Page 37 of So Savage

She gasped and got to her feet, pulled back to reality by the bailiff’s announcement.A moment later, the short, fat, balding judge waddled to the bench, and the bailiff announced regally, “You may sit.”

Lillian took a seat and gripped the front of the bench to keep from playing with her fingers.The judge went through the bullshit ceremonial stuff, then finally, at long last, said, “Bring the defendant in.”

Lillian stood.Thankfully, so did everyone else, so she didn't look like a complete idiot.People jostled for a better view, but Lillian had planned this out for weeks.She had chosen a spot to sit where she would get a clear view of Franklin West no matter what everyone else did.More importantly, he would get a clear look at her.

The door opened.Sound died away.Franklin West, the Copycat Killer, the protégé who had far surpassed his inspiration, walked into the courtroom, escorted by four police officers.He looked a little thinner than he did on TV, and his hair was a little longer and wilder.Grayish stubble grew on his neck, and there were a few more lines on his face than she remembered from the news.

But his eyes blazed just as brilliantly as ever, and he wore the slight smile that made Lillian’s knees weak.That smile told her and the world that he was still a god, that whatever these pathetic little creatures did to him, he would always be a god, and they could grovel and whine and snarl and fight and even kill him.They could do whatever made them happy, but it wouldn’t matter.He had made his mark in history.He would be remembered while everyone in this room faded into nothingness.

She took a deep breath and started to lift her hand to get his attention, but it made it only to her waist when he turned and looked at her.

Time stopped.His eyes bored into hers, stripping her naked—body, mind and soul.She gasped as heat and cold rushed through her in deep, rippling pulses.Her knees grew weak, and the soles of her feet tingled.It really was like looking at a god.

Those eyes saw her.Those eyes knew.Those eyes read her secret thoughts.She didn’t need to tell him that she was his, that she was his Messenger.He knew.He knew, and when the smile widened, she knew that he approved.

And his message was clear.Keep looking.You’ll find her.

And when you do, kill her.

“I’ll kill her, Frank,” she whispered, too softly for those around her to hear.“I’ll kill her.And I’ll find you.We’ll be together.We’ll be one.Just like we were meant to be.”

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Faith had learned not to judge books by their cover, but when she saw Dr.Nathan Hayes, the cover made her wonder very seriously if she was reading the wrong book.Dr.Hayes was short, slightly built and wore thick glasses through which he still squinted.He did not at all look like someone who could have overcome a high-level amateur boxer like Delgado or successfully fired a tranquilizer dart from fifty-plus yards in the dark multiple times against moving targets.

But he had a motive, and he had a connection, and Faith couldn't afford to dismiss any lead right now."Dr.Hayes, is there somewhere private we can talk?"

Dr.Hayes blinked.“Sure.We can talk in my office.Follow me.”

He led Faith and Turk through a long hallway.On either side were laboratories of varying degrees of security and sophistication.Some contained only a few people in lab coats using gloves to look at slides under microscopes.Others were full self-contained units with airlocks and people in what looked like spacesuits handling substances in airtight boxes.

“You guys do a lot of research here,” Faith remarked.

“Oh yes.Every new product we launch has to be tested rigorously.Otherwise, we can’t expect approval.Also, we’d risk killing the animals, and we definitely don’t want to do that.”

“I thought you guys only had one product of your own.You don’t make most of your money producing for other companies?”

“At the moment yes, but we hope that will change,” Dr.Hayes replied.“We’ve been working on answering some very specific questions that the world of veterinary medicine has either been seeking unsuccessfully to answer before now or has made do without for far too long.”

“Such as how to immediately tranquilize an animal instead of having to wait several minutes?”

Hayes looked over his shoulder at her."Yes.A tranquilized animal is very dangerous before it falls unconscious, not just to humans but to itself.As the drug takes hold, it can affect the animal's judgment, coordination and awareness.Needless to say, in the hostile environments of nature, that can be problematic.We hope to address that."

They reached his office, a small but clean and well-organized space that reminded Faith of what Marcus's office might look like if it was in a hospital instead of a police station.Dr.Hayes sat behind his desk and smiled at Faith."Now, how exactly can I help you, Special Agent?"

Faith glanced at Turk.Like her, Turk seemed a little confused.Not what you were expecting either, eh boy?

“I’ll be blunt, Dr.Hayes.I’m investigating the murders of Master Sergeant Thomas Reeves and Staff Sergeant Kevin Walsh and the kidnapping of Technical Sergeant Maria Delgado.”

Hayes blinked.“Oh God.That’s horrible.I’ll help in any way I can.”

“You can start by telling me where you were last night.”

His brow furrowed.“WhereIwas?Am I a suspect?”

“You have access to powerful experimental tranquilizers.You worked with the victims’ dogs, and you have motive.”

“Well, hold on, Special Agent.Yes, I have access to tranquilizers, but I worked with thousands of dogs in the Army, and what possible motive could I have for wanting to murder service members?”

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