The Killing Game (33 page)

“Worked.”

“But you didn't realize how sharp Sung was. State-of-the-art companies like Multiplex create their own software and the variance of the shifts in the light spectrums are almost like a fingerprint. Sung recognized that shift and he knew the picture had been doctored. Multiplex might not have been willing to confirm the specific job, but they would have no reason not to confirm the general technical aspects of the software. Did Charlie call you from the lab after he called me?”

“Of course. I trained him well.”

“And then you killed him. What would you have done if Joe hadn't climbed down and retrieved that photo? Would that other picture you supposedly sent to Quantico surface?”

He didn't answer. He was having trouble breathing.

“But it was all guesswork, and I had to verify. Multiplex wouldn't talk to me. You'd probably told them to keep the job confidential, and everybody obeys the FBI. So I took the photo and did some work myself. I didn't have the equipment or expertise to do what Sung did, so I did a digital merge of the faces of your brothers.” She smiled grimly. “And what to my surprise appeared? I came up with you.”

“Lie. We look—nothing like each other.”

“You're right and that was good. I was much more likely to pull up a completely distinctive face than if your brothers looked alike. I often use older family members' features for age progression for children. When I was studying at the National Center for Missing Children, I used to play with merging different familial faces and seeing what I could come up with. Even when the family members didn't look like one another, it was amazing how the similarities appeared when they were combined. The face I came up with didn't resemble you exactly, but it was close enough, and after I aged the image, it was even closer. It made me go over everything that had happened.”

“I didn't make—mistakes. I didn't.”

“No, you were almost perfect. But you were always there beside me or in the background.”

“So was Grunard.”

“Yes, and I stumbled over that conversation with Dom while you were in the same room with me at Joe's cottage. It was only later that I realized it wasn't really a conversation. Dom made a brief statement and hung up. A taped alibi set on a timer. Very effective.” She shook her head. “There were so many things that became clear once I accepted that you were Dom. All the times you misdirected and lied to me and Joe. Why should we have suspected? You were Spiro of the FBI.”

“You're so proud of yourself.” His expression was full of malice. “You haven't won. I won't die. I'm feeling stronger all the time. I'll live and they'll say I'm insane.”

“You won't live.”

She looked up to see Joe standing beside her, staring down at Spiro.

“If there's even a chance of you living I'll put another bullet in you before the police get here,” Joe said. “You'd be dead now if I hadn't decided not to risk a head shot. You were too close to her.”

“Closer than you. Closer than anyone. She'll forget you. She'll never forget me.” His gaze shifted to Eve. “The little girl will die. I've hidden her and it gets freezing cold up here at night. She doesn't have a coat and she's tied. You won't find her in time.”

Fear rushed through her. “You lie. Sarah and Monty are looking for her now. They'll find her.”

“What if I've laid a false trail? I knew you had Sarah and Monty at your disposal. You should know I never take anything for granted. Ah, I've scared you. You're not so—”

“Would you care to go down the hill and wait in the car?” Joe asked Eve. “I think it's time we said good-bye to the bastard.”

“She won't let you. She's still too soft.” Spiro raised himself up. “The girl will die, but I'll live forever. I'll live—” Blood gushed from his chest. “Stop the bleeding, Eve. You know you can't let me die.”

“Screw you.” She stood up and turned to Joe. “We have to call the local police and then ring Sarah and see if she's found Jane.”

“I'll be right with you,” Joe said.

“No.” She looked down at Spiro. “I don't want it quick. Let the bastard bleed to death.”

She turned and walked away.

“Eve!”

She stared straight ahead, ignoring Spiro's howl of disbelief and terror.

“
WE HAVEN
'
T FOUND
her, Eve,” Sarah said.

“The temperature's falling.”

“I know that. The bastard may have laid a false trail or even several.”

“He wants her to die.”

“Monty's moving in another direction. I have to go.” She hung up.

Eve turned to Joe. “He has them running around in circles.” She shuddered as a sudden gust of wind knifed through her jacket. “It must be down to zero. If he has her tied, Jane can't even move to keep herself warm.”

ANOTHER FALSE LEAD.

How many had the bastard laid? Sarah wondered.

Child?

Monty was bewildered too. He was running around in circles trying to find the scent.

He suddenly stopped short and turned toward the east.

Child?

“What is it, boy?”

His head lifted as if listening.

Jesus, he was trembling, and the hair was rising on his back.

What the hell was happening?

Other child
.

He started at a dead run toward the east.

Other child. Other child. Other child
. . .

“
WE FOUND HER,
” Sarah said. “She was under some boulders on the slope of the ravine. We almost missed her.”

“Is she okay?”

“She's cold but no hypothermia. Monty's lying beside her, keeping her warm. As soon as I get my breath, we'll start back.”

“We'll come to you.”

“No, I want her out of this cold. I gave her my jacket, and walking will be good for her.”

Eve turned to Joe, who was coming down the hill. “She's okay.”

“Thank God.” He glanced back over his shoulder at the top of the hill. “Too bad Spiro isn't still alive so we could rub his nose in it.”

“Did you . . . ?”

Joe shook his head. “Don't blame me. He was already dead when I went up to check on him.”

“I wouldn't have blamed you if you had ended it for him. I would have killed him myself rather than chance having him go free.”

“My, how you've changed.”

“Yes, I've changed.” She looked up at the hill still lit with candles. Dom had changed her. Not the way he had wanted to. He'd thought he could drag her down, close her away from life. He hadn't realized he'd caused her to reach out to life instead. How he would have hated knowing that.

“The police are coming.” Joe's gaze was on the lights of two highway patrol cars coming up the road toward them. “There will be some tall explaining to do.”

“Yes.” She took his hand. His grasp was warm and strong and rock steady. See what you've given me, Dom? Life. Love. Light where there was darkness.

Burn in hell, you bastard.

She squeezed Joe's hand as they started down the road. “No problem. We'll manage to get through it together.”

EPILOGUE

“You should go in. It may be March, but the lake breeze is still cool.”

Eve turned to see Bonnie sitting on the porch steps, leaning against the rail. “I'm not cold. Who's the mother here?”

Bonnie giggled. “I'm making up for all the times you said things like that to me.”

“Ungrateful child.”

“Yep.” She shaded her eyes as she looked out at the boat on the water. “Joe's got Jane all bundled up in his sweater. Why didn't you go fishing with them?”

“I was feeling lazy.”

“And you wanted to give Joe the chance to bond with Jane.”

“If you knew the answer, why did you ask?”

“You shouldn't worry. He really likes Jane. It's not easy for him to let anyone else into his life. It will take a little time for him to adjust.”

“I'm not worried.” She leaned her head back against the rail. “Life's pretty good, baby.”

“It's about time. You've been very difficult, Mama.” She looked back at the boat. “You haven't told Joe about me yet.”

“I will soon.”

“Are you afraid he'll think you're crazy? You should know better.”

“Maybe I just want to keep you to myself for a little while longer. Is that so bad?”

“Not to me.”

“Or maybe I'm afraid if I tell anyone, you won't come back.”

“That's pretty dumb. Why would I leave you just when you're so much happier? I love to see you happy.”

Contentment flowed through Eve in a golden tide. “We're going to find you, Bonnie. Sarah offered to come here with Monty next month and search the Chattahoochee park. I have a good feeling. We're going to bring you home, baby.”

“You know that never meant anything to me, but it will make you happy.” She leaned forward and linked her arms around her knees. “I like Monty. He's nice and smart too.”

“And how do you know he's smart?”

Bonnie didn't answer.

“Sarah said something weird happened to Monty up in the mountains that night.”

Bonnie's gaze shifted back to the boat. “Did she?”

“You wouldn't know anything about that, would you?”

“Don't be silly, Mama. How could I?” The teasing smile Bonnie turned on her was brimming with love and mischief. “When you know I'm only a dream.”

About the Author

IRIS JOHANSEN
has more than twenty million copies of her books in print and is the bestselling author of
Fatal Tide, No One to Trust, Dead Aim, Final Target, Body of Lies, The Search, The Killing Game, The Face of Deception, And Then You Die, Long After Midnight,
and
The Ugly Duckling
. She lives near Atlanta, Georgia.

Bantam Books by Iris Johansen

Fatal Tide

Dead Aim

No One to Trust

Body of Lies

Final Target

The Search

The Killing Game

The Face of Deception

And Then You Die

Long After Midnight

The Ugly Duckling

Lion's Bride

Dark Rider

Midnight Warrior

The Beloved Scoundrel

The Magnificent Rogue

The Tiger Prince

Last Bridge Home

The Golden Barbarian

Reap the Wind

Storm Winds

The Wind Dancer

Praise for the bestselling novels of

Iris Johansen

DEAD AIM

“Smoothly written, tightly plotted, turbocharged thriller . . . Megaselling Johansen doesn't miss.”
––Kirkus Reviews

“Readers will stay up all night reading this cat-and-mouse chase.”
––Booklist

“The nonstop action and slick plotting won't disappoint.”
––Publishers Weekly

NO ONE TO TRUST

“With its taut plot and complex characters, [
No One to Trust
] is vintage, fan-pleasing Johansen.”
––Booklist

“Fast-moving plot . . . another zippy read from
megaselling Johansen.”
––Kirkus Reviews

“Gritty, powerful and fast-paced,
No One to Trust
starts off with a bang and never
lets up. . . . This is one thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat.”
––Romantic Times

BODY OF LIES

“Filled with explosions, trained killers, intrigues within intrigues . . . It all adds up to one exciting thriller.”
––Booklist

“A romantic thriller whose humanity keeps the reader rooting for its heroine every step of the way.”
––Publishers Weekly

“[Johansen] doesn't let her readers down.”
––The Star-Ledger,
Newark, New Jersey

FINAL TARGET

“A winning page-turner that will please old and new fans alike.”
––Booklist

“A compelling tale.”
––The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

“Thrilling . . . will have fans of the author ecstatic and bring Ms. Johansen new readers.”
––BookBrowser

THE SEARCH

“Thoroughly gripping and with a number of shocking plot twists . . . [Johansen] has packed all the right elements into this latest work: intriguing characters; a creepy, crazy villain; a variety of exotic locations.”
––New York Post

“Johansen's thrillers ooze enough testosterone to suggest she also descends from the house of Robert Ludlum. Johansen pushes the gender boundary in popular fiction, offering up that rarity: a woman's novel for men.”
––Publishers Weekly

“Fans of Iris Johansen will pounce on
The Search.
And they'll be rewarded.”
––USA Today

THE KILLING GAME

“Johansen is at the top of her game. . . . An enthralling cat-and-mouse game . . . perfect pacing . . . The suspense holds until the very end.”
––Publishers Weekly

“Most satisfying.”
––Daily News,
New York

“An intense whodunit that will have you gasping
for breath.”
––The Tennessean

THE FACE OF DECEPTION

“One of her best . . . a fast-paced, nonstop, clever plot in which Johansen mixes political intrigue, murder,
and suspense.”
––USA Today

“The book's twists and turns manage to hold the reader hostage until the denouement, a sure crowd pleaser.”
––Publishers Weekly

“Johansen keeps her story moving at breakneck speed.”
––The Daily Sun,
Chicago

AND THEN YOU DIE

“Iris Johansen keeps the reader intrigued with complex characters and plenty of plot twists. The story moves so fast, you'll be reading the epilogue before you notice.”
––People

“From the first page, the reader is pulled into a realm of danger, intrigue, and suspense with a touch of romance and enough twists and turns to gladden the hearts of all of her readers.”
––Library Journal

LONG AFTER MIDNIGHT

“Flesh-and-blood characters, crackling dialogue and lean, suspenseful plotting.”
––Publishers Weekly

“A lively, engrossing ride by a strong new voice in the romantic suspense genre.”
––Kirkus Reviews

THE UGLY DUCKLING

“Outstanding. A real page-turner. Many will add [Iris Johansen's] name to their list of favorite authors.”
––Associated Press