“You’re crazy.”
“I think about you all the time. Do you know what I remember most? That gully and your hitting me with that stone.” He chuckled. “I want you to remember the gully, too, Kendra. It’s important.”
“It’s the past, and I’ll forget it as soon as they put you to death.”
“No, don’t do that. As I said, it’s important.”
“The only thing that’s important is that you tell me where I can find that bastard you sent out to do your murders. If you’re repentant, give me his name.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He smiled. “I can hardly be blamed for some copycat trying to best my record. If you find out who he is, have him call me, and I’ll tell him the error of his ways.”
“I might do that.” She stared him in the eye. “Because we’re very close to getting him, Colby. It might even be before they execute you. I’d like you to know that your pupil will be following you to the grave. Your legacy will be over.”
“Are you bluffing?” His face was without expression, but she could sense a minute change in his demeanor. “It doesn’t matter if you are or not. After all, tomorrow night this talk of legacies will be settled one way or the other. I’ll have gone on to that other place.”
“Hell.”
“It’s possible, if hell exists.”
“If it didn’t, God would create one for you.”
“But what about forgiveness?”
His tone was solemn, but she knew he was mocking her. “I’m done with talking to you, Colby. I’m hanging up.”
He nodded. “I’m ready for you to do that now. I just had to see you one more time and speak to you. It was important to me. Important to both of us.”
“The only thing important is that after tomorrow, I’ll be able to erase you from my life.” She hung up.
She was shaking. She turned off the computer and shoved it across the coffee table, rejecting it. She wanted a total disconnect. She felt somehow that he was still there, waiting for her to open the laptop so he could pounce.
“A total waste.” Lynch was suddenly beside her on the couch, pulling her into his arms. “Salazar should have told him to go screw himself.”
“He couldn’t do that.” Her voice was muffled against his shoulder. “Don’t you know we have a merciful justice system even to those who don’t know the meaning of mercy?” She should push him away, but she wasn’t going to do it. She needed his strength right now. “Salazar had to go by the rules. I’m the only one who could say no to Colby. I didn’t do it.”
“I hate to say I told you so. But if I don’t, you might ignore my sage advice again.”
“Bastard.”
“All Colby wanted to do was taunt you, to get his final jab before he bowed out.”
“Maybe. I don’t know. I guess that was what he wanted. He’s crazy, and he’s obsessed with me. He kept talking about the gully … But he didn’t really do anything but reminisce and—you heard him.”
“Yes, I heard him.” His arms tightened around her. “I wanted to kill him. I didn’t want him to have even twenty-four hours more of life.”
“Neither did I,” she whispered. “I know that I couldn’t be safer with him shut away in that prison, but he frightens me. He’s always frightened me. Do you know, it’s said everyone has a nemesis. If that’s true, Colby is mine.”
“Not true. A nemesis is unconquerable. You’ve conquered Colby.”
“Have I? He doesn’t think so.”
Lynch cursed low and fluently. “That’s because he’s trying to use Myatt against you in some way. It won’t do him any good. We’ll get Myatt soon, and Colby will die tomorrow night. No more nemesis.”
“I can almost believe you.”
“Dammit, don’t give me that almost bullshit. Believe me.”
“Yes, sir.” She laughed and pushed him away. “And you’re right, I’m being an idiot. Colby seems to have that effect on me. Thanks for the comforting shoulder to lean on. I seem to be using it ad nauseum. I’ll watch it from now on.”
“How disappointing.” He grinned. “I’m beginning to look on it as a fringe benefit of working with you.”
She could feel her pulse begin to pound, and she hurriedly looked away from him. “That would be exceptionally humiliating for me. I’d hate for anyone to think I was that weak.” She got to her feet. “And now it’s time for me to get to bed.”