The Stranger You Know (Forensic Instincts 3)

Business as usual.

“McDonald’s delivery,” Jack announced, putting a few bags of food and a tray of drinks on the nightstand. “Get it while it’s hot.”

Glen put down his pages and strode over. McDonald’s was something he’d missed. Good old junk food. There was nothing like it.

He gave Suzanne a backward look. “Time to eat.”

“I’m not very hungry,” she managed.

“Yeah, you are. You have to be after our...recreational break.”

It wasn’t a request. It was an order.

Suzanne eased gingerly to her feet. Her entire body ached and her throat hurt so much she wondered if she could swallow. She walked unsteadily across the room, and then sat down on the other double bed, the one closer to the nightstand.

“Cheeseburger or fish?” Glen asked.

“Fish, please,” Suzanne rasped. Her hope was that fish would go down easier than meat.

“Here.” He handed her the wrapped sandwich and a tall cup of soda with a straw. “This’ll make you feel better.” He frowned as he saw some bruise marks peeking over the top of her turtleneck. “Pull your collar up higher before you leave,” he instructed. “We don’t want to give the cops any ideas.”

“Of course, Glen.” Suzanne took a sip of soda, and winced at the pain. “I’ll do exactly what we discussed.”

Hardly glancing at Suzanne, Jack swallowed a cheeseburger and gulped down a root beer. Then he walked over to the desk, collecting the photos he’d taken of their next victim and bringing them over to Glen.

“She’s hot. I’m jealous.”

Glen arched a brow at his nephew. “Don’t be. This isn’t about fun. It’s about inflicting as much pain on Casey Woods as possible. This will be the final emotional blow. After that, she’ll experience it all firsthand.”

“I want to do this one with you,” Jack stated.

“Do you?” Glen pursed his lips. “That might be interesting. Definitely more crushing for the victim—and for Casey Woods.”

“Yup.” Jack’s eyes lit up. “And I can come up with all kinds of embellishments.”

“That you won’t do.” Glen slammed his cup onto the table and bolted to his feet. “You shouldn’t have been doing it in the first place. I already told you that.”

“It’s creative. And amusing.” Jack wavered a bit, but held his ground.

“Listen.” Glen took two steps and loomed over him, grabbing his shirt with both fists. “I don’t know who you think you are, but you’re nobody. Nobody. You’re a punk kid who’s followed orders while I’ve been locked up in that shithole. But I’m here now. And I’m running things.”

Jack shrugged out of his uncle’s grasp. “I’m not the same kid you left behind when you were sent to Auburn,” he said with a defiant look. “Just read the papers. I’m the killer everyone’s afraid of now.”

Glen tensed up like a bowstring and slammed a fist into Jack’s jaw, knocking the younger guy onto the floor. “Who the hell do you think you’re talking to? Watch your mouth. You couldn’t do shit without me. I’m the one who took you in and taught you everything. You want to play big shot for everyone else? Go ahead. But don’t try it with me. Not if you want to keep all your teeth in your head.”

A vein was throbbing at Jack’s temple, but he said nothing. He just rubbed his jaw, scrambled to his feet and walked over to the desk. He gathered up the diagrams they’d been reviewing.

“This is the campus layout,” he told Glen, giving him the sheets of paper. “I circled the areas that are more deserted at night. Those are our best bets for grabbing her and getting away.”

Glen reviewed the diagrams. “Over here,” he said decisively, pointing at one of Jack’s designated areas—a narrow passageway between buildings. “It’s behind the library. The chapel is the only building nearby. None of the kids are going to be hanging around waiting to pray. They’ll either be inside the library or partying elsewhere.”

Jack nodded. “She’s a studier. She usually heads to the library around seven and leaves when it closes at eleven forty-five. We can take her then. I’ve still got the Fusion right here in the parking lot.”

“Wrong.” Glen shook his head. “Talk about being compromised. Every cop in the state is going to be looking for that car. It’s a liability to us now. Get rid of it.”

Jack looked annoyed. “I could just change the plates.”

“I said get rid of it.” There was no give in Glen’s tone. “Tonight. Then get yourself back here. We’ll find our way into Manhattan when the time is right. I’ll take care of getting us a new car.”