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When he finished speaking, he turned off his phone and put it in his pocket. He was still wearing a disguise—uncomfortable but necessary. When his acquisitions arrived, he’d remove this look and don a new one. He’d been seen like this too many times. Someone might remember him and give a description that could cause him trouble.
He laughed. One step ahead. Always. His performance had been legendary. But this was his pièce de résistance. No one would ever top this. Profilers would talk about him forever. Someone who broke all their assumptions. Beat them at their own game.
He walked to the area he’d staged for Kaely Quinn and Alex Donovan. His last two performers. His finale. Then he’d be gone, living in Switzerland. No one would ever find him.
Another laugh reverberated throughout the empty space—as if his joy echoed throughout all creation.
Alex fought against the drug that was supposed to put her to sleep. Ben came back and put tape over her mouth, and then he placed something over her head. It was scratchy, and she couldn’t see. Alex tried to scream, praying someone could hear her even with the tape on her mouth. But the more she yelled, the thicker the shadows grew, until she finally had to give in to the darkness.
Logan drove slowly through the academy grounds, in part because of the snow but mostly because he didn’t want to miss anything. But so far, none of them had spotted the SUV Alex and Ben took. At least the guards hadn’t seen them leave the grounds. Other than the final new recruits, some instructors, staff, and a few FBI police officers, only a laundry van and mail truck had left the campus this morning. Everything aboveboard.
He finally turned toward Hogan’s Alley. It almost looked cozy cushioned in snow. Monty and Todd were shining flashlights from the car’s windows, looking for something, anything that seemed out of place or unusual. The snow wasn’t helping. The dark clouds overhead made it appear like nighttime.
They had just passed the Biograph and turned the corner when Todd yelled out, “I think I see the SUV.”
Logan forgot about the snow for a moment and slammed on the brakes. His own SUV slid, and he fought for control.
“Four-wheel drive, huh?” Monty said under his breath.
“Sorry,” Logan said. “Driver error.”
He backed up until he spotted the vehicle. It was parked at the Facilities Maintenance Center with other vehicles used by the maintenance crew. He started to back up farther when Bethany called out.
“The door to the pool hall is open. That’s not right.”
“Let’s check the car first, then we’ll look at that.” Logan carefully drove up to the ramp that led to where the SUV was parked, then stopped and turned off the engine. “Monty, check this out with me. Todd, Bethany, wait in the car.”
The two men got out and carefully climbed the concrete ramp until they were next to the SUV. It was unlocked and empty. No one was inside.
Monty shone the flashlight in the front seat and then the backseat. “I don’t see anything,” he said.
Logan was disappointed but also relieved. He was afraid they might find bodies. “So Alex isn’t here. Neither is Ben or Julie. And we’re still missing Kaely. This is ridiculous. I don’t get it.”
They were shutting the doors when Monty said, “Wait a minute.” He bent down and picked up something from the floor. When Monty showed it to Logan, he didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
It was one of Alex’s pistol earrings. “Why is this here?” he asked, more to himself than anyone else.
“I think Alex is telling us she’s alive. Take it as a good sign.”
“Maybe it fell off during a struggle,” Logan said. “You don’t know.”
“Yeah, I do. Look closer.”
Monty carefully dropped it into Logan’s outstretched hand. “This is a pierced earring. The back is on it. If it had fallen off in a struggle, the back wouldn’t be attached. Alex did this on purpose.”
Logan blew out the breath he’d been holding. “You’re right,” he said. “At least when she left this car, she was alive. But what about Ben and Julie?”
Monty hesitated a moment before saying, “I think it’s time we realize that one or both of them had something to do with this.”
“I can’t believe that.”
“Well, how else did this happen? Because of increased security, we know no one suspicious came onto the property, and we know they were with Alex. She’s gone. I think we have to assume they’re involved.”
Logan sighed. “Maybe you’re right. Let’s check out the pool hall, and then I’ll contact Chief Gorman. He needs to look into Ben and Julie. Especially at their finances. I don’t think either one of them is our UNSUB, but they could be working with him.”
Logan fought back anger that felt as if it would overtake him. He had to keep his head straight. Play this by the book.
Alex and Kaely needed him at his best.
