Creed laughed.‘Is that supposed to be funny?’
‘You’re laughing, so you tell me.’
‘The only funny thing is you coming all this way to see me.For the second time.’
‘Third.Today, your trial, and don’t forget the time I busted you trying to kill a house full of women.’
‘Didn’t save the four Ididkill, did you?’
‘Didn’t give us much chance, did you?’
‘I gave you plenty of chances,’ Creed said, ‘you just didn’t pay attention.Seems like the story of your life, doesn’t it?’
The words landed exactly where he'd aimed them.Looking at Austin Creed across this metal table was like staring into the mouth of a cave where three people she knew had disappeared forever.Julianne, Jenna, Ben.They’d all been killed because this creature in orange had whispered the right words into the right ear.Her hand ached to pull the Glock from her pocket and paint Creed's brains across the concrete wall behind him.It would be so simple.One squeeze.Problem solved.Edis had practically drawn her a road map to justifiable homicide.She’d had the chance to end a hundred lives over her career, but she’d only ever taken that fatal shot once before.It had been the right decision then, and maybe this was the right decision now.
No.Not yet.
‘Sounds like you know why I’m here.’
Creed looked at the wall and then back at Ella.‘This might surprise you, but I didn’t know your name until a few months ago.’
‘Oh really?’
‘I’m afraid so.I don’t know if you’ve ever been thrown in jail before, but they don’t exactly tell you who put you there.In fact, they go a long way to keep it secret.’
Creed was right.They did do that.Ripley had always told Ella to stay away from the press and media when it came to past conquests, and Ella had followed that advice as much as she could.Sometimes, however, it had been unavoidable.‘And you know me now because I was at your trial.’
‘Yes.I believe you said I was a malignant narcissist who craved fame, and when I couldn’t find it through conventional means, I turned to the alternative.’
‘You remember well.’
‘And you told me I could have been a success, but I went another way.’
‘Partner,’ Ella finished.
‘I caught that too.You think I don’t recognize a Ted Bundy quote when I hear it?’
‘It wasn’t a Ted Bundy quote, it was a quote from the judge that gave him the death sentence, just like I gave you, so let me get to the point of why I’m here, because you might not have long left.You see, Creed, some of my friends aren’t around anymore, and I think you might have something to do with that.’
Creed had the nerve to feign surprise.He swept his scraggly hair back.‘Excuse me?’
‘Don’t play dumb, because I can read you like a book.’
‘I don’t know what book you’re reading, because I don’t know what you’re talking about.’
Ella had expected there’d be lies, but at the end of the day, she’d bested Austin Creed once and she could do it again.‘Really?Then why’d you say that not paying attention is the story of my life?Sounds like you think you a lot about me.’
‘Am I wrong?’
‘I pay a lot of attention.Too much.’
‘I know your name is Ella Dark.I know you’re from Washington D.C.That’s it.What do youthinkI know?’
‘Wrong already.I’m from Virginia.I grew up in a farm town, just like you, and I think you know an awful lot about my friends, my work, my colleagues, and even my ex partners.’
Creed inspected his chains, like the answer might be written on them.Ella studied his body language, and the man was completely closed off.His knees were touching each other and his shoulders were tensed up.There was no relaxation in his posture, which meant he was putting on an act.
‘I’d be lying if I said I didn’t know what this was about.My lawyers asked me about some dead women with their mouths sewn shut – and one dead man.’
