She hoped Beck was telling the truth about Jarocki. His survival meant he could raise the alarm. It would be the slender thread that connected her to the SFPD. They’d be searching for her, which was a start. She needed to pile more things in her favor.
She didn’t know how far he was taking her, but she needed to keep him on the road. Wherever he had his torture chamber, it was bound to be secluded. Once he got her there, it was game over for her. But if she could keep him traveling for longer than he intended, it increased the chances of them running into a patrol car or roadblock. She knew only one way of doing that.
“Marshall.”
“I said quiet.”
“I know, but I want to make a bargain with you,” she said.
“We’ve done that. I didn’t kill your friend, the doctor.”
“I know, but I want to make another. Remember, killing Dr. Jarocki would have gone against your code. I saved you from that mistake. That has to be worth something.”
“You have nothing to offer me, Zo?.”
“Then call it a request. Just hear me out. It’s important.”
Beck was silent for a long moment. “What is it?”
“Is Holli dead?”
A longer silence came from him this time. “Yes.”
The confirmation hurt. She felt it twist up inside her. Her friend was really dead. She closed her eyes, and tears leaked out.
“I’d like you to take me to where you buried her.”
“What makes you think I buried her?”
“I don’t know what you did with her. I don’t care what you did. I just need to go to her final resting place.”
“Watch your tone, Zo?.”
“Sorry. It’s just that it’s important.”
The engine note dropped, and Zo? felt the SUV slow. He pulled off the road and stopped. She didn’t know whether to take this as a good sign or not.
Without the road noise underneath her, the world was eerily quiet. She listened for vehicles and heard only the sound of the SUV’s idling engine. The scenic route they were taking would be the death of her.
She heard him move in his seat. “Why is it important?”
“I let down my friend when I escaped, and I let down myself when I didn’t try to save her. Those things have been eating me up ever since. They’ve poisoned me and destroyed my life. Nothing brings me pleasure. I can’t remember the last time I was happy. You’ll finish what you started, and that’s OK. I’m not sure I can ever come to terms with what I did, but the one thing I have to do is visit my friend’s grave so I can apologize. I have to atone.”
It wasn’t just a line she was using on Beck to buy time. She meant every word. Yes, she was hoping to delay his plans long enough for a rescue, but all this would end one of two ways. Either Beck killed her, or the cops killed him. However it happened, it would rob her of her chance to apologize to Holli—and that just wasn’t acceptable.
“I applaud you, Zo?. I am very conflicted about you. You show great honor, but it won’t save you from your punishment. What it does do is buy you a favor. Your friend is buried, and yes, I can take you there.”
“Thank you,” she said.
“It does mean a much longer journey.”
That was just fine with her.
The shopping center was in darkness. Greening stopped his car on the sidewalk in front of the north entrance. A mall cop was waiting for him.
“Inspector Greening?” the guy called.
“Yes.”
“I’m Jared Mills. Your colleague told me to expect you.”
Ogawa had done his job. He was a real door kicker. It didn’t matter what it was—red tape, an obstinate witness, or another law enforcement agency—his bark always forced people to bend to his will. Before Greening had reached the Carquinez Bridge, Ogawa had called him to let him know he’d find someone waiting for him.
He slipped through the door, and Jared locked it behind him.
“This way. I’ve got everything set up for you,” Jared said and led Greening through the mall. “This is about Zo?, right? She’s a friend. Is she OK?”
“It’s about the phone thief from a week or so ago. Do you know anything about it?”
“I know everything about it. The guy cut me.” He touched his chest. “Until I’m healed up, I’m working the graveyard shift.”
“So you know who this guy is?”
“Oh yeah, we’ve got his name and address. I gave your partner the information. I also have our security feed teed up for you.”
Jared took Greening into a cramped security booth on the upper level. A dozen screens displayed various live shots of the mall. With the mall closed and no movement on the concourses, the feeds looked as if they were on freeze frame. Greening took a seat next to Jared, who handed him an arrest report. His gaze went straight to the arrestee’s box, which listed the guy’s name as Leroy Porter. Finally, the Tally Man had a name.
Jared pointed at the screen in front of him. “This is Zo? taking this guy down.”
Jared hit play. The camera’s angle wasn’t the best. It was close enough to pick up the action, but too far away to make out faces. Zo?’s takedown was fast, efficient, and reckless.
“Damn,” Greening said.