Gil’s thin smile did not change. “In the next hour or so that you have left to live, you will learn not to lie to me,” he said. “I’m in touch with Nate Murphy already. He told me that Josh was at the Amity Falls ICU. But he was lying. And both of you will pay.”
“I don’t know where Josh is. And even if I had the drive, which I don’t, what does it matter?” she said. “It’s encrypted. No one can read it.”
“Except me,” Gil said. “You dumb bitch. You left the key with me. That was lucky. And amusing, for me.”
With great difficulty, Elisa ignored that. “The only person who knew that key was Erasma, and you killed her. So that drive can’t damage you.”
“I can’t be sure of that,” Gil said lightly. “I like holding all the cards, all the time. Besides, Trask would have cracked that key eventually. And there are many videos on that drive, not just the one Erasma a showed you. They represent a certain kind of insurance policy. To control Sinclair, and other people, too, for that matter.” Gil turned to look over his shoulder. “William, get over here.”
Heavy, clumping footsteps. Another man came into her line of vision. He had a broad, bony face, thin lips, dead flat eyes. He stared down at her, expressionless.
“William, meet my soon-to-be late wife, Louisa,” Gil said. “William is a skilled interrogator. He was the one who questioned Erasma.”
“I bet you watched him do it,” Elisa said. “And I bet you liked it.”
Gil’s smile did not change. “I have a strong stomach. And I am a pragmatic person. Not a sentimental idiot like you. Or your new boyfriend.”
“He’s not my boyfriend. He’s nothing to me. You’re wasting your time.”
Gil chuckled. “I guess that’s why he’s racing here at top speed, all alone. Just like I ordered him to.”
“What?” Elisa’s vision blurred, and terrified nausea gripped her. “Here?”
“Yes. One of our drones intercepted his car on the highway. He’s on his way toward us, at ninety miles an hour, straight for the meeting point. Sentimental people are so easy to manipulate. I’m glad I don’t have that character flaw.”
“That’s what you call a flaw? While you’re threatening to torture me?”
“Not you,” Gil said. “You have to stay in one perfect piece. No bumps or bruises. William will get to work on your boyfriend if you don’t give me what I need. He’ll be here soon. If he brings the drive, his death can be quick and painless. If not, William will question him. Until one of you tells me where to find it. And Josh.”
“But it’s useless,” she said desperately. “He has no idea.”
“I would love to watch William interrogate you, too, after all the hell you put me through,” Gil said. “But I need you looking nice for the final tragic tableau.” He grinned at her, his foot tapping. “Heartbreaking. After months of searching and waiting and worrying, I finally tracked you here—but I was too late. You were broken. You’d given in to the lure of drugs. That’s why I’ll hate drugs so much, see? It fits my hard-ass prosecutor vibe, and as my career progresses, my backstory will always have that tragic personal touch.” He nudged her with the toe of his shoe. “So, thanks. I can’t say you never gave me anything.” He threw up his hands, laughing at the look on her face. “Ah, ah, ah! No more F-bombs! Stay classy.”
Elisa pictured Nate speeding up here. Knowing it was a trap and coming anyway, just because he couldn’t let her face it alone. Goddamn the man. He just had to be a hero, at all costs. And it was all her fault.
She’d known this would happen. Known it for a fucking fact.
“Don’t bother hoping his Trask friends will save the day,” he said. “Even if your boyfriend called on them, I have fifteen heavily armed professionals here. I don’t want a gun battle, since that would be a tough spin for the eventual clean-up, but I’d think of some way to make it work. Drug gang involvement, maybe, or some such. In the end, I’d find a way to turn it to my advantage. My special gift. I spin straw into gold.” Gil’s speculative gaze ranged over her body. “Except for you. My magic gift never quite worked with you, did it? You’re still just plain old straw, Louisa. So stubborn. Despite my best efforts, you just never changed.”
“Thank you, Gil,” she said. “A true compliment. I’ll cherish it to the bitter end.”
Gil’s phone buzzed. He lifted it and looked at the display. “Hmm. And so it begins. Nate Murphy has been picked up at the rendezvous point, and my men are bringing him up the private access road already. I have to leave for a moment, but William will keep you company. I’ll be right back. With your lover.”
She didn’t have a clear line of sight to the entrance to the deep room. All she could see was furniture, and William’s feet. He stood there, stolid and silent, gun in hand. Then she felt the air moving, a change in temperature, the smell of snow. Stamping feet, murmuring voices.
Five men. The first was Gil himself, looking very pleased. Nate was being dragged in. Two of Gil’s soldiers were gripping his arms, his hands fastened behind him. Another man followed, carrying a small black plastic clamshell suitcase.
Elisa locked eyes with Nate. His mouth was bleeding, but his eyes blazed with intensity. He couldn’t seem to look away from her. His eyes seemed as if he were trying to tell her something.
Oh, God, Nate, why?
“So,” Gil said. “Here he is. The famous Nate Murphy. Nice of you to come.”
Nate made no sign that he’d heard the words. He just stared at Elisa.
“Look at me when I talk to you,” Gil rapped out.
Nate did so.
“Josh wasn’t at the Amity Springs ACU, you lying son-of-a-bitch,” Gil said. “You’re going to regret saying that by the time I’m through with you. Where is he?”
“Safe,” Nate said. “Being treated for his injuries someplace safe. Where you can’t touch him.”
Gil snorted. “You’re boring me. We’ll discuss that issue later, with William’s expert help. William knows how to motivate people to tell the truth like no one I’ve ever seen. Did you brought the flash drive?” Gil demanded.
“It’s in the suitcase,” Nate said.
Gil gestured to the man holding the molded plastic case. “Why in there?”
Nate tried to shrug, but the men holding him just tightened their grip. “Because that’s where I’d put it. When the call came in, I just grabbed the whole case.”
Gil looked down at it. “Put it on the table,” he ordered his men. “Make him lean over it when it opens. Any dirty tricks, and he gets the first face full of it.”
The two guys holding Nate exchanged grim looks. The man holding the case hoisted it up and laid it carefully upon the big, heavy table that dominated the next room. Gil kept his distance. His guards continued to hesitate.
“Well?” Gil asked impatiently. “What are you waiting for? Open the goddamn thing. Hold him over it.”
One of the guys shoved Nate’s face down, leaning back as far as he could himself. The other reached out tentatively, and released the latch, jerking away.