"You have five minutes." He stepped back. "Sylvia, go upstairs with Joseph."

"I require Mrs. Dukes as well."

Eve could see him struggle with fury. Hot color burned across his cheekbones, and his jaw worked. This wasn't a man accustomed to having any order questioned, much less countermanded.

She could go head-to-head with him, or she could throttle back. She made an instant and instinctive decision to change tactics.

"Mr. Dukes, I'm sorry to bring this into your home, to disturb you and your family. I have to do my job."

"And your job is to question decent citizens over the death of scum?"

"I'm just a foot soldier, following orders."

She saw immediately it had been the right button. He nodded and without a word turned and walked into the living area. Sylvia remained standing, her fists clenched, her knuckles white as her apron.

"Should I… would you like some coffee, or-"

"They aren't guests, Sylvia." Dukes snapped it out. Eve saw his wife flinch as if from a blow.

"Don't trouble yourself, Mrs. Dukes."

The living area was whistle clean. Flanking a sofa done in a pattern of muted blues were two identical tables. On each was a matching lamp. There were two chairs in the same pattern as the sofa, and the green area rug showed not a speck of dust or lint.

There was a vase holding yellow and white flowers arranged too precisely to be cheerful. It was set exactly in the center of the coffee table.

"I won't ask you to sit."

Dukes stood, clasping his hands behind his back at waist level.

Another soldier, Eve thought, prepared for interrogation.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

"Mr. Dukes, it's my understanding that approximately four years ago, your son had occasion to purchase an illegal substance from Louis K. Cogburn."

"That is correct."

"And on learning of this, you reported same to the police, filing an official complaint at that time."

"That is also correct."

"Subsequently charges in this matter against Cogburn were dropped. Can you tell me why?"

"The prosecutor's office refused to follow through." He stayed at attention. "Cogburn was put back on the street where he could continue to corrupt young minds, young bodies."

"I assume your son gave a full statement of the occurrence, and with the illegal substance in evidence traced back to Cogburn, it seems unusual that the prosecutor wouldn't press."

Cogburn's lips thinned. "The illegal substance had been destroyed. I would not have it in my home. It seemed my word, my son's word, was not enough against the word of trash."

"I see. That was difficult for you. Frustrating, I'm sure, for your family."

"It was."

It was interesting, Eve thought, that Dukes wore nearly the same blue uniform as his young son. The creases down the center of his trousers were so sharp they looked capable of cutting flesh.

More interesting were the waves of fury rolling off him. Hot, smothering waves of rage barely held in check.

"To your knowledge did your son continue to have dealings with Cogburn?"

"He did not."

But Eve saw the truth on Sylvia's face. The kid had gone back for more, Eve thought. And everyone knew it.

"I assume Child Services recommended illegals counseling for Devin."

"They did."

Eve waited a beat. "And did he complete the program?"

"I fail to see what this has to do with your investigation, Lieutenant," he said tightly.

She changed tacts again. "Can you tell me about the events surrounding Devin's experience with Chadwick Fitzhugh?"

"The man sexually molested my minor son." The first crack showed in Dukes's composure. But it wasn't grief Eve saw so much as disgust. "He forced himself on my son and engaged in unnatural acts."

"And this molestation took place in Fitzhugh's home?"

"It did."

"How did Devin come to be in Fitzhugh's home?"

"He was lured."

"Did Devin tell you how he was lured?"

"It doesn't matter how. He was molested. It was duly reported to the police. The man responsible was not punished."

"The charges were dropped? Why?"

"Because the law protected the predator and not the prey. Your time is up."

"How and when did Devin die?"

Ignoring the question, Dukes started out of the living room toward the front door.

"I can get that information through public records."

"My son killed himself." Dukes stood with his hands fisted at his sides. "Eight months ago. He pumped his body full of garbage until he died. The system failed to protect him. It failed to assist me in protecting him."

"You have another son. How far would you go to protect him?"

"Joseph will not be corrupted by the cancer that eats away at our society."

"Cancer's a kind of virus, isn't it? You can kill a virus with a virus. Infect the host until the bad cells are destroyed. You're a computer scientist, Mr. Dukes. You know about viruses."

She saw it then-the acknowledgment, even a kind of pride that leaped onto his face, then off again. "I said your time is up."

"So's yours, Mr. Dukes," Eve said quietly. "You're going to want to start making arrangements for your wife and son for when you go down with the rest of Purity."

"Get out of my house. I intend to call my lawyer."

"Good idea. You're going to need one."

When they were back in the car, Peabody frowned back at the house. "Why did you tip him?"

"If he wasn't smart enough to figure out I'm looking at him, and he is, whoever he's going to report this visit to would be. I was tipping the wife."

"You don't think she's part of it?"

"He never touched her, barely looked at her. She's standing there with tears running down her face and he doesn't so much as acknowledge her presence. No, this is his deal. What did you see in that house, Peabody?"

"Well, he rules."

"More than that. It's a fucking barracks, and he's the commander. She answers the door before nine in the morning, dolled up like a woman in a screen ad for AutoChefs. Kid's about fourteen, but he bolts back upstairs at the snap of Dukes's finger. I bet all the beds were already made and you could bounce a five-credit coin off every one of them."

Considering, she headed downtown. "How's a former marine who demands everything around him be squared away going to handle having a son who'scorrupting his mind and body with illegals? That was his term, right? Just likeunnatural acts was his term. A chemi-head, homosexual son. Boy, that had to burn his white-bread, homophobic ass."

"Poor kid."

"Yeah, and now his father can use him as a symbol, as an excuse to kill. There are all kinds of cancers," she mumbled. "Dallas," she said when her dash 'link beeped.

"In your vehicle?" Nadine asked. "You may want to pull over somewhere. You're going to want to hear this."

"I can hear and drive at the same time. I'm talented that way."

"I've got another statement from The Purity Seekers. Going to air in fifteen."

"Delay the broadcast. We need to-"

"I can't hold the story for you, Dallas. I won't. I'm giving you a heads up. I'll also air whatever comment you want to make, whatever statement you or NYPSD wants to issue. But this is on in fifteen."

"Damn it." Frustrated, Eve swung toward the curb, cutting off a cab before she shot up a curbside parking ramp to the crowded second level. "Let's have it."

"'Citizens of New York,'" Nadine read in perfect on-air pitch, "'we wish to assure you of your safety and restate to you our promise to seek justice on your behalf. We are committed to our vow to protect the innocent while meting out the due punishment to the guilty that the shackled hands of the law cannot provide.'"