'In fact, you were the one who set up the oil meetings with the Chinese. You took their bribes. And you were the one who hired Sowande, the Tiger.
“You're under arrest, Millard, and the Central Intelligence Agency isn't going to protect you. They've already given you over to us. So maybe there still are some good guys left.”
Millard actually smiled. “A manuscript? Part of one? A writer's notes? You have nothing to hold me on.”
“I think we do,” I told him. “I'm sure of it.”
I opened the kitchen door and let in several agents from the FBI, including my buddy Ned Mahoney. These were definitely the good guys.
I turned back to Millard. “Oh, I left out the best part, the most important. We found Ian Flaherty. You lied about holding him. In fact, we have Flaherty now. He's talking. That's why I'm arresting you. You're going down, Millard. You made a big mistake in judgment.”
“What was that?” Millard finally asked.
Now it was my turn to smile. “You should've killed me when you had the chance. I'm very persistent. I don't ever give up.”
Thus spake the Dragon Slayer.
On my way home, at around five that morning, my cell phone started to ring. I grabbed it off the seat and answered with my name.
I heard a voice that I didn't want to hear, not ever again, but especially not now.
“You are so damn impressive, Alex. I'm awfully proud of you,” said Kyle Craig. “Believe it or not, I was right there in Millard's house with you. Guess I'm kind of special myself. And I don't give up either.”
Then Kyle clicked off.
And as always, he was scarier than anyone else.
JAMES PATTERSON published his first thriller in 1976 and since then has become one of the best-known and bestselling writers of all time, with more than 140 million copies of his books sold worldwide. He is the author of the two most popular detective series of the past decade, featuring Alex Cross and the Women's Murder Club, and he has written numerous other #1 bestsellers. He has won an Edgar Award-the mystery world's highest honor-and his novels Kiss the Girls and Along Came a Spider were made into feature films starring Morgan Freeman. His charity, the James Patterson PageTurner Awards, has given hundreds of thousands of dollars to individuals and groups that promote the excitement of books and reading. He lives in Florida.
For previews of forthcoming books by James Patterson and more information about the author, visit www.JamesPatterson.com
