Page 102 of I Never Stopped Loving You

“Listen, Noah, I’ve known you for two years now. In that time, there have been sixteen horrible human beings who have thankfully disappeared. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out why. Granted, I always did want to be a rocket scientist.”

“Monty…”

“I want to help you with this, Noah. I owe you. You didn’t ask any questions when I brought you my case. You trusted me just as I trusted you. Now, I’m asking you to trust me again. What time can I pick you up?”

I glance at the clock on the microwave. The blue glowing numbers show eight p.m., so, it’s seven p.m. in Norfolk.

“How fast can you get here? Is there even a flight available?”

“Pfft…You’re talking to Montgomery Sanderson here. You think I don’t have a private plane on stand-by?” he laughs.

“I mean, it wasn’t listed in your assets during your trial.”

“Ah, and what a mistrial that was. No, I got my pilot's license as a celebratory gift for myself and got my own plane. I’ll be at your place in thirty minutes. Does that give you enough time to get ready, pretty boy?” he teases.

I groan in frustration, which only makes him laugh harder. My stomach growls, reminding me that I still haven’t eaten since yesterday. Shit…I still have to take care of the thing in the labyrinth as well. This is why I don’t drink.

“Better make it forty. You know the code to get in, I’m assuming?”

“What? You think I’d know your personal information like the code to get past your high tech security…”

“Monty,” I growl as I rush around, nearly tripping over my own feet.

I grab some food and then go into my office to grab some supplies. I need to hook him up to an IV because I don’t know how long we’ll be away. I don’t need this fucker dying on me while I’m gone.

“Alright, chill. Yeah, I know the code to your system. 1023 was quite obvious.”

October 23rd.

My little rabbit's birthday.

“Well, by all means, just let yourself in. I have to take care of something before we leave.”

“Ten-four, Rubber Ducky.”

“What?”

“Nothing,” he laughs as I hear a door slam shut on the other end of the line. “I’ll see you soon, boss.”

“Monty, why do you still call me boss? You can just call me Noah.”

“Yeah, but boss sounds cooler. I’m hopping in the truck now. Want some Taco Bell? We can grab some on the way to the plane.”

My stomach growls again, and the thought of Taco Bell on a stomach filled with only alcohol does not sound like a good idea, but honestly, nothing about tonight is going to be a good idea.

“Sure. Taco Bell sounds great.”

“See ya in forty, boss.”

He ends the call before I can say bye, leaving me to finish getting this taken care of before we leave. I shouldn’t go back. I should just let the police take care of it, but I know they won’t. He’s already gotten away with this shit for too long, and now he’s gone as far as attempted murder…that’s if she survives.

I grab the stuff for the IV and some high-nutrient food before quickly rushing down the steps to my labyrinth. I quickly pull on my mask and click on the voice changer before winding my way through the paths to the center. I’ll leave the lights on while I’m gone to disorient his internal clock.

“Back so soon, Killer? I thought you’d forgotten about me,” he grimaces as I pull off his blindfold.

“Nope, just didn’t want to look at your face for a couple of days,” I tell him as I attach the IV above his head to the support beam.

“What’s that?” he asks nervously.