“That’s one of the points I want to broach with you,” Drex said. “These circumstances were different from all the previous ones. This time there were two women. One, he married. Marian Harris was also a departure from the norm.”
“In what way?” Gif asked.
Drex stood up and went over to the eating bar that separated the living area from the kitchenette. He planted his hands on the surface of it and used his arms as struts.
“I don’t think he buried Marian alive by mistake. I think he had become bored with his routine and wanted to try something new. He challenged himself. He wanted to see if he could do it and get away with it. And so far he has.
“Talia represented another challenge. She wasn’t middle aged, wasn’t meek or insecure, wasn’t an heiress. Not at all like her predecessors, she was much younger, more beautiful, and her fortune was self-made. Could he lure a woman like that? Or, better yet, the biggest coup of all, get her to marry him? He succeeded.
“He was introduced to Elaine. Independently, she wouldn’t have been a challenge. But going for two? Two who knew each other, were friends, who saw each other frequently and could compare notes about him?
“Ah, that was a risk to beat all risks. Even riskier than leaving Marian to die on her own before someone heard her screams. The challenge of Talia and Elaine combined was too tempting to resist. Dare he try?” Drex dropped his head between his shoulders. “He did, and has accomplished half his goal.”
No one behind him moved. No one spoke. Finally, Gif said, “This is his way of escalating.”
“I believe so. It’s his middle-age crazy we talked about. He’s taking chances he’s never taken before, and it scares me shitless.” He paused, then said, “See if you can get Locke on the phone.”
As Drex predicted, the other three in the room reacted to the request with a start. Before anyone could ask why or object, he said, “We need somebody inside, feeding us information, and keeping us updated. Rudkowski? Forget it. Lost cause. Do either of you have a contact in any of the FBI offices in South Carolina?”
They replied with shakes of their heads.
“So you can’t call in any favors. Besides, you can bet that Rudkowski has by now soured them on all of us. Same goes for Charleston PD, sheriff’s office, state police, Homeland Security. Every law enforcement agency.”
“Locke is a member of that fraternity,” Mike said.
“As well as Menundez,” Talia said.
“Yes, but you heard them talking when they were alone in your study.” He briefed Mike and Gif on what he and Talia had overheard from inside the safe room. “They saw through Rudkowski’s bluster and neither likes him. Us, they admire. I believe Menundez would jump at the chance to assist.”
“So why not call him instead?” Mike asked.
“Because Locke is more experienced, more mature, the deeper thinker, the less impulsive, the more senior guy, and, for all those reasons, that’s who we need.”
Gif hesitated, but took his phone out, went to his log of recent calls, and placed one to Locke. “Put it on speaker,” Drex said, then pointed to a place on the bar, and that’s where Gif set the phone. He scooted his chair closer to the bar and resumed his seat.
Mike stayed where he was. Talia moved to Drex’s side. He turned his head toward her and spoke softly. “Sorry I had to put you through that.”
“It was healthy for me, actually. Better than keeping it bottled up. I want him expunged, Drex.”
“Me too.”
She searched his eyes. “You put yourself through much worse, didn’t you? In that dark room for hours with the door shut?”
“That’s what they pay me for.”
“They did.”
He gave her a wan smile just as Locke answered with his name, sounding world-weary.
Drex addressed the phone and identified himself. “Can you talk to me without an audience?”
“Give me five minutes and call back.”
“Nope. Now or never. Yes or no? I made off with your material witness. Don’t you want to know why I called?”
“To negotiate a prisoner exchange?”
“All right, be an ass. Goodbye.”