Mu?oz looked at Beck with dread and fear. But Beck felt no sympathy.
“It’s not so entertaining to see two animals fight to the death when you’re the other animal, is it?”
Mu?oz said nothing. He was beyond speech. He was beyond saving.
Brando finally released his quarry when Mu?oz was long dead. The dog simply stepped back from his handiwork, and Beck slipped the leash around his neck. Brando let him do it without a fuss.
He pulled out his marking knife to add Mu?oz to the score, but then stopped. It wouldn’t be right—this was Brando’s claim, not his.
He looked down at the dog and stroked its head. “I know this doesn’t make up for what he did to you, but at least he paid the price for his crimes.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
Zo? was having a hospital breakfast the following morning when her protection arrived. Her dynamic duo consisted of Officer Martinez, out of uniform for once, and Ryan Greening. Greening looked how she felt. He must have driven through the night from Bishop to get back here. She swore he was wearing the same clothes she’d seen him in yesterday when they’d searched for the Tally Man’s compound. A wave of shame washed over her at the sight of Martinez. He’d been good to her, but he’d rescued her from too many drinking binges over the last year. She guessed they were meant to be her feel-good detail—people she knew and trusted.
“How’re you feeling, Zo??” Martinez asked.
Wrecked was the simple answer. With her adrenaline supplies depleted, her body was letting her know how much of a fight she’d put up and amplified the message. She felt every bruise, scrape, and torn muscle fiber. It took extra effort to move this morning.
“I think I’m doing a little better than him,” she said, nodding at Greening.
“Forget appearances. I’m good. I just need a change of clothes,” he said. “And speaking of clothes, I’ve got these for you.”
He held up her roller bag. “One of our female officers packed you a few things to last you for the next couple of days. She was flying blind, so if there’s something specific she missed, let us know and we’ll get it over to you.”
She was glad someone had thought about clothes, seeing as Ogawa’s forensic people had taken everything but her underwear last night.
“So, what’s the plan?”
“We leave for Dr. Jarocki’s place in Napa as soon as you’re ready.”
“Where is he?”
“He’s at the house already,” Martinez said.
“You didn’t catch the Tally Man yet?”
Greening frowned and shook his head. “Sorry, no.”
So, hiding from the world it was. “OK, let me get changed then.”
Greening and Martinez saw themselves out. They stood guard with the assigned officer outside her room. She would have loved a shower before changing into fresh clothes, but she wanted out of the hospital more.
She hopped out of bed and went through the bag that had been packed for her. It looked as if the cop had been thoughtful about it. In addition to the basics, the officer had been considerate enough to include a dress, heels, her shampoo, a hairdryer, and makeup. These things would help make her feel like herself instead of like a frightened animal in hiding.
She changed into yoga pants and a T-shirt and put on running shoes. If she needed to run or fight, her outfit wouldn’t hinder her. She also pulled on a baseball cap for anonymity.
She checked herself in the mirror. She was a roadmap of violence. She examined her jawline. There was no swelling, just one big, purple bruise that clambered up the side of her face where the Tally Man had socked her. It blended nicely with the handprint bruises around her throat where he’d choked her. She lifted her T-shirt and sighed at the bruising that mottled her stomach where she’d been kicked and slammed into her sofa. She let go of the fabric, and it covered the worst of the injuries.
“Well, you’re still here,” she said to her reflection.
She opened the door to the room, and Greening and Martinez turned to face her.
“Ready to go?” Martinez asked with a smile.
She wasn’t sure she liked the smile. It smacked of forced optimism. After last night, there was no room for optimism, but for nicety’s sake, she said, “Yeah.”
“This way,” Greening said.
He took the bag from her, and she followed the policemen down a corridor to a staff elevator.
“We have a car waiting outside,” Greening said. “I don’t expect there to be any issues, but should anything happen, just follow our instructions. OK?”
“OK.”