Page 73 of Mastermind

“I just wish we could use that to some advantage,” she says aloud. “We know something that Heywood doesn’t know we know yet. How can we exploit that?”

“Maybe to lure him out,” I reply.

“Lure him out? What do you mean?”

“Why don’t you see if the Warlock will talk to you?”

PART FIVE

ILLUSIONIST

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

JACKIE OSWALD COBS

I’m in my living room while Theo is sitting in a chair in my bedroom out of sight of my laptop webcam and the rest of the FBI is watching the interior of my apartment via their own hidden cameras and microphones. Twelve other agents live in this apartment complex, so it wasn’t difficult to find a plausible excuse to have extra agents on hand in case something goes terribly wrong.

It’s only supposed to be a video call, but with the Warlock, even the simplest things can go terribly wrong. Just ask the families of his many, many victims.

At first, I rejected Theo’s suggestion to try communicating with Heywood. The Warlock loves to feed off my attention. I saw no reason to give it to him, let alone let him know that I’m personally involved in the case.

He’s made attempts on my life in the past, and I saw no reason to encourage any more. Especially since news of his escape didn’t seem to alarm people nearly as much as it should have. I got a welfare call from the FBI to let me know, but since my case with him happened almost a decade ago, nobody seemed to think he was much of a threat in light of the fact that the other attempts on my life could never be conclusively traced back to him.

We’re a minute away from when he’s supposed to call. Or at least the person who sent me an email after the FBI issued a cryptic tweet: Have a tip about the Void? Contact the FBI. To separate the thousands of pranksters and well-meaning overreactors, we included a screenshot of what looked like a standard stock image of a computer screen showing a bunch of random letters and symbols. It was actually a message meant for Heywood, using one of the encryption key pairs he’s used. We sent the encrypted message to Heywood under the username Jackie Oswald Cobs: an anagram for Jessica Blackwood.

We assume that Heywood has been monitoring everything the FBI does, paying close attention to the people involved in the case. “Jackie Oswald Cobs” was meant to get him to respond. Which he did.

The Jackie Oswald Cobs account received a return email using his encryption key.

From: Michael ([email protected])

To: Jackie Oswald Cobs ([email protected])

Subject: Let’s talk

Jessica,

I’ve been wanting to talk to you.

9 pm EST. Your computer, your place. Please at least go through the motions of pretending you’re alone.

Michael

PS

I have something to show you that I think will be of special interest to your new friend. Tell him there’s hope.

Theo said he had no idea what Heywood was talking about. I put it down to another one of the Warlock’s typical mindfucks, which is why my pulse is racing.

I have no idea what to expect from a video call with the man who was using deepfake technology before there was even a word for it to lure his victims to their deaths. The only thing that derailed him from his ambitions was his obsession with me. Heywood’s cordiality is a lie. He never hid his hatred for me. We were never polite adversaries.

I know that engaging with him like this is only going to reignite whatever fixation he has on me. I can only hope that Theo’s idea to contact him pays off in some way.

The clock hits 9:00 p.m. I stare at the screen. Will he call? Although it’s counter to what we’re trying here, part of me—most of me—hopes he won’t.

9:01. Still no call.

Maybe it’s not going to happen. At 9:05, I’m still staring at the screen. I start to relax.