Heart of Artifice: Part I--Engineered Enigma

[Rystil Arden]

"Does he have regular contact with her?

"Yes...he...he has custody every other weekend."

Where does he live,

"Oh, he lives...higher up in the towers...near the University. He can afford that now."

and could he have desired to abduct her from you?

"What? Kidnap Lucy? No, he'd never..."

What is his field of study?"

"...He studies...constructs. He's an expert in the field...but...I...I couldn't ask him...I...because...because of...her."

 

[Patlin]

"We will be needing to interview him at some point. Will you be able to prepare us a letter of introduction? And who is 'her?''

 

[Rystil Arden]

"A letter of intro...if I did, it wouldn't really help...If you...if you just said that Lucy is in trouble, I'm sure he would help you answer your questions..."

"Her?...her...El...Elim...Elimin...Elizabeth...His..."

 

[Patlin]

"Yes?"

 

[Rystil Arden]

"His...his......you know.......his new..." she becomes more and more withdrawn and embarrassed as she continues speaking about this.

 

[Patlin]

"Wife? Girlfriend? Employer?"

 

[Rystil Arden]

"W...wife now...I...I think...I don't know if they...she was his f...fi...fiiancee for...for a long time..."

 

[Patlin]

"Is it possible the new wife might have something against your daughter? For example, is there a potential inheritance issue?"

 

[Rystil Arden]

"No...no she wouldn't...She has no reason..."

 

[Patlin]

"Does your husband have money? It is possible she would want that money to flow exclusively to any child she might have rather than for your daughter to get any part of it. Is that not so?"