CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
I placed my Glock down on the marble pedestal where the face floated in the colored solution. I pulled my phone from my back pocket and saw a text from Cassie.
We got something.
I took a few steps toward the window to see the words better in the dark.Yeah, me, too, I thought.
Another text came in:
Where are you?
I walked back toward the jar with my phone. Held it up to take a picture of the face and show themexactlywhere I was.
But something was wrong.
My Glock. I had put it down on the pedestal, but now it was gone.
That’s when I felt something hard hit the back of my head.
And everything went black.
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
When I awoke, restraints held my arms down.
I turned my head. By the position of the horizon out the window, I could tell that I was in an upper room in the same estate that I’d entered downstairs.
“I’m sorry to leave you for so long,” a voice said. “I needed to take a walk. Think about my options. Our options.”
My mouth had been taped over, and I slowed my breath, inhaling though my nose. At the same time, I used my tongue to un-adhere the tape from around my lips.
“I told your friend,” the voice said.
“Your face wasn’t ready,” I replied, although the words came out as a mumble.
“Yes,” he said. “It wasn’t. It’s not. But I’m improving.”
I got my tongue out through the top of the tape, and a sliver of it peeled away, enough for me to try to communicate. Even if I was speaking to a disembodied voice in a dark room.
“I’m a federal agent,” I called out.
“I’m aware,” the voice said. “You also had a card key in your pocket. I hope you’re enjoying your stay at my hotel.”
I swallowed, my eyes searching the room.
“You’ve got a little problem, Agent Camden. Nobody knows you’re here.”
My head was aching from where I’d been struck. My best chance, I decided, was to scare this guy off. “Freddie Pecos,” I said. “We know everything.”
He came closer, and I examined part of his face. His nose and mouth were concealed with a medical mask. Above this, his forehead was half covered in gauze, as Richie had described.
“WhataboutFreddie?” he asked.
“Mavreen Isiah,” I said.
“You’re just gonna list names?” He shook his head. “Wait. Is this a game? Can I name the category? Is it people I’ve killed?”
“We know about the vet,” I said. “About the xylazine. Your attack on Natalie Kastner.”
