“What’s that mean?”
“She might kill some of your guests.”
“I’ll put the word out. Hands off this one. But I gotta see her. And you.”
“You want me to wear a bikini too?”
“No, jerk wad. I might have some-whatcha call-gainful employment for you.”
“We’ll see.”
“We’ll see, we’ll see. That’s all you ever say.”
I hang up and look at Lou.
“Have you even bothered to tell your geeks to start searching the parameters we gave you?”
“Of course.” He looks at his watch. “They’ve been on it about forty minutes now.”
“This thing with Sherry Cherry,” I say. “How long has it been going on?”
“Long enough. I love her, Donovan.”
“She’s been here less than two months.”
“Doesn’t matter. Things are good between us.”
“Are you saying we’re at an impasse?”
He stares into my eyes, searching for hope. Finding none, he says, “Can you at least give us a few days?”
“Give me proof Doc Howard is Darwin, and that he’s dead.”
“If I provide it, you’ll let her stay?”
Yesterday Rachel threatened to kill Gwen. I believe her, she’s killed before.
“I’m in no rush to have Rachel on the outside,” I say. “She’s getting worse. If you can protect Sherry, she can stay here until I’m convinced Rachel’s functional.”
“I told Sherry she could leave.”
“She leaves with me or stays here on the compound. Those are your choices.”
“Why?”
“If something happens to Sherry, the government will never release Rachel.”
“Maybe they shouldn’t.”
“Maybe not. But I hope you don’t intend to take that option away from me.”
“Me? Of course not! I love Sherry. I want her here.”
“You’re aware of her history with drugs?”
“Yes.”
“You’ll protect her?”
“Yes, absolutely.”
“I have your word?”
He pauses, knowing what that means.
“Yes,” Lou says. “You have my word.”
We go back in the room. Sherry looks at Lou, hopefully.
I say, “Sherry, there’s good news and bad. Which do you want to hear first?”
19
Sam Case.
THE TRIP TO Vegas is the worst of Sam’s life. One of the excellent doctors at Mount Weather set his broken nose yesterday, but of course it’s killing him today. Pain killers would be nice, but Sam won’t take them before meeting Maybe Taylor this afternoon. Pain killers could fog his brain, and he’ll need his wits if he’s going to talk Maybe into flying back east to kill Sherry Cherry.
Sam hadn’t considered he might feel severe pressure building up in his nose as the plane begins its initial descent into Las Vegas, but that’s exactly what happens. To make matters worse, his swollen nose has blocked his nasal passages and made him congested to the point his ears feel like they’re going to explode.
He tries not to cry out in pain, but he’s aware his dull moaning noises are annoying the passengers around him. He dabs at his nose with a cocktail napkin. Within seconds, it’s soggy with blood.
“That’s abhorrent!” the lady next to him says. “You need to do something!”
“Sorry,” Sam says.
“Are you crying?” she says.
“Probably.”
The pain in his face and ears is excruciating, and blood’s dripping from his nose faster than his napkin can contain it. Sam looks up to see the fasten seat belt sign lit and knows the flight attendants are buckled in for the landing. He asks the passengers around him if anyone has an extra cocktail napkin he can use, but either they didn’t hear him, or pretend not to. The lady next to him says, “That’s just great,” and fishes two tampons from her purse.
“It’s all I’ve got,” she says. “Do not bleed on my outfit.”
Sam accepts the tampons gratefully, opens them, and inserts one into each nostril as expertly as if he’d done it a hundred times.
“I hope you get toxic shock syndrome,” she says.
Sam packed light, so he doesn’t have to wait at baggage claim. He moves his jaw from side to side and pulls on his ears, trying to open them up. He gets one open in time to answer his cell phone.
“Where the hell have you been?” Darwin says.
“I just landed in Vegas. What’s wrong?”
“Donovan Creed is ruining your plans.”
“What do you mean?”
“He landed in Roanoke two hours ago.”
“Why’s that a problem?”
“Check your messages. I’ve left three.”
Sam makes his way to a quiet area and leans against the wall. “Since you’re already on the phone, can you just explain the problem?”
“Roanoke is near Creed’s headquarters, Sensory Resources. The place you met Doc Howard. The place they kept you after your snake bite. Does any of this ring a bell?”
“Of course. So what?”
“Don’t you think Creed might be there to check on Sherry Cherry? To see if she’s sobered up enough to effect the exchange?”
“Shit!”
“That’s the response I’m looking for.”
“If he’s got her, it’s over. I’ve lost.”
“Not necessarily. He still has to make arrangements with the government, and that will take time. Since you’re in Vegas, get Maybe Taylor on board. I’ll see if I can arrange for Sherry to escape.”
“Thanks.”
“Don’t thank me, just do your part.”
20
Maybe Taylor.
MAYBE CALLS SAM from the lobby and learns he’s on the second floor, room 228.
She’s excited to see Sam. Not because she finds him attractive, or even appealing, but because he adores her so. It allows her to dictate the terms of their relationship. She loves having sexual power over a man, especially a bright, older man like Sam. The fact he’s married adds to the appeal. She’s flattered he prefers her to his wife, and flattered to hear he’s willing to get a divorce to prove his love.
“You look like shit,” she says, when he opens the door.
“You look wonderful,” he says.
She enters, he closes the door, and slides the deadbolt into place.
“I killed Gwen,” she says.
“What?”
She laughs. “Just kidding. But I’ve got a plan, depending on the weapon you’ve brought. I’ve invited her to go shopping with me tomorrow, and-”
“There’s been a change of plans,” Sam says.
“What do you mean?”
“We need to put Gwen on hold.”
“No. I’ve got it all worked out, and you promised me the money.”
“I’ll still give you the hundred grand. It’s just…there’s a different target.”
“I’m not killing Callie Carpenter,” Maybe says.
“Not Callie. A woman from Virginia.”
“What woman?”
“Sherry Cherry.”
“What? Don’t fuck with me, Sam.”
“No, seriously, that’s her name. Look, it’s no big deal. She’s like a housewife or something. It’ll take you five minutes. Five minutes for a hundred grand.”
“Details, please.”
Sam hands her a small metal cylinder. It’s silver, and has the words “Lens Cleaner” printed in black on one side.
“Don’t open it,” Sam says. “It contains a mixture of cyanide and DMSO.”
“What’s that?”
“Dimethyl sulfoxide. You can use this to kill Sherry and Gwen. But you need to do Sherry first.”
Maybe scrunches her nose. “Cyanide’s a poison. What do you do, spray it in her nose?”
“Nose, mouth, eyes, are the best targets. But anywhere on her face will work, if you pump it several times. But be careful. Hold your breath while spraying, and move away quickly. If you do it outside, be sure there’s no wind to blow it back into your face.”