“All for the noblest of purposes.” Sam sat down at the large mahogany desk. “If it gets us one step closer to finding this monster, who would possibly object?”

“And how close are you?”

“I’m not certain. I’ve spent a lot of time setting up these network-traffic-analysis rigs. I think I’m ready to find out.”

“You are?”

“Yep, that’s why I invited you in for the show.” He met her eyes, suddenly grave. “I have to work alone, but that doesn’t mean I like it. I want you to know that … I’ve liked having you here. But this is the only part I can share. It’s all I can give you. If you want to accept it.”

“You sound like someone from Mission Impossible.” She smiled. “It is what it is. Of course I’ll accept it. That’s why I’m here.”

“Good.” His hand went to the power switch on Kendra’s computer. “Ready to give this a shot?”

Beth leaned forward and pushed his finger into the power button. “Oh, yes. Let’s get this asshole.”

The indicator lights on Kendra’s laptop came to life. Sam punched a button on the HDMI switcher, and the image from the laptop suddenly appeared on one of Lynch’s large-screen monitors.

Beth turned back to Sam. “How long will it take?”

“Depends on Colby. Last time, he made contact immediately. It leads me to believe that he has a computer on and waiting for this machine to come online. At least he did then. If that’s still true, it can only help us. It’s hard to scan the Web like that without leaving some kind of footprint. This time, I’m looking for any sign that his computer is out there looking for us.”

“And once it has found us?”

“I’ll immediately start tracing the data packets. And if we hit a relay center, I’m ready to start analyzing data traffic patterns from the other side to figure out where it’s coming from. He may be smart enough to route himself through several relay centers, but I’m smarter.”

Beth nodded. “Not that I doubt you … But doesn’t the government have entire buildings full of people who do this sort of thing?”

Sam checked one of the monitors. “Yes. And they hire me whenever they fall on their asses.”

“Good Lord, what arrogance.”

“No, I’m merely supremely sure of myself.”

Beth laughed. “And unapologetically.”

“Why apologize? For being aware that I’m the best at what I do?”

“You’re the only person I’ve ever met who can swagger while sitting down.”

“Another one of my many talents.”

She glanced over at him: “So tell me … Who do they call when you fall on your ass?”

“Hmm. Can’t say, because it’s never happened. I guess they would just call a priest since the situation would clearly be hopeless.”

“Clearly.”

Sam suddenly leaned forward. “We’ve made contact.”

Beth tensed. “Can he see and hear us?”

“Not unless we want him to. I’ve muted the laptop’s microphone and camera. Of course, he may not even be there. Just because his computer is on, that doesn’t mean that he—”

“Greetings, Sam.” That mocking whisper again.

“That’s him,” Sam said.

“I assume it is you, Sam. You’re being very rude, not allowing me to see and hear you.”

Sam pushed a keyboard combination that opened the microphone. “Of course you can hear me.”

“Ah. Good. I trust you gave Kendra my message?”

“I did.”

“Fine. Then your part of this is done. I have no further use for you. I must speak to Kendra directly.”

“What makes you think she wants to speak to you?”

“Is she there?”

“No.”

“Too bad. You’re wasting time. The clock has started.”

“The clock on what?”

The screen flickered, and, suddenly, an image appeared.

Beth leaned close to get a better look. Her eyes widened. “Oh, my God.”

*   *   *

KENDRA’S PHONE RANG, AND SHE barely had time to punch the TALK button when she heard Beth on the line, her voice shaking.

“Kendra, open your e-mail now, you hear me? Now! Sam just sent you a link.”

“A link? Beth, what’s happening?”

“Just do it. Hurry!”

Kendra had already grabbed her tablet computer and opened her e-mail. Three button presses later, she was staring at what appeared to be a live video feed that chilled her to the core.

Detective Martin Stokes, bruised and bloody, tied to a table. His eyes were wide with fear as he looked at something beyond the range of the camera.

And she had a terrible feeling she knew who he was looking at.

“Kendra, do you see it?”

She couldn’t take her eyes from the screen. “Yes.”

Sam’s voice suddenly cut in. “Kendra, I’m forwarding this to you through my server. I’ve also sent viewing links to Michael Griffin at the FBI and the San Diego Superintendent of Police. Colby is refusing to talk to anybody but you.”

“Can … he hear me?”

“I’m going to try and enable two-way communication in three … two … one … now!”

She spoke into her tablet. “Colby … It’s me. It’s Kendra Michaels. I’m the one you want, not him.”

Silence. Only Stokes’s labored breathing.

Sam had rigged this on the fly, so it was entirely possible that his attempt to provide a two-way communication link was going to be a—

“Hello, Kendra. What a delight it is to be here with you again.”

She went still. It was the first time she’d heard Colby’s voice since that terrifying morning at San Quentin.

She had hoped never to hear that voice again.

The picture on her screen hadn’t changed. Stokes was shirtless and bleeding, tied to what appeared to be an embalming table. “Colby, this is about you and me. You have my attention now. That man has nothing to do with this. He’s a cop. He didn’t even believe you were still alive.”

A long pause.

What was he thinking? Was she making any impact at all?

He finally replied. “To the contrary, Kendra. He has everything to do with this. He disrespected us both when he refused to listen to you about me. He’s now paying the price.”

“Of course he didn’t listen to me, Colby. You were too smart, and you covered your tracks too well. The whole world believed you were dead.”

“You didn’t believe it, Kendra, even though you wanted to believe it more than anyone on Earth.”

“I’ve met a few dozen victims’ family members who wanted to believe it more.”

“Possibly. But after today, there will be no doubts, Kendra. This is my gift to you. The whole world will know how right you were. I could have just vanished and let you twist in the wind, espousing your ridiculous theory…”

Kendra’s phone vibrated. She glanced down and saw a text from Sam. KEEP HIM TALKING. TRYING TO TRACK. FBI AND SDPD ARE IN THE LOOP.

She looked back up. “Don’t pretend this is for anyone but you. You enjoyed the hell out of the fact that no one believed me.”

“For a little while. But it annoyed me that Stokes couldn’t see that such complex planning and clean execution could only originate in a mind like mine. So it’s for both of us. I’ve been planning this for a long time.”

“Whatever you planned, it didn’t involve this man. Or Sheila Hunter. You didn’t know them two weeks ago. Stokes can’t possibly matter to you.”

“Then should I kill him right now?”

“No! You’ve made your point.”

The screen went black for a moment, then came back. Colby suddenly entered the frame and stepped behind the table. He appeared slightly more muscular than she remembered, and his hair now covered his ears. But his blue eyes were as striking as ever, and his small teeth still gave his angular face a feral quality.

“Only partially.” He looked down into Stokes’s face. “But he’s seen the error of his ways in one important aspect. Admit your mistake, Stokes. Am I still alive?”

Stokes’s expression was a mask of anger and terror. “Yes, you bastard, you’re alive.”

“Excellent.” Colby spoke to the camera. “I invite you all to watch as I apply one cut to Detective Stokes’s body each five minutes. In exactly one hour, he will die.”