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It was the wrong thing to say Jude crouched next to rabbednew Like nothing I’d ever experienced--not earlier, in the trunk, or in the asylum

"Why should I help you kill me?" My voice was barely ain So close Behind me, next to my ear "You can choose, Mara Your one life, or two of your brothers’" He reached around and held the blade againstelse

His watch, his Rolex, the same one Noah saw in his vision, was inches fro Keep talking

"Thanks"

"Where’d you get it?"

"Abe Lincoln," he sneered

"Why did you take Joseph?"

Jude said nothing

"He’s twelve" My voice sounded like a wail

Jude’s stare was ice "A brother for a sister"

My hate grew, a formless, shapeless mass that devoured my fear "You used to talk about football with hihed then, and the word that reverberated inexasperated "I was going to bring Daniel over for a party--don’t worry, I wasn’t going to hurt him either You were"

I would’ve shaken my head, but the blade was too close "I’d never hurt him"

"Never say never," he said seriously His voice turned quiet "I can hed "But soo and be a hero," he rolled his eyes "And now here we are"

"I’m not a--"

Jude chuckled "You think Icloser His breath was inet what you want Which makes you just Like Me"

Then he moved in front of ht He was broad and enormous and immovable before me His eyes scanned my body "Kind of a waste" He ran the back of his hand down rasped for words, for anything "Why’d you take Joseph to the Everglades?"

"I told you already And if you’re going to dispose of a body in Florida, there’s really no better place"

But the shed--the property ned by my father’s client By Leon Lassiter "Why there?"

"It was a suggestion"

I was reeling "From who?"

"A mutual friend," he said, as he inspected my wrists Turned theht believe that I would killthat happened, it was possible But, "Why would I coently Tell me where we are

"You wouldn’t want them to find you at home, would you? Where Joseph could be the one to find your body? No, you’d do it somewhere out of the way Somewhere you’d be found pretty quick, but not by anyone you knew You took Daniel’s car tonight, by the way"