Page 19 of Concluded
Okay.So, he knew to a high degree of certainty that he wasn’t dead.Furthermore, nobody had killed him when he was unconscious and vulnerable, which suggested that his captor—or captors—had an interest in keeping him alive.He had some value to them.If he could figure out what that value was, he might gain some leverage.
He also knew that both Henry and Con Becker were trustworthy.If he didn’t check in as promised, they would notice and take action.They’d be able to track him to that stupid mansion in the desert.Achilles had a strong sense that he wasn’t there anymore, and of course he no longer had his phone on him, but at least the Bureau would have a good start on finding him, and he’d never personally known any chief who would leave an agent hanging.
The rest of Achilles’ knowledge was spotty.He assumed that the former congresswoman was at least partly responsible for his plight, and she clearly possessed some unusual talents that the Bureau tended to frown upon: The power of suggestion.The ability to cause agony simply by wiggling her fingers.There might be more.It was entirely unclear what role Martell played in all of this—was he an accomplice or a victim?—whether other parties were also involved, and what the ultimate goal was.
Achilles acknowledged his own goal: to remain alive until the cavalry arrived.And if he could find out some details along the way about what the hell was going on, all the better.
CHAPTER8
“Up and at ’em.We gotta scram.”
Dee blinked groggily at Ashley, who stood with arms akimbo, looking down at him.He was still sprawled on the chaise lounge, with no clue how long he’d been asleep.He still felt slightly weak and shaky, as if he were at the tail end of the flu.“What?”he croaked.
“It’s time for us to move on.Sooner than I wanted, but oh well.”She didn’t look unhappy.If anything, she emanated a smug satisfaction, like the cat who’d eaten the canary.
“Move where?”
“I’ll tell you when we get there.Come on.”She waved her hands impatiently.
Dee slowly stood and looked around.“I’ll get my stuff.”He’d shoved a few items of clothing and some toiletries into a suitcase when Ashley had collected him from his apartment, but he couldn’t recall what he’d done with it when they’d arrived here.Most likely he’d simply handed everything over to Ashley.
“You don’t need it, babe.We’ll get you something much nicer, something that shows off that nice bod and handsome face.You’ve kept yourself in decent shape for your age.”
He started to bristle but decided he didn’t have the energy.He also didn’t really care about any of the items he’d brought.Except one.He patted his jeans pockets, which were empty.“Where’s my phone?”
“You don’t need that either.”
“But—”
“I’ll get you a new one.One that doesn’t have a cracked screen—and that isn’t letting anyone track you.”
That shook away the last of his sleepiness.“Track me?Who the fuck?—”
“I’ll explain on the road.”
She took his hand and towed him out of the room, down a long hallway, through the entry foyer, out the front door, and into the chilly night.The light from the mansion windows allowed him to see a dark-colored SUV parked in front.He pointed.“Whose is that?”It hadn’t been there yesterday when they’d arrived, and its presence seemed ominous.
“I’ll explain that too.”Then she bundled him into the passenger seat of the Lexus, started the engine, and zoomed away.
“Look, Ashley,” Dee said after several miles of speeding through the fathomless desert.“You’ve given me nothing but puzzles and evasions.You want my help?Fine.Then tell me who you are and what the fuck is happening.”
She glanced at him.“Or what, honey?You’ll bail out right here on the highway?”
He growled, mostly at himself for getting into this helpless position.“I’ll stop giving you charms.”
“No, you won’t.I can be pretty persuasive.”Ashley laughed, but it didn’t match her grim expression.“Anyway, I’m gonna spill all once we arrive.What I can tell you now is that the Bureau of Trans-Species Affairs has been following you, probably using your phone.One of their agents showed up at my door while you were sleeping.That was his car you saw.”
“What happened to him?”
Ashley didn’t answer at first, which gave Dee plenty of time to imagine all sorts of things.He could picture Abe Ferencz, that handsome older man in the old-fashioned suit.And he could imagine Ashley doing all sorts of nasty things to him.Dee already knew that her regard for human life was casual at best, and if she’d decided that the Bureau agent was a threat?Not good at all.
However, Ferencz and other agents weren’t Dee’s responsibility.He’d never asked them to contact him, and he sure as hell hadn’t given them permission to track him.Furthermore, they’d assumed the risk of harm when they signed up to be federal agents.
Still, he didn’t feel good about this.
Finally, Ashley spoke.“Don’t get your panties in a twist.He’s fine.In fact, I’ll introduce you two when we reach our destination.And you can stop swiveling your head around like that.He’s not in the car.”
Great.Another mystery.Although it was admittedly a relief to know that there was neither a corpse nor a trussed-up fed stuffed into the back.
