When someone dies mysteriously during a Psych experiment, Rhiannon becomes enmeshed in a conspiracy that includes both the survivors and the killer.
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Short on cash, Rhiannon...
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CHAPTER ELEVEN
DEONTOLOGY
( —ethics, especially that branch dealing with duty, moral obligation, and right action. )
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SOMETHING IN THE AIR INSIDE THE CAFETERIA SHIFTS. It seems to become heavier, making breathing a lot harder than it usually is and certainly a lot more than what it needs to be, even though Rhiannon knows the list technically shouldn't be causing this strong of a reaction.
All these people knew what they were signing up for, including her, so what were they expecting? Didn't they want to make it through the next and final stage of the experiment?
Frankly, Matteo seems to be making this into something similar to the end of the world, wanting to turn a coincidence into something purposeful, as if these people had anything in common; granted, some of them might be roommates, friends or even more than that (take Rhiannon and Jude, for example, and, perhaps, Gabriella and Hailey), but other than those factors, there aren't any reasons why they were purposely forced to be in the experiment together.
Yes, some might argue no one is forcing them to do anything, which is true, but Rhiannon seriously doubts anyone will quit. If they wanted to ditch the experiment, they would have already let Beatrice and Frances know, unless an emergency comes up, or something. She's not in that situation, and she's determined to go forward with it until the end of the experiment.
She can almost taste the sweet flavor of being in control of her own life once and, if being a part of Project Oxygen is the way to do it, then so be it. It's time to prove once and for all to all these people and, especially, to herself she can handle seemingly difficult things—those they think she cannot possibly deal with because she's too much of a wimp.
"Who's on that list?" Sutton questions, and he reaches out an arm across the table to hand her his phone, which he might have used to take a photo of said list, as the place must have been too crowded for him. Sutton's eyes scan the list as she knits her brows together, and Rhiannon's heart rate races in anticipation, wondering who might have joined them as well. "Well. There aren't as many of us as I thought there would be."
"Can I see?" Rhiannon asks and Sutton nods, sliding the phone towards her, while Matteo whimpers, as the device might get scratched. Like Matteo said, they're all there—Rhiannon herself, Jude, Matteo, Zelda, Gabriella, Hailey, Sutton and Laura—along with people whose names she knows, like Brooklyn Bach and Roman Cooke (he said it himself . . .), but there's one final name she doesn't recognize. "Who's Dimitri Bonheur?"
"I have no idea," Matteo retorts, yanking the phone from her hands, "but, if you ask me, there are several red flags around this. Don't you think it's too big of a coincidence that all of us know each other in one way or another? Don't you think this sample is minuscule and they certainly will not be able to generalize whatever results they find, meaning this study is pretty much pointless?" He narrows his eyes to the point they're mere slits. "There's something really shady about this, guys, not to mention Roman's family is involved in the experiment, along with the Duncans. Do you seriously want me to think there aren't any hidden motives behind his name being on this damn list?"
