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He took another deep breath that had a similar lack of effect on his pounding heart.
He didn’t even think about the damned cameras. He’d been so careful at the garden, but he didn’t even think about it now. Then he’d looked up and saw that stupid camera that had caught him knocking the girl out. What a damned fool.
It’s okay. Just finishrubedoand it won't matter. Worst case, you're in jail for a while.
“Which really kinda sucks,” he whined.
His victim stirred, and he froze and watched her in the rearview mirror.Didn't even tie her up, you idiot.
She slumped again, and he released another breath he’d been holding. Damn it, his hands were shaking.
“Just a little bit,” he said. “We just need to get to the location of fire, then we can complete the process, and I’ll achieve eternal life.”
Had the police seen him? Were they on their way?”
He shivered and squeezed and released the wheel again. “It’s okay,” he told himself. “It’s okay.”
A flash of pain struck his chest. He gasped and pressed his right hand to the pain while his left continued to drive. He felt a wave of nausea—something that only accompanied the worst of the pain.
Worse was the pain forming in his left arm.
“No,” he said. “Not now, damn it,notnow.”
He smacked his chest hard, once, twice, then a third time. When he hit it again, he felt something slide inside of him, and the pain subsided. He froze, certain that it would return at any moment, but all he felt was a dull ache.
He took another deep breath and stifled sobs. He just needed to finish this one job. Then everything would be okay.
The location he had chosen was perfect. Not only did it fit forrubedo, but it was close by. He wouldn’t be vulnerable for long.
Damn it, if only he’d had a day or two longer. He could have done this without his car. He could have taken the right precautions.
Instead, he’d rushed everything, and now the police were almost certainly following him.
His victim stirred again. He looked at her and wondered if he should stop the car to knock her out. Or maybe he’d just kill her now.
No, he couldn’t do that. He needed her alive until right before the ritual.
He pulled the car to a stop and opened the back door. The victim asked in a slurred voice. “What’s… what’s going on?”
Instead of answering, he pulled her toward him, wrapped his arms around her neck and squeezed. She struggled for a few seconds, then went limp. He pushed her back into the car, then got back in the driver’s seat and sped off.
“Soon. Soon. One more time, and it will all be over.”
CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR
All eyes turned to Faith. “Where?” Hilary demanded.
She sighed. “I don’t know exactly where, but it will have to do with fire.”
“Fire? Like a firehouse?”
“No. Like something associated with the element of fire.” She briefly explained the elements that each murder location represented so far and her belief that this final murder would take place somewhere associated with fire. “Firehouses are places that actively fight fire, so it wouldn’t be there.”
“Where though? A gas main?”
Faith shook her head. “I don’t know.”
Hilary sighed. “Damn it, agent, when you said you knew where he took her, I thought youknewwhere he took her.”
