32

Julie lifted another bag from the floor, then put it on the pool table, unzipped it, and removed a plastic case. She opened it and took out a vial and syringe.

“No,” Kaely said. “If you give us too much—”

“Then you’ll join our friend Dennis,” Julie said. For just a moment, Alex saw a look cross her face that revealed she was actually bothered by his death. Was it possible to reason with her after all?

“Listen, Julie, it’s not too late. We can still turn this around.”

“No, it is too late. We’ve already committed murder. I can’t go back.”

“If you get caught or killed,” Kaely said, “what will your kids think? Is this the way you want them to remember you? Don’t you realize that you’re betraying your code? Throwing away your honor?”

“I just can’t take it anymore,” Julie said. Tears filled her eyes. “My kids don’t respect me. I work constantly, and I’m exhausted. And for what? It’s not worth it. I want out.”

Julie plunged the syringe into the vial. Then she walked over to Kaely, who squirmed in her chair, trying to get away from her. “I realize this is your second dose,” Julie said, “but you’ll be all right. I’m only giving you enough to knock you out for a while. He wants you alive—for now.” She plunged the needle into Kaely’s neck. Then she moved to Alex. “Sorry to use the same needle on both of you, but she’s not sick. You’ll be fine.”

“Is this what you used to kill Dennis?”

Julie nodded. “Propofol. We had no choice. He saw us.”

“How did you take Kaely?” Alex asked. “I would have heard you if you’d come into the room.”

“Simple. I sent her a text and told her I needed to see her downstairs. Even though we were supposed to be at the motel, she didn’t suspect me. She was quiet so she wouldn’t disturb you. We grabbed her and gave her a shot. Thankfully, we still had enough after we took care of Dennis. No cameras anywhere in the dorms, and we took Kaely out through the stairs. Had a vehicle waiting. It was easy. Ben must have failed to close the door to that room all the way, or you wouldn’t have found Dennis so fast.”

Alex glanced at Kaely. She was out. As Julie advanced toward her, Alex yelled, hoping someone might hear her, but Julie didn’t hesitate. As the drug flowed through her veins, Alex prayed.

Logan was torn. He was ready to request help from Washington, but he had to call Terry Burnett first. He was the one who would actually make the call. But now Logan was worried about Alex. He’d texted her several times. Then he tried Ben and Julie. No response.

He gave up and called Terry. “Are you missing one person or four?” he asked after Logan explained what was going on. His tone was sharp.

“I don’t know. One for sure. Maybe four. We’ve been calling and texting them, but no answer. It seems we’re having some problems with the phones, though.” The way the unit chief spoke to him made Logan feel incompetent. How could this have happened?

“I’ll contact Washington, but I’m not sure when they can get there. We’ve got blizzard conditions coming in. They’re grounding flights.”

“They don’t have that far to drive,” Logan said.

“I realize that, but it could still take them a while if this thing hits really hard.” Terry paused for a moment. “Can you safely search the grounds? Look for your missing agents and officers?”

“Yes. I think so. I’ll take some agents with me. We’ll see if we can find them. Then I’ll report back to you.”

“As soon as possible, please. If Gorman’s officers are missing, I need to let him know.” Terry swore loudly. “For crying out loud, Logan, this is Quantico. The FBI Academy. How could anyone get inside, let alone capture our agents? It’s just not possible.”

“Well, if we can’t find my agents and the two police detectives, I guess it is possible.”

Terry didn’t respond to that. “Get back with me. Let me know what you find.”

Logan ended the call and hurried back to the food court. “Monty, Bethany, Todd, come with me,” he said loudly. “Robin, Nathan, stay here in case someone comes back. I’ll call you if I decide I need you, but in this weather, I think it’s best we have only one vehicle out. Don’t leave the area, understand? I don’t want to have to look for anyone else. We’re headed to Hogan’s Alley since Ben said he wanted to see it. They might be there by now.”

“Yes, boss,” Robin said. “We won’t move. If they show up, we’ll text you.”

“No, call or text Monty’s number. I’m using his phone.”

Logan and his three agents went up to the second floor. Dennis’s body had been removed, but Shawn Driscoll was still on guard. Logan told him what they were doing before they entered their rooms to get boots, hats, and coats. Logan told his people to also put on their bulletproof vests. He didn’t need to tell them to take their guns.

He’d been waiting for the call telling him everything was under control. When his phone rang, he picked it up with a smile. Confirmation.

“When you arrive, let me know. I’ll open the garage door. Drive the vehicle inside. They’ll be looking for it soon, but they won’t think to look here. By the time it’s discovered, we’ll all be gone.”

When he finished speaking, he turned off his phone and put it in his pocket. He was still wearing a disguise—uncomfortable but necessary. When his acquisitions arrived, he’d remove this look and don a new one. He’d been seen like this too many times. Someone might remember him and give a description that could cause him trouble.

He laughed. One step ahead. Always. His performance had been legendary. But this was his pièce de résistance. No one would ever top this. Profilers would talk about him forever. Someone who broke all their assumptions. Beat them at their own game.

He walked to the area he’d staged for Kaely Quinn and Alex Donovan. His last two performers. His finale. Then he’d be gone, living in Switzerland. No one would ever find him.

Another laugh reverberated throughout the empty space—as if his joy echoed throughout all creation.

Alex fought against the drug that was supposed to put her to sleep. Ben came back and put tape over her mouth, and then he placed something over her head. It was scratchy, and she couldn’t see. Alex tried to scream, praying someone could hear her even with the tape on her mouth. But the more she yelled, the thicker the shadows grew, until she finally had to give in to the darkness.

Logan drove slowly through the academy grounds, in part because of the snow but mostly because he didn’t want to miss anything. But so far, none of them had spotted the SUV Alex and Ben took. At least the guards hadn’t seen them leave the grounds. Other than the final new recruits, some instructors, staff, and a few FBI police officers, only a laundry van and mail truck had left the campus this morning. Everything aboveboard.

He finally turned toward Hogan’s Alley. It almost looked cozy cushioned in snow. Monty and Todd were shining flashlights from the car’s windows, looking for something, anything that seemed out of place or unusual. The snow wasn’t helping. The dark clouds overhead made it appear like nighttime.

They had just passed the Biograph and turned the corner when Todd yelled out, “I think I see the SUV.”

Logan forgot about the snow for a moment and slammed on the brakes. His own SUV slid, and he fought for control.

“Four-wheel drive, huh?” Monty said under his breath.

“Sorry,” Logan said. “Driver error.”

He backed up until he spotted the vehicle. It was parked at the Facilities Maintenance Center with other vehicles used by the maintenance crew. He started to back up farther when Bethany called out.

“The door to the pool hall is open. That’s not right.”

“Let’s check the car first, then we’ll look at that.” Logan carefully drove up to the ramp that led to where the SUV was parked, then stopped and turned off the engine. “Monty, check this out with me. Todd, Bethany, wait in the car.”

The two men got out and carefully climbed the concrete ramp until they were next to the SUV. It was unlocked and empty. No one was inside.

Monty shone the flashlight in the front seat and then the backseat. “I don’t see anything,” he said.

Logan was disappointed but also relieved. He was afraid they might find bodies. “So Alex isn’t here. Neither is Ben or Julie. And we’re still missing Kaely. This is ridiculous. I don’t get it.”

They were shutting the doors when Monty said, “Wait a minute.” He bent down and picked up something from the floor. When Monty showed it to Logan, he didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

It was one of Alex’s pistol earrings. “Why is this here?” he asked, more to himself than anyone else.

“I think Alex is telling us she’s alive. Take it as a good sign.”

“Maybe it fell off during a struggle,” Logan said. “You don’t know.”

“Yeah, I do. Look closer.”

Monty carefully dropped it into Logan’s outstretched hand. “This is a pierced earring. The back is on it. If it had fallen off in a struggle, the back wouldn’t be attached. Alex did this on purpose.”

Logan blew out the breath he’d been holding. “You’re right,” he said. “At least when she left this car, she was alive. But what about Ben and Julie?”

Monty hesitated a moment before saying, “I think it’s time we realize that one or both of them had something to do with this.”

“I can’t believe that.”

“Well, how else did this happen? Because of increased security, we know no one suspicious came onto the property, and we know they were with Alex. She’s gone. I think we have to assume they’re involved.”

Logan sighed. “Maybe you’re right. Let’s check out the pool hall, and then I’ll contact Chief Gorman. He needs to look into Ben and Julie. Especially at their finances. I don’t think either one of them is our UNSUB, but they could be working with him.”

Logan fought back anger that felt as if it would overtake him. He had to keep his head straight. Play this by the book.

Alex and Kaely needed him at his best.