Chapter 22
"Idon't know what your witness is talking about," Elana said.
"I haven't gone near the engineering room.
It's not my area. My focus is on the mental health of the crew.
I don't handle technical things. Yes, I have a cursory understanding of how everything works in the habitat—we all do.
It's part of the redundancy and safety protocols.
But I leave that in capable hands, unless it's an emergency. "
"So you're going on record and saying you didn't go into the engineering room at any time before Weyland’s death,” I said with a hint of doubt.
She took a deep breath and considered it.
"I'm saying that I did not go into the compartment immediately preceding his demise. I’ve been in the compartment multiple times during my stay in the habitat. We all have. On the surface, Tristan built an exact replica of the habitat where we all trained and became proficient in all of the functions aboard the facility. Have I been in the compartment? Yes. Did I sabotage the breaker in an attempt to kill Commander Weyland? No.”
“Where were you at the time of the incident?”
"I was with Dr. Norrington.”
"What were you doing?"
"At that time, I believe we were discussing various concepts surrounding group dynamics and behavior in confined spaces and how that was playing out in our short duration.”
"Did you ever discuss murder?”
Elana gave me a flat look. "To be honest, that is a scenario I had not anticipated. I'm completely blindsided by this. You’re sure he was murdered? You're convinced there's no way this could have been an accident?”
I considered it for a moment. "Here's what I know to be true. Somebody tampered with the breaker box. Commander Weyland is dead. I can only assume he was the intended target. Perhaps there was someone else, and Commander Weyland just had bad luck.”
"Sometimes things aren't as they seem," Elana said.
"I'm keeping my mind open to all possibilities.”
We stared at each other for a beat.
”What was your relationship like with Weyland?”
“Professional,” she said, not leaving room for anything else.
“That’s the extent of it?” I said with more doubt.
“Yes. I don’t get involved with people under my care. What were you expecting? Something tawdry, like the rumors about Quinn?”
"What are your thoughts on those rumors?"
"It's none of my business.”
"If true, it could harm group cohesion and cause a situation like we had here today. I would argue that it does concern you. It is your business."
She frowned at me. "As far as I knew, they were just rumors."
"Did she ever say anything to you personally?”
"No."
I gave her a doubtful look. "Part of your job is to provide one-on-one counseling. Surely if anybody's got an idea of who might be a psychopathic killer, it would be you. You're in a unique position to have insight."
"And I am bound by doctor-patient confidentiality. Which I will not compromise, no matter what the situation. In my opinion, from what I know of my coworkers, no one has expressed an intent to harm.”
She couldn't reveal prior confessions, but she could intervene if a patient expressed a credible threat.
"I’ll ask in an indirect way. Is there anybody we should pay special attention to?"
She smirked. "I think you should pay special attention to everyone.”
"Why do you say that?”
"That's your job. You should come at this with an unbiased perspective and let the evidence dictate the investigation.”
"We like to think that’s what we do. Right now, we don't have a lot of evidence."
"Hopefully something will turn up."
"Did Weyland talk to you about HPNS?”
"If he did, I would not be able to discuss that with you.”
"Did you notice any symptoms?"
"I did not.”
I paused for a long moment, then said, "I thought you didn't do well in confined spaces."
“The habitat is different from an elevator in the dark with a stranger."
"I bet this can get claustrophobic really quickly."
"Call it immersion therapy," she said. "In an environment like this, I will have to get over my discomfort in small spaces or suffer the consequences.”
"A little bit of a gamble, don't you think, especially with other people's lives?"
Her eyes narrowed at me. "Like I said, the habitat is different than being on an elevator with a strange person in the dark.”
"How did you enjoy the hyperbaric chamber and the bell down?”
She forced a smile. "I'm here, aren't I?”
My skeptical gaze persisted.
"Look, I had plenty of training in the simulator and was able to get comfortable in the confined space. I know the crew well. You two are the only unexpected variables.”
I laughed. "In an environment like this, there are infinite variables."
Her jaw tightened, and she swallowed. "Are you trying to make me uncomfortable?”
"No. Not at all. I'm just surprised to see you here." I squinted as I thought about it. "Does anyone else know about your claustrophobia?”
Elana glared at me and cleared her throat. "I'm not claustrophobic. As I mentioned—“
"I know, I know. Let me guess, you experienced some kind of trauma in an elevator before.”
That struck a nerve. Her face reddened, and she glared at me. "That is none of your business."
“Tristan doesn’t know. He would never have let you be a part of this mission had he known. Nobody else knows either.”
"If you don't mind, I would like to keep it that way.
It's not going to be a problem. I didn't wash out during the training.
I haven't freaked out at any point yet. I'm not going to call it a fear or a phobia.
I'm going to label it something else. I think the term discomfort sums it up best. And I have overcome the discomfort.
It's all in the mind anyway, isn't it? Panic is just a manifestation of fear.
I am in control of my body and mental attitude.
Sometimes you can just decide to let things go.
I have officially let that part of my life go," she said with a confident smile.
"Good. I'm happy for you.”
Elana gave me a doubtful look. "So, what’s said in this room stays in this room?”
"Your secret is safe with me, unless this becomes a threat to the group or to the habitat.”
She scoffed. "Since when are you concerned about the group or the habitat?”
"Since our survival depends on both.”
After a moment, she said, "Fair enough."
There was another long, awkward pause.
"If there's nothing else, I really should be getting back to my duties.”
"That's all for now," I said.
"Who's next on your list?"