Jo arched a brow. “I was in the neighborhood and thought I’d stop in see how you were doing.” She raked her gaze over the dirty, pockmarked walls and dirt floor. “I also wanted to see your cozy accommodations.”
“Now that you know I’m here, you have to extradite me to the States,” Lucy smirked as she settled in the chair across from Jo.
“Oh, I don’t think so. See, you raced down here to hide. What you didn’t realize was I have eyes everywhere and friends everywhere.” She pointed to the three men behind her to prove her point. “My friends were just as determined to find a serial killer as I was. They wanted you tucked away to save innocent lives.”
“Innocent?” Derision dripped from Lucy’s tone as her gaze frosted. “They deserved it. They were traitors! My boyfriend. He deserved to be tortured before dying, but I didn’t have time.”
She shivered as Lucy talked about killing Mark and the rest as if she were discussing the weather. “He left not only the clan we created, but me. And for what?” Lucy slammed her palms on the table the first crack to form through her icy exterior. “So he could experience college to the fullest. Fuck him. He made me a laughingstock. Now who’s laughing?”
Jo leaned toward Lucy and drove her point home. “Me. Because you didn’t take into account the people you killed. Two of your victims were Mexican citizens. Their government tends to get pissy when they’re killed.”
“Bullshit. I never killed in Mexico, it’s why I came here.”
“Technically you’re right. However, I didn’t say you killed anyone in Mexico, I said you killed their citizens. The guy you killed in Michigan was from here. He was studying agriculture and infrastructure in Michigan. The second person you killed in Georgia, she was from Mexico too.” Jo allowed her predatory smile to form. She wanted to gloat and pump her fists. Do a victory dance. Instead, she gave Lucy a grin filled with so many sharp edges, it was a wonder the woman didn’t bleed. “So you screwed up.”
Lucy’s face paled, and a light appeared in her eyes as if she finally realized she wouldn’t be leaving with Jo. “You still have to take me to the States. I’m a US citizen.”
“Maybe,” Jo shrugged, not bothered any longer about the legalities. It didn’t matter because she knew for a fact Lucy would pay. “But then again, maybe not since you’re an international serial killer. Once we have your fingerprints and DNA, we’ll tie you in with all the murders. Who knows? Maybe China or Russia will win the bidding war on which country wants your sick ass.” Jo hitched a thumb at Joseph. “After he told me about China’s prisons, I’m really hoping they win in getting you.”
“No! You can’t do that!” Lucy stood, her hands outstretched as if to grab Jo’s arm and not let her go.
Expecting the move, Jo stayed just out of reach. “You almost killed Evan. If I hadn’t gotten there, you would have killed him, Lisa, and my husband’s brother,” Jo snarled. She slammed the flat of her palms on the table as she stood and faced off on the woman that had almost cost Jo her family. “I’m done. If you want a change of venue, I’d suggest talking to your embassy and see if they give a shit, because I’m not a federal employee. I’m on my honeymoon and happened to hear the good news.” Jo spun on her heel and headed for the door. Commissioner Hernandez knocked.
The slide of the bolt from the outside was drowned out by Lucy’s screams as her composure crumbled. Jo had no sympathy. This woman had brought death and destruction to so many lives and had infiltrated Jo’s family. She’d befriended Arabelle and Rian. Made Jo trust her. Now Jo wanted the woman to pay for all the pain she’d caused.
Joseph and Ian followed her as she swept out of the room, leaving behind a hysterical killer. When the door clanged shut behind them the sound of crying and sobbing promises abruptly cut off as if a mute button had been hit.
“You know your country will try to extradite her.” The commissioner said.
“Not my problem. I just wanted to make sure it was Lucy in the flesh. Then I wanted to ask you to let Ian gather the DNA samples we need and her fingerprints so we can cross our T’s and dot our I’s. Otherwise, I’m on my honeymoon, and this was just an identity check so I can tell my captain to take those cases off our books.”
“Thank you Joseph, and Commissioner, for your help with this.” Ian grinned. “I’ll contact the concerned parties personally on where Lucy is being held. If any want to extradite her, I can help them navigate the appropriate paperwork and channels.”
The commissioner ordered a cab for Joseph and Jo back to the federal building to pick up their SUV, while he took Ian to talk with the guards about the DNA swab and fingerprints.
Ian remained in Mexico City to settle the case while Joseph flew Jo back to Cabo. It felt as if a twenty-pound boulder had been lifted from her shoulders. She hadn’t realized how much she’d worried about Lucy coming after her family until she saw the killer across the table in shackles. It hit her that Jo hadn’t rested a full night without triple checking the locks and alarms and even then, she’d been up before everyone else to make sure no one would walk into an ambush.
It was over, and she could relax now that everyone she loved was safe.
“I know Lucy’s been captured and it’ll go a long way at putting Rian and Evan at ease. But I was worried about you and Rhys traveling down here without protection, so I got you a Sig.” Joseph pointed toward Jo’s lap. “It’s under your seat.”
Heart thumping, Jo
