Kiss The Girls Part 9

Kyle surprised me with his answer. "I'm here in Durham, Alex. To be a little more precise, I'm in the lobby of your hotel. C'mon down for a drink or three in the infamous Bull Durham Room. I need to talk to you. I've got a special message for you from J. Edgar himself."

"I'll be right down. I've been wondering what the Hoove's been up to since he faked his own death."

Kyle was seated at a table for two beside a large bay window. The window faced directly onto the putting green of the university golf course. A lank man who looked like a schoolboy was teaching a Duke coed how to putt in the dark. The jock was standing behind his lady, showing her his best putt-putt moves.

Kyle was watching the lesson of the links with obvious amus.e.m.e.nt. I watched Kyle with obvious amus.e.m.e.nt. He turned as if he could sense my presence.

"Man, you have a nose for bad trouble," he said by way of a greeting. "I was sorry to hear that your niece is missing. It's good to see you, in spite of the particularly vile and s.h.i.+tty circ.u.mstances."

I sat down across from the agent, and we started to talk shop. As always, he was extremely upbeat and positive without sounding naive. It's a gift he has. Some people feel that Kyle could wind up at the top of the Bureau, and that it would be the best thing that ever happened.

"First, the honorable Ronald Burns appears in Durham. Now you show up. What gives?" I asked Kyle.

"Tell me what you you have so far," he said. "I'll try to reciprocate as much as I can." have so far," he said. "I'll try to reciprocate as much as I can."

"I'm doing psych profiles on the murdered women," I told Kyle. "The so-called rejects. rejects. In two of the cases, the rejected women had very strong personalities. They probably gave him a lot of trouble. That could be why he killed them, to get rid of them. The exception was Bette Anne Ryerson. She was a mother, in therapy, and she might have had a nervous breakdown." In two of the cases, the rejected women had very strong personalities. They probably gave him a lot of trouble. That could be why he killed them, to get rid of them. The exception was Bette Anne Ryerson. She was a mother, in therapy, and she might have had a nervous breakdown."

Kyle ma.s.saged his scalp with one hand. He was also shaking his head. "You've been given no information, no help whatsoever. But zip-a-dee-doo-dah zip-a-dee-doo-dah" -he smiled at me- "you're still a half-step ahead of our people. I haven't heard that theory about the 'rejects.' It's pretty good, Alex, especially especially if he's a control freak." if he's a control freak."

"He could definitely be a control freak, Kyle. There has to be a d.a.m.n good reason why he got rid of those three women. Now, I thought you were going to tell me some things I didn't know."

"Maybe, if you pa.s.s a few more simple tests, that is. What else have you figured out?"

I bad-eyed Kyle while I slowly sipped my beer. "You know, I thought you were all right, but you're just another FBI p.r.i.c.k."

"I was programmed at Quantico," Kyle said in a pa.s.sable computer voice. "Have you done a psych profile on Casanova?" Kyle said in a pa.s.sable computer voice. "Have you done a psych profile on Casanova?"

"I'm working on it." I told him what he already knew. "As much as I can with virtually no information available."

Kyle beckoned with the cupped fingers of his right hand. He wanted it all, and then maybe maybe he'd share something with me. he'd share something with me.

"He has to be someone who blends into the community well," I said. "No one's even come close to catching him. He's probably driven by the same obsessive s.e.xual fantasies that he's had since he was a boy. He could have been the victim of abuse, maybe incest. Maybe he was a Peeping Tom, a rapist, or a date rapist. Now he's a very fancy collector of extremely beautiful women; he seems to choose only the extraordinary ones. He's researching researching them, Kyle. I'm almost sure of it. He's lonely. Maybe he wants the perfect woman." them, Kyle. I'm almost sure of it. He's lonely. Maybe he wants the perfect woman."

Kyle shook his head back and forth. "You are so G.o.dd.a.m.n crazy, man. You think think like him!" like him!"

"Not funny." I grabbed Kyle's cheek between my thumb and forefinger. "Now you tell me something I I dont't know." dont't know."

Kyle pulled away from my cheekhold. "Let me run a deal by you, Alex. This is a good good deal, so don't get cynical on me." deal, so don't get cynical on me."

I raised my hand high in the air for the table waitress. "Check! Separate Separate checks, please." checks, please."

"No, no. Wait. This is is a good deal, Alex. I hate to say, 'Trust me,' but trust me. Just to prove my truthfulness, I simply can't tell you everything right now. I'll admit that the case is definitely bigger than anything you've seen so far. You're right about Burns. The deputy director wasn't down here by accident." a good deal, Alex. I hate to say, 'Trust me,' but trust me. Just to prove my truthfulness, I simply can't tell you everything right now. I'll admit that the case is definitely bigger than anything you've seen so far. You're right about Burns. The deputy director wasn't down here by accident."

"I figured Burns wasn't here to see the azaleas." I felt like yelling at Kyle inside the quiet hotel bar. "Okay, tell me one thing I don't know already."

"I can't tell you any more than I already have."

"d.a.m.n you, Kyle. You haven't told me a G.o.dd.a.m.n thing." I raised my voice. "What's the deal you have for me?" you, Kyle. You haven't told me a G.o.dd.a.m.n thing." I raised my voice. "What's the deal you have for me?"

He put up a hand. He wanted me calm for this. "Listen. As you know, or suspect, this is already a four-star, multijurisdictional nightmare, and it hasn't really heated up yet. Believe me on that. n.o.body's getting anything done, Alex. Here's what I'd like you to consider."

My eyes rolled back. "I'm glad I'm sitting down for this," I said.

"This is an excellent offer for a man in your position to consider. Since you're already outside the multijurisdictional mess, and therefore immune to it, why don't you keep it that way. Stay on the outside, and work directly directly with me." with me."

"Work with the Federal Bureau?" I choked on my beer. "Collaborate with the Feebies?"

"I can give you access to all the information we get, as soon as we get it. I'll give you everything you need in terms of resources and information and all of our current data."

"And you you don't have to share anything I come up with? Not even with the local or state police?" I said. don't have to share anything I come up with? Not even with the local or state police?" I said.

Kyle had become his intense self again. "Look, Alex, this investigation is large and expensive, but it's getting nowhere. Officers are falling over one another while women all over the South, including your niece, are disappearing right under our noses."

"I understand the problem, Kyle. Let me think about your solution. Give me a little s.p.a.ce on this one."

Kyle and I talked some more about his offer, and I was able to pin him down on a few specifics. Basically I was sold, though. Working with Kyle would give me access to a first-rate support team, and I'd have clout whenever I needed it. I wouldn't be alone anymore. We ordered burgers and more beers, and continued to talk and put the final touches on my deal with the Devil. For the first time since I'd come South, I was feeling a little hopeful.

"I do have something else to share with you," I finally told him. "He dropped me a note last night. It was a nice note, thoughtful, welcoming me to the area."

"We know." Kyle grinned like the grown-up Andy Hardy that he is. "It was a postcard, actually. It showed an odalisque, a love slave from a harem."

Chapter 32.

BY THE time I got back to my room it was a little late, but I called Nana and the kids, anyway. I always call home when I'm away, twice every day, morning and night. I hadn't missed yet, and didn't plan to start that night.

"Are you listening to Nana and being a good girl for a change?" I asked Jannie when she came on the phone.

"I'm always a good girl!" Jannie squealed with little-girl glee. She loves talking to me. I feel the same way about her. Amazing, we were still madly in love after five years together.

I closed my eyes and visualized my girl. I could just see her puffing out her little chest, making her face look defiant, but smiling pointy crooked teeth at the same time. Once, Naomi had been a sweet little girl like that. I remembered everything about those times. I chased away the thought, the vivid portrait of Scootchie.

"Well, how about your big brother? Damon says he's being especially good, too. He says Nana's called you 'the holy terror' today. Is that so?"

"Unh-uh, Daddy. That's what Nana called him. him. Damon's the holy terror in Damon's the holy terror in this house. this house. I'm Nana's angel all the time. I'm Nana Mama's good girl angel. You can axt her." I'm Nana's angel all the time. I'm Nana Mama's good girl angel. You can axt her."

"Uh-huh. That's good to hear," I told my little spin-doctor. "Did you pull Damon's hair just a tiny bit at Roy Rogers junkfood restaurant today?"

"Not junk food, pally-wally! junk food, pally-wally! He He pulled pulled my my hair first. Damon almost pulled my hair out, like I was Baby Clare without her hair now." hair first. Damon almost pulled my hair out, like I was Baby Clare without her hair now."

Baby Clare had been jannie's main doll since she was two years old. The doll was "her baby," absolutely sacred to Jannie. Sacred to all of us. Once we had left Baby Clare at Williamsburg during a day trip, and we had to drive all the way back. Magically, Clare was waiting for us at the front-gate office, having a nice chat with the security guard.

"I couldn't pull Damon's hair, anyway. He's almost bald, bald, Daddy. Nana got him his summer haircut. Wait'll you see my bald brother. He's a Daddy. Nana got him his summer haircut. Wait'll you see my bald brother. He's a pool pool ball!" ball!"

I could hear her laughing. I could see see Jannie laughing. In the background, Damon wanted the phone back. He wanted his reb.u.t.tal about the state of his haircut. Jannie laughing. In the background, Damon wanted the phone back. He wanted his reb.u.t.tal about the state of his haircut.

After I finished with the kids, I talked to Nana.

"How are you you holding up, Alex?" She went right to the point, as she always does. She would have made an outstanding detective, or anything else she wanted to be. "Alex, I asked how you're doing?" holding up, Alex?" She went right to the point, as she always does. She would have made an outstanding detective, or anything else she wanted to be. "Alex, I asked how you're doing?"

"I'm doing just fine and dandy. Love my work," I told her. "How are you, old woman?"

"Never mind that. I would watch these children in my sleep. You don't sound good to me. You're not sleeping, and you haven't made a lot of progress, have you?"

Man, she was tough when she wanted to be. "It's not going as well as I would have hoped," I told her. "Something good might have just happened tonight."

"I know," Nana said, "that's why you're calling up so late. But you can't share the good news with your grandmother. You're afraid I might call the Was.h.i.+ngton Post. Was.h.i.+ngton Post."

We'd had this discussion before on cases I was working on. She always wants inside information, and I can't give it up.

"I love you," I finally said to her. "That's the best I can do right now."

"And I love you, Alex Cross. That's the best I can do."

She had had to have the final word. to have the final word.

After I finished with Nana and the kids, I lay in the dark on the unmade, unwelcoming hotel bed. I didn't want maids or anyone else in the room, but the Do Not Disturb Do Not Disturb tag hadn't deterred the FBI. tag hadn't deterred the FBI.

A bottle of beer sat upright on my chest. I slowed my breathing, let the bottle balance there. I've never liked hotel rooms, not even on a vacation.

I started thinking about Naomi again. When she was a little girl like Jannie, she used to ride up on my shoulders, so she could see "far, far away in the Big People's World." I remembered that Naomi thought Christmas was "Kissma.s.s," so she would kiss everybody during the holidays.

Finally, I let my mind settle on the monster who had taken Scootchie away from us. The monster was winning so far. He seemed invincible, uncatchable; he didn't make any mistakes, and didn't leave any clues. He was very sure of himself.... he even left me a cute little postcard for sport. What should that tell me?

He might have read my book about Gary Soneji, I thought. He just might have read my book. Had he taken Naomi to challenge me? Maybe to prove how good he was. I thought. He just might have read my book. Had he taken Naomi to challenge me? Maybe to prove how good he was.

I didn't like that thought very much.

Chapter 33.

I'M ALIVE, but I'm in h.e.l.l! but I'm in h.e.l.l!

Kate McTiernan tucked her legs close against her chest and s.h.i.+vered. She was certain that she'd been drugged. Severe tremors, accompanied by gnawing nausea, swept over her in powerful waves that would not stop that would not stop no matter what she tried. no matter what she tried.

She didn't know how long she had been asleep on the cold floor, or what time it was now. Was he watching her? Was there a peephole hidden in the walls? Kate could almost feel feel his eyes crawling all over her. his eyes crawling all over her.

She remembered every gruesome and hideous detail of the rape. The feel feel of it was so vivid. The thought of being touched by him was repulsive, and the most horrifying images snapped at her. of it was so vivid. The thought of being touched by him was repulsive, and the most horrifying images snapped at her.

Anger, guilt, violation all fused in her mind. Adrenaline surged powerfully through her body. "Hail Mary, full of grace... the Lord is with thee." She thought she had forgotten how to pray. She hoped that G.o.d hadn't forgotten her.

Kate's head was spinning. He was definitely trying to break her will, break her resistance. That was his plan, wasn't it?

She had to think, make herself think. think. Everything in the room was out of focus. Everything in the room was out of focus. The drugs! The drugs! Kate tried to figure what he might be using. Kate tried to figure what he might be using. What What drug? Which one?... drug? Which one?...

Perhaps it was Forane, a strong muscle relaxant that was used prior to anesthesia. It came in a one-hundred-milliliter bottle. It could be sprayed directly into a victim's face, or poured over a cloth and held to someone's face. She tried to remember the drug's aftereffects. s.h.i.+vering and nausea. Dry throat. Decrease in intellectual functioning for a day or two. She had those symptoms! All of them!

He's a doctor! The thought struck her like a low punch. It made perfect sense to her. Who else would have access to a drug like Forane? The thought struck her like a low punch. It made perfect sense to her. Who else would have access to a drug like Forane?

At the dojo in Chapel Hill, a discipline was taught to help students control their emotions. You had to sit in front of a blank dojo wall, and remain sitting no matter how much you wanted, or thought you needed, needed, to move. to move.

Kate's body was drenched with perspiration, but she was determined. She would never let him break her will. She could be unbelievably strong when she needed to be. That was how she'd gotten through medical school on no money and against all odds.

She sat in a lotus position for more than an hour in "her prison room." She breathed quietly and concentrated on clearing her mind of the pain, the nausea, and the rape. She focused on what she had to do next.

One simple concept.

Escape.

Chapter 34.

KATE ROSE slowly to her feet after the hour of meditation. She was still woozy, but she felt a little better, more in control. She decided to search for his peephole. It had to be there, hidden somewhere in the natural wood walls.

The bedroom was exactly twelve by fifteen. She'd measured it several times. In a tiny alcove the size of a closet, there was the equivalent of an outhouse.

Kate carefully looked for even the tiniest slit in the wall, but she saw nothing. The toilet in the alcove seemed to empty directly into the ground. There was no plumbing, at least not in this part of the building. Where am I being kept? Where am I? Where am I being kept? Where am I?

Her eyes watered from the acrid odor as she knelt over the black wooden seat and squinted into the dark hole. She had learned to put up with the overpowering smell, and only a single dry heave came this time.

The opening looked as if it dropped about ten or twelve feet. Dropped to what? Dropped to what? Kate wondered. Kate wondered.

It looked very narrow, and she didn't think she could squeeze through it, not even if she took off all her clothes. Maybe she could, though. Never say never. Maybe she could, though. Never say never.

She heard his voice directly behind her. Her heart dropped and she felt faint.

There he was! No s.h.i.+rt again. Rippling muscles everywhere, but especially around his stomach and thighs. He was wearing another mask. An angry-looking one. Crimson and bone-white swatches against a s.h.i.+ny black background. Was he angry today? Were the masks like mood rings for him?

"Not one of your better ideas, Katie. It's been tried by someone slimmer than you are," he said in a singsongy voice. "I won't go down there to help you back up. Very s.h.i.+tty way to die. Think it through."

Kate struggled to her feet and began to retch. She did her best to do it convincingly. "I'm sick I thought I was going to throw up," she said to Casanova.

"I definitely believe you do feel sick," he said. "That will pa.s.s. But it isn't isn't the real reason you were kneeling over the toilet. Tell the truth, and shame the devil." the real reason you were kneeling over the toilet. Tell the truth, and shame the devil."