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“I wouldn’t even ask you, Mike, but he has a hostage He says he’s going to kill hiet you”

“Of course he does,” I said “OK I guess”

Downey took me over to the desk and sat me in front of a computer monitor I took a deep breath when I saw the minimized Skype tab I still didn’t like this I had a sick feeling that there was so we’d overlooked

A tech hit a button, and then Perrine was there He was sitting in a beanbag chair next to a small, wide-eyed Mexican man who had tape over his wrists and ankles and mouth

There was some kind of metal wall behind them They were in a van, I realized Perrine lifted a tennis ball and bounced it off the floor and wall of the van beside the caain

When the hostage looked up, I saw his Ro priest hostage!

“Detective!” Perrine bellowed as he glanced at the screen “Detective, there you are, at long last I ondering if you’d ever show up You’re looking tired Having trouble sleeping, are we? Seriously, how have you been? How are the kids?”

I wanted to tell the arrogant scu at the priest The terror and pleading in his eyes He was slight, in his early thirties My heart went out to him I needed to save this man’s life

“I’o now, OK?”

“Let hi

The drug lord stepped offscreen There was a sliding sound as the metal wall behind the priest uardrail, the shoulder of a road, passing trees

“No!” I yelled as Perrine, co back into the frame, reared up his heel and booted the priest in the chest

The man flew backward immediately out the van door, into the darkness Without a cry Without a sound The one

CHAPTER 82

DEAR GOD, I THOUGHT, feeling dizzy in the cramped, suddenly too-hot office Dear God