“Really? I don’t think so. They respect me but they spat on you, didn’t they, Jenna?” Stone’s cruel mouth turned up in a wry smile. “I chose not to kill you. I could have picked you off at any time, but a quick death wasn’t what I wanted. Dying fast was too good for you. I wanted to make you suffer.” He chuckled. “I still do. So as sure as hell, I’m not planning on shooting you in the head. A knee, maybe, so you can’t run away.”
Jenna aimed her rifle at his head. “I’m not alone, but you’re smart enough to figure that out by yourself, I’m sure.”
“I’m not alone either.” His grin widened. “That shot you heard was one of my disciples taking out Dave Kane. You’re alone, Jenna. No one is going to save you. Not this time.” He lowered his rifle a little. “If you want to play fair, we’ll talk.”
A shiver of apprehension slid down Jenna’s back. If she hadn’t known better, his smooth talking would have convinced her he was really a nice guy. She could play his game and stood her ground, never taking her eyes off him for a second. “Okay, start talking. My patience is wearing thin. What do you need to get off your chest, James? Spit it out—this conversation is getting boring.”
“Don’t you want to know how I escaped?” He laughed. “I’m a genius. It was so easy.”
In Jenna’s ear, Kane’s voice whispered. “Ask him about his disciples. How he recruited them. If ther
e’s more out there we need to know.”
Jenna tapped her com. “I don’t care about the jailbreak, James. I want to know how many men you’ve invited to the party.”
“Three fascinating sexual deviates.” A wide grin spread across Stone’s face. “I think sadomasochists would come close to a description, they enjoy torturing and raping their women before they kill them. I thought they would be a perfect match for you and you know how I love to watch—well, for a time, anyway.”
Three? Three other men in the forest. One had died in the fire, so two more were close by. She could be surrounded. An uncontrollable tremble went through her and she clenched her teeth. Stone would never see her fear of him. She pressed her com and dropped her voice to just above a whisper. “Three others, one dead in fire.”
“Two dead. I shot one.” Kane cleared his throat. “Keep him occupied. I’ll scope the forest.”
The skin on Jenna’s arms pebbled, the uncanny feeling that someone was right behind her was making her skin crawl. She tried to keep her voice calm. “I don’t believe you. I know you had no contact with anyone in the prison. No one from outside or inside could get near you. All this is a figment of your imagination, James, just like our relationship. It never happened.”
“I’m going to cut you so bad no one will recognize you as human.” Stone lifted the rifle. “I’m not lying, Jenna. It was easy for someone with my intelligence to influence people of like mind. I selected cases of men I knew would be capable of working with me. I gave them freedom as an incentive. I have money and enough power to change magistrates’ minds, if I presented a sound case and backed it up with a hotshot lawyer.”
Jenna forced a laugh. “Rave on, that’s the story in your head. I know you couldn’t communicate with anyone. You didn’t have a chance to enlist anyone as a disciple, as you call them, or do anything. It’s all in your mind, James. You’re sick.”
“Really? I used the custodian in the library. I placed a note in a book and he took it to one of my selections. I was allowed visits from my lawyer. Private visits, Jenna.” Stone chuckled. “He hired a specific lawyer for my chosen ones and it was he, a dedicated disciple of my work, who explained the situation to them. It was all planned before I was convicted. I knew they’d try and cut me off from the world, so I made a contingency plan. You see, I have many people in my employ, Jenna. People who don’t exist in your reality but thrive in the world of the dark web. People who look after my finances, my businesses, my escape from jail.” He stared at her. “Does that sound like a sickness or genius? Now come out. I’m tired of waiting—or do I have to get someone to coax you out of your hiding place?”
Jenna swallowed hard. She couldn’t believe what he was saying. “I find it hard to believe you have Sam Cross in your employ.” She stared at him. “He’s Adams’ and Long’s lawyer. He might be a pain in the ass, but he’s not corrupt. He plays it straight down the line and to the letter of the law.” She snorted. “More lies, James. You’re losing your edge.”
“That’s why I chose him.” Stone glared at her. “Incorruptible Sam Cross. He’s the best, isn’t he? A lawyer who is wasting his life in Black Rock Falls but perfect for my needs. He was handed a file, Jenna, from another out-of-state lawyer. He knew the deal that I’d worked on the case and out of his civic duty he took the offered fee to represent Adams and Long. No money came from me, Jenna. I’m not that stupid. Adams and Long have more than enough in their bank accounts to pay for him and then some.”
Jenna took aim but moved slightly out of cover. “Put down your weapon. I have you surrounded. Do it nice and slow and we’ll take you back to your nice cozy jail cell.”
“I hear the hesitation in your voice and I know you’re not a very good shot.” Stone raised his rifle. “I remember our first date. You said after becoming sheriff you’d have to get down to the practice range more often. I offered to take you because I’m really good. I’ll take you down before you pull the trigger and then I’ll show you a real good time.”
Heart pounding so loud she could hear it in her ears, Jenna gritted her teeth. “Put down the weapon. If your finger moves to the trigger I will fire.”
“No, you won’t. You’re weak without backup but now it’s just you and me. I always win, Jenna. I’m so going to enjoy hearing you beg me for mercy… but I’m not a forgiving guy. I’ll make you scream until you die in agony.” He laughed in an excited giggle. “I knew it would end like this.” His finger went to the trigger.
The bang deafened Jenna and when Stone fell back in a red mist, to sprawl on the trail, she wanted to spew. She dropped her rifle down to her side and flopped against the tree. Hand trembling, she pressed her com. “Stone is down.”
The duty of care instilled in her bellowed in her mind. She should go and check Stone’s vital signs, but her legs refused to move. His legs twitched, and the idea he might be alive terrified her. What would she do if he’d survived? She took out her phone with trembling hands and stopped it recording. Moments later, Kane’s voice came in her ear.
“That was a righteous kill. You okay?”
Jenna couldn’t drag her eyes away from the body. “Not really. Is he dead?”
“Very. Great shooting.”
Jenna sighed with relief, but it wasn’t over yet. “There’s another bogey in the forest and we need to get out of here. If the wind changes, we won’t be able to outrun the fire. What’s your position?”
“I’m across from you, alongside the ravine. I can’t see anyone. Maybe he’s hightailed it out of the forest but I’ll cover you just in case. Go and get Seagull. Warrior is waiting on the trail.”
Heaving a sigh of relief, Jenna straightened. Hearing Kane’s voice had calmed her nerves, but she’d killed a man and that would stay with her forever. “Copy. Did you find Duke?”
“Yeah, he’s fine. SOB had tied him to a log.”