Page 404 of Sticks and Stones
“Henry, that’s delicious,” he said, and then focused on the men.
He was still smiling like he knew something they didn’t know.
Yep.
Gene hated this city.
“Have a safe drive, Agents. The weather is getting worse,” he offered.
When Trevor reappeared with a card, Gene took it, and they were escorted to the door.
Once outside, Gene walked back to their car, and when he sat, he sighed.
“That’s creepy.”
Oh, Julian Mercer was something, all right. He knew one thing, and Gene wasn’t going to like it.
Not.
At.
All.
“It won’t be him,” he said. “He’d never do the dirty work. He’s entitled, and he thinks he’s God’s gift to humanity. He hands out just enough money to appease his guilt of owning a military contractor company. He takes lives, and hands out alms to the poor.”
Gene listened.
“He wouldNEVERsit in a car with a body in the back. He’s too slick for that. He’d come right out and say he was doing it, and then use lawyers to circumnavigate the law. He’s a sociopath.”
He lifted his brow.
“Jesus. That sounds bad. We’ve not run into one of those before.”
Ethan was honest.
“He had a good time studying us. This won’t be the last time we cross paths,” he offered. “He’ll be fascinated with us.”
Well, shit.
“Are we in danger?” Gene asked, not needing another Javier situation.
Ethan shook his head.
“No, he’s more fascinated with playing games. His thing would be interjecting himself into a case so he could study us. We’re going to fascinate him.”
That was worse.
Ethan continued.
“I’m going to bet that he grew up in a household with his father being domineering, and abusive. His sister will be the more powerful Mercer. She’ll run it all.”
Well, since the killer wasn’t likely a woman, that took her off of the list.
A list she was never on.
“Why can’t this city ever be normal?” Gene asked. “You know…normal drugs. Crack, speed, Molly? Why can’t we have a dead hooker? I remember when we chased hooker hackers. Now, I’m up to my eyeballs in rich weirdos who can’t keep their goddamn hands to themselves.”
He laughed.
