accepted that he drowned, that I’m a crackpot, that the missing button connection is bunk. Then, when nobody’s looking for him any longer, he’ll come back to finish you. I’ve got to end this, Talia, and I’ve got to end it now. You can doubt my methods, but don’t doubt my purpose.”
She looked deeply into his eyes, then nodded, and said huskily, “I do trust in that.”
He aligned his forehead with hers and whispered a heartfelt thank you, then said, “Sexual attraction, huh?” He pulled her to him and kissed her deeply, his hand on her bottom, pulling her close. She dug her fingers into his hair. The brevity of the kiss only heightened the passion behind it.
“Easton!”
Drex ignored the banging on the door but broke the kiss. “One last thing. Rudkowski will try to browbeat you.”
“I can handle him.”
“I have no doubt.” Her gave her a parting kiss, then turned her about and pushed her toward the door. “Show yourself before Locke has a coronary.”
Chapter 35
Locke walked Talia downstairs. Drex asked for a minute in the bathroom. He shut the door and called Mike.
“Who’s this?”
“Me. Forgive my whisper. I’ve locked myself in the bathroom. Any news of Gif?”
“Your swooner at the hospital called me about half an hour ago. They’re moving him into a private room.”
“That’s great news.”
“I thought so.” He passed along Gif’s hospital room number. “I haven’t been able to go see him, though.”
“They’re still holding you at the sheriff’s office?”
“They’re fiddle-farting around. I’m going to kill Sammy.”
“Can’t you talk your way out of there?”
“Working on it. I was trying to give an ex-con a break by renting a car from him. How was I to know that it was stolen? Live and learn. That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.”
“Doesn’t look good that you skipped town and left Rudkowski dangling.”
“Our signals got crossed. His word against mine. And the agents who were guarding my house hate him and love the homemade lasagna I took them, so I’m betting they’ll back me. In any case, these guys here have got nothing to hold me on, because Sammy, who fears my murderous wrath, swears that I was oblivious. They’ll have to release me, in time.”
“Any estimate on when that might be?”
“Why?”
“Well, speaking of Rudkowski…” In a rapid clip, overriding Mike’s numerous attempts to interrupt, Drex updated him on the recent setbacks, ending with his arrest. “They don’t have a choice but to take me in.”
“That ass-wipe Rudkowski.”
“True. But I need you to do something for me besides name-calling.”
“Like what?”
Drex made his request. Mike’s response was, “Have you lost your fucking mind?”
“I don’t have time to explain why, or to argue with you about it. I’ve already overextended Locke’s patience. I need a yes or no.”
“You realize that if I do this, it can’t be undone.”
“Nine murders can’t be undone.”
There was a knock at the door. “Now, Easton.”
“You gotta tell me, Mike,” Drex whispered. “Will you do it?”
“It’s your funeral.”
When Mike said that, in that particular grumble, Drex knew he had him. “Thanks. Later.”
He clicked off, snapped up the lock, and opened the door.
Locke was on the threshold. “Who were you talking to?”
He replied with a wide grin. “The hospital. Gif’s being moved out of ICU into a private room.”
Locke took the phone from him. He went to recent calls and pulled up the last number. “That’s Mallory’s number.”
“Okay, so I skipped a step. I called Mike, who told me the news that he got from the hospital.”
“You’re giving me the runaround.”
Drex sighed, looked away, came back to him. “I called Mike to ask if he would bail me out.”
“What did he say?”
“You want it straight and unfiltered?”
“That would be a welcome change.”
“He asked if I’d lost my fucking mind.”
Drex asked if they could take Gif’s car so Talia wouldn’t be stranded. Locke agreed on the condition that Drex would go with him. Talia would ride with Menundez.
When they arrived at the police department, Locke parked in a designated slot. They reunited with Talia and Menundez at an entrance for personnel. Before they went in, Locke turned to Drex. “You carrying?”
“Yes.”
“You’re not planning to shoot him, are you?”
“Rudkowski? Hadn’t planned to.”
“That’s too bad. But I can’t let you go inside with a weapon. Give it to Menundez.”
Knowing it would be pointless to argue, Drex passed the detective his pistol, saying, “Escort Talia to Rudkowski. Keep him occupied long enough for me to view that video.”
Locke intervened. “You know, typically, the apprehended don’t give the orders.”