Page 54 of Deadly Alliance

Dee started talking again, ignoring the two brothers. “I sent you her picture. Her name is Ellen Long, part of the Marine Corps Explosive Ordnance Programme, decorated with the EOD badge. Once she completed the programme, she was only deployed once, in Vietnam and Malaysia. She was dishonourably discharged two years ago.”

Shane looked at his phone, and it was undeniable, the picture was of his boss’s murderer. “Dishonourably? What happened?”

“She hit on one of her former instructors and wouldn’t let go. It seems that Miss Long may be quite obsessive. There is a bunch of restraining orders filed in her name from the poor guy.”

“Why did you single her out? Her name never appeared on the official candidate list.”

Dee continued typing in the background. “Well, because I was stupid enough to stop at that official list and not dig deeper. Miss Long had just come back from a tour and heard about Beatrice hiring through the grapevine and submitted her resume. However, all EOD personnel were pre-screened by a small, informal committee before a final list was put to Beatrice. Guess what? Said instructor was on that committee. Even worse, he was the one who rejected her application.”

Lance chimed in. “Whoa. Our obsessive killer must have turned from lovey-dovey to crazy deadly.”

“And that’s an understatement. The loving stalker turned into a psycho, even rigging the poor guy’s car with a bomb. It’s a miracle the instructor got out of it unharmed. The only thing that prevented her from doing jail time was a commitment to do therapy and keep far away from the instructor forever. However, she was discharged immediately.”

“Not too far-fetched that in her state of mind, she would switch her anger from the man who denied her the chance to join Purgatory, to the founder of the organisation. Like a ten-year-old who’s denied ice cream. Someone has to pay, no matter what.” Jace looked grimmer by the minute and turned to Shane. “Tough to assess the extent of her craziness. And that’s not reassuring at all.”

“I’ll dig up her military psych file. And her financial files. I wouldn’t be surprised to see something tying her to Bolton. Another coincidence that probably isn’t. But if you want a cop’s opinion, she’s not done yet.”

Something in Shane’s belly tightened in fear of what she was about to say. “Not done? She killed Bea and the Admiral.”

“Remember what you told me, Shane. What Long said when she spoke to Bea. The world does not need more Beatrice Dante’s. And that means only one thing.”

“She’s after Emme. She’s the only one standing that looks like Beatrice. Worse, she was seen with Beatrice. That makes her a target.” Shane didn’t realise he was moving towards the door until he found himself almost running to the car, Lance and Jace by his side. “Can you locate her? Is Long still in the UK?”

Jace jumped behind the wheel, Shane riding shotgun while Lance took the cramped backseat.

“Searching right now. But if I can make a suggestion, I would head for the compound where Emme is staying.” Dee’s voice sounded tight and deep in thought.

Jace turned the corner and put the pedal to the metal. “We’ll detour to Fortis; we’re packing way too light.”

“Don’t bother. Owen is already in the armoury. He will load up the car and meet you wherever you’re heading. I’m texting Zack about the situation as we speak. I told him you would go to the Estate to hype security.”

Jace took another sharp turn. “Heading there now. At least Emme is surrounded by the most dangerous people in the country. That will give us an edge.”

It didn’t reassure Shane, but he had to admit that Jace was right.

“Okay, signing off. Tell Owen to meet us there.”

“Wait!”

Jace hit the brakes, before swiftly parking on the side of the road. “What’s going on?”

Dee’s voice rushed over the phone and Shane gripped the dashboard, feeling bad news coming. “Emme’s not at the Estate; she’s back at the apartment to empty it out. And she went there alone.”