Текст книги "The Naked Eye"

Автор книги: Iris Johansen

Соавторы: Roy Johansen
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Текущая страница: 15 (всего у книги 19 страниц)

CHAPTER 15

KENDRA’S PHONE RANG AT 3:32 P.M.

She was still in a conference room at FBI headquarters searching databases that made sense for Wingate. When she saw Griffin’s name on the caller ID screen, she immediately punched the talk switch. “Hello, Griffin. Anything on Wingate yet? I’ve been striking out all day.”

He ignored her question. “Is Beth Avery with you?”

“No, not yet. I thought she was still up there in your office with your computer guy. She didn’t contact me to tell me anything different.”

“Shit,” Griffin whispered.

Kendra tensed. “What is it?”

“Beth left with him shortly after noon … something about lunch.”

“Then it’s okay. You scared me, dammit.”

“You’re not the only one. Look, I just got some disturbing news. Tom Sims isn’t supposed to be down here in San Diego at all.”

“What?”

“You heard me. There’s an uproar in Sims’s office. I just had a photo of Tom Sims e-mailed to me. The resemblance of the man who showed up here was close to his description but not close enough. He was an imposter.”

“Wait a minute. I’m confused. This Sims doesn’t exist?”

“Oh, he exists. But he was still in Washington as of last night. The communication I got late yesterday afternoon telling me that he was being sent down to work more closely with Zackoff was bogus. That message about wanting to meet with Beth Avery and discuss her memo was total bullshit.”

“Whoever it was, how could they have known about her memo?”

“That’s what I’m trying to tell you. Our system here at the branch office was hacked. I’d bet Sims’s and Zackoff’s work and communication were also hacked.” He paused. “And the real Tom Sims didn’t show up at his office in Quantico this morning. That’s why his security people went into his computer to see if there might have been foul play. Since he was working on this case, we were number one on their list.”

Kendra’s mind raced, and the direction was terrifying. Her heart was pounding frantically.

She was seeing the twisted, bloody body of Stokes on that rooftop posed with his warning message.

Prepare for another strike.

Beth!

*   *   *

KENDRA’S PHONE RANG AS SHE DROVE down the I-8 freeway. She checked the caller ID screen. Sam.

Shit. Sam hadn’t been told yet, and she’d been hoping to speak to him in person. Evidently, she wasn’t going to be allowed to do that.

She pressed a button on her steering wheel to answer. “Hi, Sam. I’m on my way back to Lynch’s. We need to talk.”

“It’s about time. I’ve been trying to get in touch with you guys all day. I’m getting the distinct feeling I’m being frozen out.”

“That couldn’t be further from the truth. I need you more than ever.” She paused. “Beth needs you.”

Sam was silent. He knew her well enough to grasp the significance of that sentence and that something was seriously, terribly, wrong. “Kendra, what’s going on?”

Kendra hesitated. There was only one way to tell him. “We think Beth has been taken. We think Colby has her.”

“Oh, God.”

“Yeah.”

Sam’s voice was suddenly throbbing with anger. “How in the hell could this happen?”

“Beth was supposed to meet Sims and go over the work she’s done on Colby’s computer contacts. Afterward, she was supposed to bring him to meet you.”

“She didn’t call me. I’ve been trying to get hold of her, too.”

She drew a deep breath. “It appears it wasn’t the real Sims who came here to San Diego. It was someone posing as him. Probably Colby’s computer guy. He’s taken Beth, and soon, Colby will have her if he doesn’t already.”

“Shit!” Kendra heard Sam’s fist pounding on the desk on his end. “Shit. Shit. Shit.”

“Sam, calm down. I’m on my way. Lynch is still with Griffin right now. But we’re meeting at Lynch’s to figure out our next move.”

“We’re going to sit around here and talk? We’ve done enough talking. We need to kill that son of a bitch.”

“We need to find him first.”

Sam’s voice was ragged, but quieter, more determined. “We will. We’ve got to, Kendra.”

“I’ll see you in a few minutes.”

*   *   *

LYNCH ARRIVED AT THE HOUSE ten minutes after Kendra. “You told Sam? Where is he?”

She nodded at the office. “He objected to talking when he could be working. He said to tell him when he could do anything else. I guess he’s right. He’s pretty upset.”

“Aren’t we all? Okay, Sam is working at full steam,” Lynch said. “What else can I do?”

“Find that damn imposter,” she said. “This computer expert is a tech, not a killer for hire. If he took Beth, we still have a chance of getting her back before he turns her over to Colby.” A slim chance, she thought frantically, but still a chance. “Find him or get me a phone number and let me talk to him. Beth is rich as Midas. I can find a way to get him money for ransom. We just have to keep her away from Colby.”

“It may be too late.” He was heading for the door. “But I’ll get with Griffin, and we’ll track him down. I’ll call you as soon as I hear anything.” He looked back at her over his shoulder. “And you let me know if you’re contacted.”

She watched the door shut behind him. He was expecting her to hear from Colby to tell her he had Beth. He knew as well as she did that it was not likely they’d find Beth before she was handed over to Colby. It was only a desperate move that had made her ask him to go on such a wild-goose chase.

Desperation and a wild hope that something could go right in this nightmare.

Her phone rang.

It could be Griffin.

Or Sam.

No ID.

She slowly answered the phone.

“Hello, Kendra. Are you scrambling wildly to find your pretty little friend?” Colby asked. “I wish I could see you. It would be very satisfying. But I don’t expect to be lacking in satisfaction in the near future, so I can accept it.”

“Is she alive?”

“Oh, yes.”

“I want to talk to her.”

“Later. Unfortunately, she’s not available at present. I’m having her brought to me. You can understand I’m being very cautious with the transfer. I have great respect for you, Kendra.”

“Look, Beth is very rich. Even you have to like the idea of that kind of payoff. Don’t hurt her, and we can deal.”

“I know she’s very well off. It was one of the lures I used to bring Northrup into the fold. He’s very fond of money.”

“Northrup is your computer tech?”

“You guessed it, didn’t you? I thought you would. But he was just too clever not to be used. Sadly, he was extremely shy about taking certain important steps.” He chuckled. “But Beth Avery’s magnificent prospects tipped the scales. He decided that ridding me of Sims would be a small price to pay.”

“He killed Tom Sims?”

“Probably not with any great imagination. He mentioned a gun with a silencer and an alley in D.C. I would have been much more inventive, but I was busy with preparations here.”

“But he did what you wished and deserves to be rewarded. Let her go, Colby. We’ll get the money to you.”

“But money isn’t what this is all about, Kendra. It’s about that wonderfully painful note in your voice. It’s about the lamb leading the tiger to slaughter.”

“Beth’s no lamb. She’s a woman you can use to line your pockets. Let her go.”

“But you’re not denying that you’re a tiger, Kendra. I’m preparing a circus where you can perform for me. I’m going to leave you now. I’ll be back in touch when I’m ready to turn loose the clowns and have your Beth do a little high-wire acrobatics.” He hung up.

And Kendra immediately bent forward, struggling against being sick. She took a deep breath, then sat up straight. Stop being weak. The worst was happening, and she had to cope with it.

Her hand was shaking as she called Lynch. “Colby doesn’t have Beth yet. It’s Northrup who did the switch with Sims and there’s a possibility he might deal if you can get to him in time. But he killed Sims, and there’s no way he’d make a deal if the police are involved.”

“I take it that Colby called you?”

“Yes. Our only chance is Northrup. Colby wants blood.”

“Nothing different there.”

It was different because it was Beth’s blood he wanted. “Find a way to get to Northrup,” she said. “Do anything you need to do.”

Lynch was silent a moment. “I’ll do what you want. But no time for any manipulation this time, Kendra.”

She knew what he was warning her about. Violence and deadliness instead of diplomacy. Skills in which Lynch was equally expert. “Do what you have to do,” she repeated.

“I’ll get back to you later.” He hung up.

She sat there, trying to get her wits together. She should probably call Griffin and tell him about what Colby had told her about the missing Tom Sims.

But there was something else she had to do first. She closed her eyes and braced herself. Dear God, she hated this. Her eyes flicked open, and she reached for her phone. She dialed quickly and listened to it ring. What could she say? How could she explain the unexplainable?

The phone was picked up, and she spoke quickly, “Eve, something terrible has happened.” She tried to steady her voice. “And I think you’re going to have to drop everything and come out here…”

*   *   *

EVE DUNCAN’S EXPRESSION WAS JUST as grim and haggard as Kendra had expected it to be as she exited airport security and moved toward her. Kendra could see the strength and the determination that had made Eve one of the foremost forensic sculptors in the world, but she was also aware of the vulnerability and passion that made her friend intensely human. She had lost her little girl, Bonnie, years ago, and Kendra hated the thought that she now had to face the thought of losing a sister she had only just found. Eve gave her a quick hug. “Any news?”

Kendra shook her head. “Nothing.” She looked beyond her. “Joe didn’t come?”

“I haven’t contacted him yet. He’s in Mexico City at some police drug-cartel seminar. The cartels are starting to use Atlanta as their home away from home.” She strode toward the door. “I have to get my head on straight before I talk to him. If he sees I’m upset, he’ll drop everything and come here.”

Kendra knew that was true. Joe Quinn, a police detective with Atlanta PD, had been Eve’s lover for many years, and there was nothing he wouldn’t do for her. “I can see why he wouldn’t want you to be without him during this time.”

Eve’s lips twisted. “He has a life. I can’t lean on him for everything. And from what you say, everything may be over before he gets off the plane.”

“I didn’t say that.” But she’d tried to be as honest as she could with Eve. Her friend would not appreciate sugarcoating. “We’re going to get her back, Eve. We’re working so hard on several fronts. We have the best police and FBI personnel. Lynch is here and exploring every possibility.”

“You’ll get her back.” Eve’s voice was trembling. “But I’ve been wondering if it will be too late.”

“No.” She stopped and turned to face her. “I’ll do anything to get her back alive, money, a trade, anything.”

“Stop that.” Eve’s eyes were glittering with moisture. “Do you think Beth would tolerate that? Do you think I would?” She took Kendra in her arms and held her close. “No sacrificial lambs. We just have to find a way to get that son of a bitch.”

Kendra’s voice was muffled against her. “It’s my fault, Eve. I should never have let Beth get within a mile of me. I thought I could keep her safe.”

“Beth is smart, and I’m sure she knew the risks. She’s also stubborn as hell, and she does what she wants.” Her voice was uneven. “And why shouldn’t she? For years, she was a prisoner in that hellhole of a hospital. It’s only for the past months she’s been able to reach out and taste everything that life has to offer. Do you know how angry it makes me feel to know that Colby is trying to take that away from her?” She held Kendra at arm’s length and looked into her eyes. “It’s not your fault. The fault lies with that monster who took her. Now we’ve got to stop weeping and wailing and get her back.”

Kendra nodded. “Maybe a little weeping and wailing. But it won’t interfere. I promise.” She turned and headed for the door. “Come on and meet Lynch. He’s waiting in the car to drive us back to his house. He wouldn’t let me come to meet you by myself.”

“And I approve,” Eve said quietly. “Not only for your protection. You’re definitely not going to be a trade, but you’re the center, and everything is spinning around you.”

And that center was dark and frightening, like a whirlpool that was ready to pull Beth down into its depths.

And in spite of Eve’s words, Kendra knew that no matter what the circumstance she could never allow that to happen.

*   *   *

“I WANT TO SEE SAM,” EVE said as soon as she stepped into the foyer of Lynch’s house. “Where is he, Kendra?”

“Where he always is”—she nodded down the hall—“the office. It’s where he set up shop when I brought him here, and since I told him about Beth, he’s been working frantically. I haven’t been able to get him out of the room to even eat.” She smiled faintly. “That’s not new, but Beth usually managed to get something down him. Force, persuasion, and persistence, she used them all. She considered Sam her charge.” She bit down on her lower lip. “Past tense. I’m using past tense. I won’t do that, dammit. She does consider Sam her charge.”

“From what you told me, they’ve became very close.”

Kendra nodded. “In their very individual ways.” She turned and started toward the kitchen. “Go in and see him. I’ll go make coffee and sandwiches.”

Eve watched her disappear down the hall, then turned and moved toward the office. She knocked, and when she received no answer, she opened the door. “It’s Eve, Sam. May I come in?”

“Go away, Eve.” He didn’t look up from his computer. “Can’t you see I’m busy?”

“I’ll only be a minute.” She came forward. He looked just the same as the night she’d first met him at the mental hospital, when they’d asked him to help free Beth. No, not quite. No breeziness now. His eyes were red and his entire demeanor tense. “Any luck?”

“This isn’t about luck. It’s about tracing that bastard.” He stopped typing but stayed hunched over the computer. “And I can’t do it. Not in time. It’s not like tracing a phone call. There are thousands, maybe millions of computers out there that have been hijacked without the owners even knowing it. They’re called zombies. Hacking networks sell access to them to businesses to generate spam, or anybody who will pay them. Colby’s messages are going through lots of zombies, different ones each time. That means I have to hack dozens of systems in order to try to track him. It’s like trying to untie a big, gnarly, knotted piece of string. There’s no way that I can do that in time.”

Eve stopped before the desk. “Don’t tell me that. I remember what you did when Kendra asked you to do your magic and save Beth before, when she was at that mental hospital. We were in despair about how to do it. But you were so confident, so sure of yourself. You’re going to do the same thing now.”

“Am I?” He looked up at her. “It’s different now. It was easier. She was only a problem to me then. Now she’s … Beth.”

“And she’s my sister.” Eve leaned her hands on the desk. “So stop all this nonsense. We’re both going to do what has to be done.” She stared him in the eye, and said fiercely, “Because I’ve just found Beth. I never even knew I had a sister. I’m not going to lose her again. Do you understand?”

Sam’s eyes widened. “Yeah, I think I do.” He made a face. “I was just having a bad moment. I’m okay now.”

“Kendra said you’ve been working your ass off since you came here. I appreciate it. But I’m going to ask you to work even harder.” Her voice was firm. “And you’ll know I’ll work just as hard. I’ll match you all the way, Sam. You tell me what to do, and it will be done. I’m no novice. I don’t do magic on computers, but I know the Web sites and how to dig for information because of my work as a forensic sculptor. Some people say I have wonderful instincts. I’ll use them.”

“I don’t know what good—”

“Don’t analyze, accept,” she said. “Kendra’s going through the same hell we are. We’re all in this together. But I’m not sure how I can help Kendra. So I’m zeroing in on you.”

“I don’t need—” He stopped as he met her eyes. He smiled. “I can tell Beth is your sister.”

“We’re nothing alike. For instance, I’m not going to insist you eat. That’s up to you. I miss meals myself when it’s important to work.” She added, “And it’s very important to work. So do it, Sam.” She turned back toward the door. “I’m going to bring in that pot of coffee Kendra is making. We’re going to need it.”

*   *   *

BUZZZZ .

Buzzzz.

Beth tried to open her eyes, but she couldn’t summon the strength

Buzzzz.

A giant, buzzing bee was circling her head. At least that’s how it sounded.

Time to take a look. If only she could find the energy to open her damned eyes.

Buzzzz.

Through sheer force of will, she raised her eyelids. First the right, then the left. There was just white, blinding light. Nothing else but pain. Her head throbbed, and her mouth stung.

Buzzzz.

It wasn’t a bee, she realized. It was the light. Her eyes focused, and she saw there were two bare, fluorescent tubes glowing and buzzing on the ceiling above her.

Buzzzz.

She moved to bring her hands toward her head, but she realized she couldn’t. Her hands were pinned by her side, bound by heavy, nylon straps.

She tried to move her legs, but she realized that they, too, were tied.

Tied to what?

She looked down. She was fastened to a cream-colored embalming table. There was an elevated lip and rusty drain between her ankles.

She’d seen this table before, she realized in panic. This was where Detective Stokes had been stabbed over and over by that maniac.

And this was where he had died.

“Hello, Beth.” She knew that voice. That low, terrifying voice. “Welcome.”

The rest of the room finally slid into focus. What the hell kind of place was this? It was a windowless room, perhaps twelve feet by twelve feet. The walls and floor were covered by a thick, tarlike substance.

Colby stepped closer, smiling at her with those creepy, little, rodentlike teeth. “Your wooziness will pass. You’ll want to be awake for this.”

“I doubt that,” a voice said from behind her. “Full consciousness is rarely desirable when in your presence, Colby.” The other man stepped into view.

“Sims,” Beth whispered.

The man smiled.

Now she remembered. Sims was in her car looking through her files with her, when he’d suddenly jabbed her with the syringe. They’d been laughing together, then … darkness.

“But you’re not Sims, are you?” she asked uncertainly.

He now appeared much younger, with no trace of gray in his hair. His face was less full, and his body even appeared thinner.

“Sorry to disappoint you.” He carefully peeled off his fake moustache, leaving behind a faint rash above his upper lip. “You seemed to enjoy him so much.”

“My young protégé, Joseph Northrup,” Colby said. “It took a great deal of coaching, but I so wish I could have seen him proudly stride into the FBI regional office this morning.”

Beth was silent a moment, trying to overcome the shock and confusion that was bombarding her.

Colby. Death. She might be going to die. Panic soared through her.

And she might not.

Either way, face it and get through it.

“You hacked Sims’s badge?” she asked Northrup.

Northrup shook his head. “Why would I do that when I knew I’d have the genuine article.”

“But how would you—” She stopped as the sick realization hit home to her. “You killed him.”

Colby smiled. “We couldn’t have two Tom Simses walking around, one on each coast, could we? It would have been much too bewildering.”

“But why kill—”

“This has all been in the works for a long time,” Colby said. “Like pieces of a puzzle falling into place. Only one major difference, though. It was supposed to be Kendra’s friend Olivia Moore on that table, but she had the bad manners to leave town just when I needed her.”

“Good.”

“Ah, so noble. Yet I’ve discovered nobility fades remarkably fast under the knife. But who knows, you might prove the exception. No matter, you’ll still make a suitable replacement.” He tilted his head. “Do you know, throughout history, most great works of art are the products of some measure of compromise and improvisation. Depending on the season, Rembrandt substituted burnt umber for burnt sienna pigments for his hand-mixed paints. Mozart would reorchestrate his pieces as he was composing them, based on the availability of talented soloists. Art isn’t created in a vacuum.”

Beth shook her head in disbelief. “Is that what you think this is. Art?”

“Of course.”

“No. That’s just what you say to yourself to try and dress up your sick, pathetic compulsion. What you’re doing has nothing to do with art.”

Colby smiled. “Most people in your position would be doing and saying everything in their power to keep from angering me.”

“You don’t kill out of anger,” Beth said. “I’ve been studying you, and I know you better than that.”

“You know nothing about us,” Northrup said.

“You’re half-right,” Beth said. “I know nothing about you. And no one will ever know anything about you. The history books will have no place for some suck-up toadying pen pal who offered up his computer skills to this homicidal sack of shit. You’re even more pathetic.”

Northrup’s face flushed, and he leaned over her and whispered, “Do you really want to see what I’m capable of?”

Without warning Beth arched her back and snapped her head forward, smashing into Northrup’s face.

“Aughh.” He howled and stumbled backward away from her. Blood spurted from his broken nose. “You bitch!”

“Interesting. From her background report about being in a mental hospital, I thought she might be much more docile,” Colby said, with perhaps a trace of amusement. “It appears that Kendra has chosen someone of her own ilk as a friend. Consequently, you might want to keep your distance from the prisoner, Northrup. Just a suggestion.”

Northrup cradled his face. “Is this a joke to you?”

Colby shook his head. “You’ve made it a joke, Northrup.”

“Did you hear that?” Beth said softly to Northrup, “You’re the joke.”

“I’ll kill you!” Northrup staggered back toward her.

Colby blocked his path.

“Stop it,” Colby said. “I won’t have your lack of control spoiling everything. We have a plan, and we’ll keep to it.” He turned back to Beth. “And, again, I’m fascinated by your willingness to spit in the face of those who hold your fate in their hands.”

“I don’t spit. But I might have taken off his nose, an ear, or even a finger or two if you hadn’t stopped him.” She clicked her teeth.

He chuckled. “Incredible. You’re not even trying to bargain.”

“Sorry if that deprives you of an erection, but I know that didn’t work for the twenty-some-odd people you’ve already killed. Am I afraid? Of course, I am. Self-preservation doesn’t dictate anything else. But I fear death, not you. So why would I want to spend the last minutes of my life groveling to you?”

“I can make those last minutes extremely unpleasant for you.”

“You will anyway. You’ll want to hurt Kendra, and you believe hurting people close to her will do that. Nothing I can do will change that.”

“Quite true.” He gave her an admiring nod. “Ironically, my associate here has been lobbying to save your life, at least momentarily. He’s been swayed by reports of your extreme wealth. He thinks we can take advantage of this situation to get some of it for ourselves.”

“So you want me to write you a check?”

“Oh no. He has some complicated business in mind involving wire transfers and offshore accounts.”

“Then he doesn’t know you as well as the rest of the world does.”

Northrup turned toward Colby, still dabbing at his bloody nose. “You said you’d consider it.”

“Sorry, my friend. She’s right. There’s a certain purity in what I do, and that would only sully it.”

“I tell you, it can work,” Northrup said.

“That’s beside the point.”

“Look, I did everything you asked me to do. We’ve been partners. I told you in the beginning that we’d need money to go somewhere safe and start again.”

“Yes, you did. But I’ve always had funds when I needed them. I’m sorry that you’re not similarly blessed.” He tilted his head. “But it would probably take even many more fortunes than this woman possesses to satisfy you.”

“What the hell? You never said that you wouldn’t do it.”

“Because you seemed so happy when you talked about it.” He smiled. “I like to see you happy, Northrup. You were so talented and being so cooperative.”

“You were deceiving me.”

“A necessary evil.”

Northrup’s face was contorted. “I need that money. This conversation isn’t over.”

Colby smiled. “I’m afraid it is.”

He whirled around with his hunting knife and cut a clean vertical line down the front of Northrup’s torso. As blood and intestines poured from the wound, Northrup staggered back and dropped to the floor. His eyes bulged, and blood trickled from his nose and mouth.

“I’m so very sorry,” Colby said. “You’ve been very helpful, but your usefulness has passed. This isn’t a team sport, my friend.”

Beth could only watch in horror as Northrup twitched violently as he bled out. In under a minute, he was dead.

Still holding the bloody knife, Colby stepped toward her. He stopped and stood there silently gazing at her. “You see, it is an art,” he finally said. “Northrup didn’t respect that.”

Colby turned and left the room.

*   *   *

“ANY WORD FROM COLBY?” LYNCH asked the minute he walked into the house after leaving Griffin at the FBI field office.

“Not yet,” Kendra said. “And I don’t know why he’s taking so long. It’s been ten or twelve hours since he called me.” She moistened her lips. “Unless Northrup didn’t turn Beth over to him. Dear God, I hope that’s it. Anyone would be easier to deal with than Colby.”

Lynch shook his head. “I wish I could believe that was true. But Colby has a reputation of maintaining control of every situation. Northrup is an amateur compared to him.”

Kendra knew that he was right. “I can still hope. It’s better than sitting here thinking about all the sick things he might be doing to her.” She rubbed her temple. “I need to do something. Eve is in the office, working with Sam. You’re trying to find that van. All I’m doing is tracking every Wingate on the planet and waiting for that damn call.” She tried to focus. “What did you find out?”

“Not as much as I’d like. But there’s a possibility that might come through.” He added quietly, “But I wanted to come back and be with you before you got that call from Colby.”

“Because you think I might need a shoulder to cry on?”

“Something like that.” He smiled faintly. “Or more likely that he’ll try to manipulate you to do what he wants, and I’ll need to try to rein you in before you get yourself killed.”

“Much more likely.” She swallowed to ease the tightness of her throat. “But I keep thinking of Stokes and all the horrible things he did to him. Beth has had such a rough life, she shouldn’t have to go through this along—”

“Shh.” He was suddenly beside her and pulling her up into his arms. “I didn’t say that both options weren’t available.” His hand stroked her hair as he pushed her head into his shoulder. “This one is far more pleasurable for me. I don’t know what the hell Colby has planned for Beth, but I doubt if he’ll duplicate Stokes. He probably has something else planned. He may give us a chance to work our way to gutting him.”

Lynch wasn’t giving her false promises, but he was offering the reality of which they were both aware. Along with the violence and intelligent incisiveness that was his trademark. Strange that explosive combination could offer such comfort …

“Okay?” His breath was soft on her ear. “Can I get you something? Glass of wine?”

She didn’t want to move away from him. It was good to take this moment to just be—

Her phone rang.

She tensed, then stepped back and away from Lynch.

She quickly reached for her phone.

“Have you missed me?” Colby asked. “I’ve missed you, Kendra. But I’ve had a few things to wrap up before I brought us together again.” He chuckled. “Besides, I wanted you to have time to wrap a few things up yourself. I wanted the stage set just right. I assume you sent for Eve Duncan to be present at her sister’s demise?”

“Eve is here,” she said. “If you have Beth, I want to speak to her.” She paused. “Northrup delivered her to you?”

“Yes, of course.”

Kendra felt her spirits plummet.

“Disappointed? I imagine you had certain hopes in that direction.”

“I want to speak to Beth,” she repeated.

“Oh, I’ll do better than that. I assume you have a computer nearby. Call Zackoff and tell him to tune into your computer I adjusted and send you the video.”

Lynch raised his finger, then ran from the living room toward the office.

“You want to show me another hideous display?” she asked. “You’re becoming predictable, Colby.”

“Perish the thought. I’m always new and fresh. Turn on your computer.”

“It’s on.”

“Then sit back and enjoy the show. Or not really a show yet. More a cozy get-together.”

“I don’t see anything. What are you—” Then the picture zoomed onto her monitor. Beth lying tied to the embalming table. Memories of Stokes immediately flew back to Kendra. She inhaled sharply and couldn’t speak for an instant.

“I thought that might take your breath away,” Colby said as he came on camera. “I did quite a good job of making Stokes’s death memorable. I’ll try to do the same with your friend Beth. But it might be difficult for you to appreciate since you could be dead by the time that she’s no longer with us.” He smiled down at Beth. “She wants you to talk to her. I know you’ll oblige.”

“Sure.” Beth looked into the camera. “He’s a little over-the-top, isn’t he, Kendra? This whole scenario is like an old silent movie with little Beth tied on the railroad tracks.”

“He hasn’t hurt you?” Kendra asked shakily.

“Not yet. But we both know that might come.” She swallowed. “Don’t let him play you. Don’t look. Don’t let him use me to hurt you, okay?”

“I think that’s enough,” Colby said as he stepped in front of Beth. “I would have stopped her sooner, but she’s very eloquent, and that probably served me better.”

“What do you want? Is there any way that I can stop you from hurting her?”

“You know what I want. As for that other question, I doubt it. But there may be a way if you’re even more clever than I think you are.” He smiled. “You’re hurting. I can hear it in your voice. That’s part of what I want. But the agony has to be excruciating. And pain is always heightened by the anticipation of more pain to come. That’s why I allowed you to go so long without showing you your friend.”