There was a slight silence hovered quickly between the air.
"Cells." Mr. Malthus repeated, "Are we, by any chance, dealing with nutjobs?"
"However ridiculous it may be, it's all true. Well, base on my own research, of course." Ash opened the box, the small, transparent container inside is now full with white powder. "Many biologists and researchers are aiming to design a synthetic living mammalian cell that could become a remarkable achievement in science with huge potential as a beneficial tool for medicine. However, the successful integration of synthesize cellular entities and genetic material is yet to be achieved. But, it seems to me that whoever made this drug had succeeded in deciphering and decoding the secret of life and creating a synthetic organism." He glance up to them, "This is the first self-replicating cell that could sense and respond to their environment without protoplasm which forms the basis for life to exist. In short, the very first cell in the planet that could survive on its own. Normal cell could not survive in a Petri dish for long. It doesn't have the right pieces to live on its own." He opened the tube and poured out a very tiny amount of powder on his palm. "But, try to put this tiny quantity into a close Petri dish. After probably a week, you'll notice the amount increase, because it's multiplying on its own."
Catalina eyed Ash warily, "Is that why the amount in that tube increased because it's sealed and closed?" she asked in weeping curiosity.
"Certainly, and the reason why I wasn't able to witness it was because I always kept the drug in my open area. I only put the substance I found on the drug in the container was also the same day when I had sold it to you."
"But, why did the color changed?"
"I said that it was the only substance I saw in this powdered drug that only has an effect to human. But, it was actually more like a membrane that contains the cells, since artificial cells are wrapped in lipid membranes, and a small membrane structures were encapsulated inside them. In this way, the cell membrane is the most important aspect of forming a cell. But instead of the lipid membrane that swaddles our cells, these cells mimic a coat of plastic polymerized acrylate. That was why the color was light blue and the more it evolves and multiplies into the mimicry of the powdered drug, the color changes."
"Excuse me, Mr. Schiller, what the hell is polymerized acrylate? I only study the proceedings of criminals and how to protect human rights and uphold human dignity. There was no inclusion about supervision over the legality of these cells or rather the supervision of the execution of DNA and decisions of biologists and damn scientists that comes by the authorization of the law." Marveled Mr. Malthus.
Ash paused for a moment before he answered, "Polyacrylate for short is any number of synthetic resins produced by the polymerisation of acrylic esters. Under certain methods it forms plastic materials of notable clarity and flexibility, the polyacrylates are mainly used in paints and other surface coatings." Ash looked at Mr. Malthus. "I hope that's understandable, Attorney."
"Upon my soul, it is. Thank you."
"The polyacrylate serves as the membrane for the artificial cells, of course having different main ingredient than a real cell's nucleus. The key feature here is the cells' ability to produce that energy inside a closed container and do their own synthesizing, potentially leading to the creation of independent artificial cells that can be sustained on their own. Responding to chemical changes is a crucial function of biological cells. But, the people who made this have overcome that risk. They created artificial cells that could mimic chemical responses in a much simpler way, allowing them to be more easily engineered. They mimicked an illegal drug, and the only goal was to genetically engineer the nerve cell of a person who has PTSD, effectively giving him dissociative disorder after exactly a month."
"There are synthetic biologists and scientists who aim to create artificial cell in purpose to help hunt down cancer cells, detect toxic chemicals, or improve the accuracy of diagnostic testing. I know there are already existing companies who sell artificial cells. Their goals are to help and cure. While these sons of bitches that made this drug was only to bamboozle the anatomy of an individual?" Catalina commented abrasively.
"Why do they only targeting persons with PTSD? What's the big deal?" Mr. Malthus asked.
"And how on earth they knew about my grandfather's PTSD when he had actually hid it for so long? I wasn't even aware of it." Catalina added.
"I don't actually have any idea how and why they are playing this game." Ash replied. "It could be something personal. Grudge, revenge? It doesn't appear to me as some random, unjustly experiments. There must be something deep that lurks behind all this."
"My grandfather was a former political figure; could it be also anyone from the politics? But he was a good politician, I swear to the very sacred name of Jesus Christ. It's more unlikely for someone as honest and as good as him to have enemies."
"It's rather more unlikely not to have even a single enemy if you're a politician." Mr. Malthus insisted. "Even if you have a thousand halos above your head, chivalry in politics will always be dead. Judas' shenanigans are the only thing alive in there."
"But we already investigated everyone who might've the possibilities to become his enemy. We never found one." Catalina replied bitterly.
"That's right. I don't know if we're just incompetent or the enemy is just way more excellent."
They sat on silence for a minute.
"The vault." Mr. Malthus suddenly muttered, looking like he was thinking deep, strategic thoughts.
"What about it?" Catalina queried.
Mr. Malthus eyes flickered back at the drug inside the tube. "That was where the drug was found. No one had actually put the drug on his safe. Someone must have already put a tiny amount to any of his personal things from the outside and when he transferred it inside his vault, the drug was gradually multiplying inside since the vault was totally closed."
Catalina swung her gaze to tube, also thinking of something feasible. "That might really be the case. At that rate, there might be a snake in the grass of my grandfather's manor. Who could actually make him intake the drug that he turned out positive?"
"We already investigated everyone inside his manor and neither of them have even the slightest hint to be the traitor."
"What about the witness?" Ash suddenly asked.
Mr. Malthus looked at him. "The housekeeper who is actually the mother of the victim," he let out a sigh, "She's not stable right now. She tried committing suicide for many times to count already. She only gave testaments at the court hearing. I was able to interrogate her at the crime scene, but just for a short time. She'll burst out to tears if she couldn't hold herself anymore."
"Did she really saw her son being murdered?"
Mr. Malthus shook his head briefly, "When she arrived at the kitchen her son was already lying in cold-blood with a slit throat. Sir Abraham was standing beside the body, stunned and startled. The murder weapon was a steak knife found on the chest of the poor child. Sir Abraham was in the middle of his dinner when that happens. His side story was like this, he was eating dinner and he was the only one at the kitchen. The kid entered after a couple of minutes, they even had a short conversation, asking the kid what he wanted, the kid answered that he wanted to get a slice of cake. He let the kid get his cake and for just a fraction of second, the lights went out and when it went back on, he turned around only to see the kid already lying on the floor, blood squirting out from his throat. Not knowing what the actual fuck had just happened, he stood up to went over the kid and saw the same steak knife he was just using over his dinner, it was bathed in blood. When he tried to check his plate back at the table, the steak knife was gone. He was too shocked he couldn't will his body to move until the mother had arrived and saw the situation. She got hysterical while Sir Abraham fainted. The police had arrived after a few minutes and investigated everything."
Ash looked skeptical for a moment, "It's too nonsensical. No one would gonna believe something that doesn't make sense." he commented, "He'll just appear lying and making up stories at that rate. Others tend to do that when their minds are clouded and they couldn't think straight."
"We couldn't get anything out from his testaments." Said Mr. Malthus, "Everything he said were all that he's innocent. But we couldn't actually find anything to figure out his side story. His finger prints were all over the murdered weapon, add the fact that in the investegation process the steak knife on his dinner was missing. There's nothing, not even a hint that could somehow support his testament. It's unconvincing, almost unrealistic."
"I know no one would easily believe that kind of story. But, I know my grandfather more than I know myself." Catalina defended, "He even has a weak heart when it comes to blood and corpse. He couldn't stand those things. It's clear as day for me that he didn't kill the kid. Add the fact that he likes Avir Comte, very, very much. He had no one else in his house except for the housekeepers and his securities, I visited him often but I didn't live with him, so he agreed to take in Avir in his mansion. I really did saw how pleased he was with the kid, almost treated him like his own grandson."
"That's why it's also as clear as day that everything has been planned very carefully, too." Added Mr. Malthus.
"Would this drug be enough evidence to present in court?" Catalina asked.
"It's not. Who in actual fact will believe a student like him?" he pointed Ash, "We gotta make the RECEO move faster."
"Why don't we let him work with them temporarily?" Suggested Catalina, glancing over Ash.
"Aside from the fact that you might gonna insult the RECEO, he's obviously not allowed. You may be paying them but you're not the boss of them. He needs to go through a lot of tests and there are even complicated requirements to qualify him as part of the RECEO. It's not easy, Catalina."
Catalina leaned over the couch and took in a sharp breath.
"I wish I could talk to your grandfather, but it would be impossible at his current state." Ash said,
Shortly thereafter, Catalina's telephone rang. She immediately stood up and went over her table to answer the call.
Raquel was on the other line, "I apologized for the interruption, Ms. Haytham but the media buyer from the advertising agency had arrived."
"Alright, tell him to wait just a second, we're almost done."
Catalina put down the telephone and went back to her couch. "I guess we're almost done here, I'm having a meeting. I'm gonna call the RECEO after this, Mr. Malthus and," she gazed at Ash, "Good work. I'm honestly impressed, Mr. Schiller. I bet you're really worth the price." She beamed.
As they got out of the office, a man in brown suit was waiting outside, standing in front of Raquel's desk as he talked to her quietly. When Raquel spotted them getting out of the office, she smiled and nodded at the man, giving him a signal that he can now proceed inside Catalina's office.
Mr. Malthus and the man gave a brief gesture of greeting as they passed each other. Shortly, the office door behind them closed and Ash went straight to Raquel's desk that made Mr. Malthus to stop, wondering. He notice that Ash handed something to Raquel but his sight wasn't able to catch what was it until Ash left Raquel's desk. He immediately quickened his pace to catch up with Ash.
"Hey, Schiller. What are you up to?" Asked Mr. Malthus, staring fixedly at Ash.
Ash gave him a sidelong glance, as if asking what he meant by that.
"Earlier, I saw you put something inside the man's pocket when we walked passed him. What was that?" He sounded suspicious.
"You did?" Ash replied, unconcerned.
"Honestly you're fast, I almost missed it." Admitted Mr. Malthus, "But, if you haven't noticed, the moment you stepped inside that room and started talking like you were actually Einstein disguised as Ash Schiller, and until we got out of the room, I was practically observing you."
"I know."
Mr. Malthus brows knitted, "What degree are you pursuing, Schiller?" He asked instead.
"Com Sci." Ash replied as they continued to walk until they entered the elevator.
"Aren't you supposed to be studying how to design and produce computers, video games, or perhaps mobile apps? Do you study computer cells and DNA programming, by any chance?" Mr. Malthus asked goofily. "You seem more knowledgeable in chemicals and biology."
"Does everyone who can paint and has artistic skill take up fine arts? Of course not. Others are pursuing medicine or maybe business. It's up to them. Someone's inborn talent will not always pave a way to what their future self wants them to be."
"And you're saying that you being good in science and biology are just an inborn talent of yours?"
Ash didn't respond but there's something in his impassive face that told Mr. Malthus he was correct.
He eyed Ash demurely, then he laughed, like he never heard such hilariousness and an overbearing self-confidence.
"You haven't answered my question yet," Mr. Malthus said as he stopped laughing, "What did you put in the man's pocket?"
Ash leaned over the elevator wall and pocketed his right hand, "Just a pen."