure has been immense.

- Do you like nature, Dr. Cross?

- Human nature.

- Some Cognac?

- No.

- Oh, yes, your duty. But this is Louis Thirteen.

- Mr. Mercier, can we stick to the point here?

You must find it unpalatable being

sworn to protect a man like me.

- Someone rich and spoiled.

- Don't over think it.

I'm just lookin' for a bad guy.

You know, if you had not called me,

I would have called you.

Of course you would have, to have me

drive out here an hour to tell me nothing?

No. So I could see with my own eyes,

if you were up to the task

of finding the killer.

If I wasn't up to the task, Sir, then your

Nunemacher wouldn't be alive now, would he?

No, I think you a very

good detective, Dr. Cross.

Make no mistake about it, I think

you are the man I hoped you would be.

If I think of anything else,

I will get in touch.

I have another appointment now, so,

you'll have to excuse me.

Cloche, please, show Detective

Dr. Cross to his car.

It's been a long time since we've

been out without a kid between us.

Yeah, right.

And here we are with this freeloader.

I'm not paying for his dinner tonight.

I want you to know he's gotta get a job.

- Yeah, like his Daddy,

- Yes.

Who has two, right?

It's FBI profiling, 35 percent more money.

35 percent.

Great health benefits,

great dental,

regular hours, not as

unpredictable as these.

Come on, Babe, I think

D.C.'d be a good thing.

Yeah, I know, I get it, I get it. That...

here's the other side...

Yeah.

I have a career, too, and

it is right here in Detroit.

I know that.

The kids like their schools, and I have no idea

what the public school system is like in D.C.

And... how you gonna convince

Nana Mama to leave Detroit?

The National Guard and a drink.

Oh, Honey, come on, these are

the questions that have to be

answered before we can just

put up the For Sale sign.

- I understand that, Honey, I do.

- We're gonna work through this together.

All right? Together!

Let's toast to that, come on.

It's bad luck to toast with water, Honey.

We don't wanna do that.

- It's superstition, come on, come on..

- All right! Fine. Toast! To the freeloader.

Don't you dare answer that.

Baby, if I was FBI profiling,

then maybe I wouldn't have to.

- We're not done here, Mister, not by a long shot.

- I know, I know, fine, hold on just a second.

Monica this better be damn good.

Monica?

This isn't Monica.

Do you know who this is?

- Yes.

- Are you surprised to hear from me?

What do you want?

To send you something.

It's coming to you now.

There are so many interesting

things you can do with

fire, and water.

Dr. Cross, are you there?

Come on now!

You can do better than that. This is

your only chance to psychoanalyze me.

Why don't you ask me some questions?

I want you to ask me some questions.

Are you having fun?

Fun? Am I having fun?

Yeah, yes, I suppose I am.

But I think you'd find my hobby boring.

So your hobby is inflicting pain?

Oh! No, no, that's...

that's not just a hobby.

Inflicting pain is an crucial

part of my true calling.

So it fascinates you?

But in the beginning I'm sure it was

very hard to deal with the guilt.

So where did it start? Was it a

neighbor's pet? Or was it your own?

You're being disrespectful, very disrespectful,

and I don't like that, not... not at all.

I'm a professional.

Well, we're just two professionals

havin' a conversation, right?

Seora Acosta, your table is ready.

Follow me please?

I don't consider you a professional.

You are not a professional.

Why not? What do you call that

little run-in last night, huh?

Ah, yes, yes, you did figure out my

embedded clue in the drawing. That's true,

I suppose I have give you

some credit for that. But...

Monica, under duress, told me that

the rest was just lucky timing.

She can handle some pain, that one.

You're one, sick, twisted sonofabitch,

do you know that?

Dr. Cross, you're taking this personally.

Yeah, about as personal

as you took running out

of that building with your

tail tucked between your legs.

That job I can finish on another day.

I bet failing has to be

difficult for a guy like you.

So, how did you punish yourself?

Was it wire under your fingernails?

Was it zapping your testicles

with a stun gun? Did you...

Textbook psychology, Dr. Cross.

Seriously. Textbook.

And besides, how could I ever believe you when

you're wearing that... that blue, floral tie?

By the way, you have a very pretty wife.

Sitting there...

deciding she's going to

have some green tea.

She looks stunning.

- Okay, okay, Honey, hey...

- The baby.

I need... I need somebody

to call 911 for me, please.

Ya hear me, call 911! Call 911!

Baby! Baby, look at me.

No, no, no, no, no, no, you're okay, okay.

Look! Honey! Hi! Look! Look!

I got it wrong, Man.

I got it wrong and look what happened.

Thanks.

Whatchya got, Tommy?

It was just the lab, they found

trace elements of this drug

this sonofabitch is using.

It's got a 24 hour half-life.

It's called TTX, Tetra something-or-other.

That means he's getting it right here locally.

Somebody knows this guy.

Somebody's puttin' it in his hands.

Well, here's the thing, Man, it paralyzes

the victim but leaves them totally aware.

Which means that she was awake, Man.

She... she... couldn't do anything...

but she could feel everything

that was happening to her.

We gotta find this guy

and we gotta take him out!

I need you to calm down, Man, you gotta

stay with me, you can't fall apart on...

You don't understand, Man!

Please, Tommy, please. We

gotta get this sonofabitch, okay?

Excuse me.

Janelle's up.. up in her room crying.

She's alone.

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