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"Yes?"
"Call me as soon as you're both safely inside. I've got some calls to make, but if you beep in, I'll answer. Don't forget."
"I promise."
Ski clicked off and addressed the deputies grouped around him. "I want one of the launches on the lake ASAP, patrolling that inlet where Mrs. King's house is."
"I thought the asshole was dead."
"His twin brother is dead. He's still unaccounted for, still considered armed and dangerous."
He assigned special tasks and ordered the dispatcher to put out the word. "City police, DPS, Rangers, FBI, everybody, got it?"
"Got it."
He personally placed calls to the detectives in Houston. Rodney Allen was unavailable, but Ski talked to Somerville, who was no more gregarious than before. He listened to Ski's remarkable update without emotion or comment, then said, "I'll inform Detective Allen. We'll check out Oren Starks's residence, put out an APB."
"One more thing."
"Yes?"
"Tell Allen it was Dodge Hanley who cracked it."
After breaking off the connection, Ski unlocked the department's gun cabinet and took out a high-powered rifle with a scope. Stevens, who was on the phone, raised his eyebrows as Ski walked past his desk, the rifle on his shoulder.
"Bringing out the heavy artillery, Ski?"
"You bet your ass."
Caroline came racing into the kitchen just as Oren shoved Berry headlong through the back door. Caroline screamed and rushed forward to help her daughter, who had fallen hard, banging her shoulder against the floor.
Oren thrust the pistol into Caroline's belly. "Drop the phone! Drop the phone!"
"Mother, do it! I'm okay. Do as he says."
Caroline let go of the cordless phone. Oren moved it along the floor with the toe of his shoe, then kicked it out the back door before slamming the door shut.
Berry worked herself into a sitting position. She shook back her hair and tried to blink the blood from her eye as she looked up at her mother. Caroline cried out in shock at the sight of her bleeding head. "What did you do to her?" she screamed.
"Shut up! You scream again, I'll shoot you."
"I'm okay, Mother." Berry tried to stand up, but Oren placed his hand on her shoulder and shoved her back down. "Did I say you could get up?"
"Don't hurt her," Caroline pleaded.
"Oh, she's going to hurt. So are you."
"My mother's done nothing to you. It's me you want. Let her go."
He laughed. "As if. Carl had my permission to kill her, too, if she should happen to be in the house on Friday night."
Berry looked up at him with bewilderment. "Carl?"
"My twin."
"Twin?" she echoed faintly.
"Twin?" he repeated, mocking Berry's tone.
