'But don’t feel bad. You won’t be like the others. I’ll remember you.”
“You have me. Let Jane go.'
'You know I won’t do that. She knows my face and the little bitch would try to find a way to hurt me. She’s like you.'
'But you were wrong about her being like Bonnie.'
'But I set up an interesting scenario, didn’t I? It pulled you in. The bones and then sweet little Jane.'
'Whose bones were they?' He was silent.
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'Tell me. Were they Bonnie’s bones?”
“I could let you go to the grave not knowing.”
“Yes.'
'But then you wouldn’t realize how clever I’ve been. How wonderfully I’d set you up.'
'They weren’t Bonnie’s bones.' He shook his head. 'Doreen Parker’s.'
'Then everything you told me about your conversation with Fraser was a lie.”
“Not entirely. I did talk to him. It was remarkably easy, since I was an FBI agent.
He was a copycat and he was claiming some of my kills. We had a nice chat, and I told him to back off. Since he had the good sense to admire me enormously, he agreed.'
'You knew about the ice cream. Did you find that out from the police records?”
“No, I told you, we had a nice chat. He told me a lot about Bonnie. Do you want to know how he did it?'
She clenched her fists as waves of pain washed over her. 'No.”
“Coward.' His gaze narrowed on her face. 'But you want to know where he buried her, don’t you? You’ve always wanted to find her.'
'I want to bring her home.'
'It’s too late. You’re going to die without finding her. That hurts terribly, doesn’t it? Your Bonnie is buried all alone in Chattahoochee National Park, and you’re going to be buried here, hundreds of miles away from her. It cuts to the quick, doesn’t it?'
“Yes.'
'I can feel your pain.'
'And you love it, you bastard.'
'I have to squeeze as much as I can out of the moment. It’s going to be over too soon.' He paused. 'You haven’t asked me what color candle I’m going to give you.'
'I don’t care.'
'It will be black. Black was the color of my candles, and I’ve decided to share it with you. I’ve never done that before. You should be honored. The candles are lying beside Grunard’s head.
Pick them up, Eve. Light them.'
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She didn’t move.
'Pick them up or I promise you I’ll make it very hard for Jane before I give her candle to her.'
Eve hesitated and then walked over to Grunard. How the man must have suffered. His expression… 'Pick them up and come back toward me.'
He was standing in the shadow. There would be no chance if he stayed in the dark.
She picked up the black candles. “Now come toward me.' She slowly started toward him. One step.
Two.
Three.
“Hurry. I find I’m very eager for—' She hurled the candles at his face. “Eve!'
She took off running.
Out of the shadow into the candlelit center of the tent site. “Stop running. The game’s over, Eve.'
She glanced over her shoulder. He was running after her. Fast.
Closing on her. Come on.
Faster.
Out of the darkness. Into the light.
