Sight Unseen(58)
But she’d known in the end that it would come down to Colby and her.
She shut her eyes to close him out.
But she could still see him staring at her.
She opened her eyes. “I have to go in there.”
Metcalf shook his head. “He’s playing you.”
“He’s playing all of us.”
“He doesn’t care about the rest of us,” Reade said urgently. “It’s you.”
“Yes, it’s me. And that’s why I have to let him take his shot at me.” She got to her feet and left the observation room. She walked around to the interrogation-room entrance, where Lynch was already waiting outside the door to meet her.
“No,” he said flatly.
“It’s not your choice.”
“Whose choice is it? That maniac’s?”
“Mine. If I don’t go in there, this whole trip will be for nothing. And, in case you’ve forgotten, there’s still a killer out there we need to stop. It’s not all about Colby.”
“Isn’t it? I’m not entirely sure.”
“That’s right, you said that you were seeing possible connections since we got here. Why didn’t you mention it to me?”
“It was too far out.” He grimaced. “Colby was right, I think out of the box.”
“So do I. Next time, tell me. I won’t feel so alone.” She braced herself. “Open the door.”
He didn’t move.
“Open it, Lynch.”
“I don’t like this,” he said harshly. “He’s going to crucify you. I wish to hell we knew what his angle is.”
“There’s only one way to find out.”
“Let me go in with you.”
“No, you can’t protect me from Colby. I found out a long time ago that I’m the only one who can do that. Now let me get this over with.”
Lynch still didn’t move.
“Lynch.”
“Griffin is in there. Why not me?”
“I don’t mind Griffin’s being there. He won’t get in my way. You always interfere.”
He muttered a curse. Then he rapped on the door, and one of the guards unlocked and opened it.
Kendra entered the room.
Although she had already seen Colby through the glass, she felt the chill return as she breathed the same air as the man she had so long associated with pure evil.
“Hello, Kendra.” He smiled mockingly. “I can’t tell you how happy I am to see you at last.”
She froze for a moment. Could he see how his voice went through her like one of his knives?
“I want a name,” she said. “Who’s killing these people?”
Colby tilted his head. “You know … I still get headaches. All these years later, I still get horrible headaches from the concussion I got when you hit me with that rock.”
“I guess a fractured skull will do that to you. I had to force myself not to make the damage permanent.”
“That’s no surprise. I thought as much later once I delved into your character.” His smile faded. “You were very clever, Kendra. You forced me to revise my plans. That’s the only reason they all fell apart.”
“Give me a name.”
He ignored her request. “I was at a disadvantage. It was your first case, and I didn’t know you. I didn’t know how you worked. But things are different now. I know you better than you know yourself.”
She gave him a skeptical look. “You always were an egomaniac, Colby.”
“You may think I’m exaggerating, but I’m not,” he said. “Most people really don’t know themselves very well. It gives me a tremendous advantage.”
“Oh, because you’re smarter than all of us…?”
“I’ve had the benefit of a lot of time and a lot of motivation. And I’ve summoned you here for a very special reason.”
“You summoned me?”
“You’re here, aren’t you?” He smiled. “Just last week, if someone had asked you to get on a plane, come here, and stand three feet in front of me, there’s no way you would have done it. My, what a difference a few days can make…”
“I’m here because innocent people are being massacred.”
“And you thought I might somehow be able to help stop the massacre.”
“I never thought that. Others did, but I didn’t. I know you better than that, Colby.”
“And yet here you are.”
“You’re just an item that needed to be crossed off. We’ll catch this psychopath with or without your help.”
“Admit it. As you say, you know me and my little quirks. You’re aware that I never hide my cleverness and superiority from lesser beings. You thought that, in all my preening, I just might give you something you needed to solve your case.”