Katie stared back at him, firm resolution in her green eyes.
“Yes. I can, and I will.”
With Special Agent Andre Broussard at her side, Katie faced the man she had known as Neil Browne and now knew to be Sonny Hartfield.
He wasn’t alone; he now had a public defender at his side, a Mr. Rutger.
“Your questions will come through me,” Rutger said. “And anything you have to say at all will come through me.”
“Fine,” Katie said before Andre could speak. “Sonny Hartfield, you piece of scum! In the middle of disaster and tragedy, you went after people who were already down and beaten!”
Hartfield’s eyes darted to his attorney.
The public defender was young. He had a blank expression, a miserable expression. He probably wasn’t happy about his job, being brought in to represent such a man.
He would still do it to the best of his ability.
“Was that a question?” Rutger asked Katie.
She looked at him. “That man murdered my parents, and I know that he did.”
“That’s not a question. It’s an allegation.”
Andre spoke up, smiling. “A public defender, huh? No offense, sir, but...well, we all thought Hartfield here had real power. That he was part of a superpowered group of six people who looked out for each other. One would think someone out there had money. Fake identities, travel...enough money to buy the best attorneys out there. Again, no offense meant, Mr. Rutger.”
“Again, is there a question anywhere in there, or are we wasting time?” Rutger asked.
“How do I word this in a question?” Andre mused. “All right. Brian Denholm and Aubrey Freehold were murdered. You and Jennie became them. They were part of your six. You were ordered to kill Jennie, and that hurt you, I believe. You loved her, in your sick way. And you believe in some twisted way that you’re immortal. But you’re not. You and Jennie easily got jobs on the movie because Carly Britton was one of you. She told law enforcement the truth because she knew we would find out soon enough. And so...it was established that you had worked under assumed identities. Like you, she was totally loyal to the big man, the guy out there who really wants to be the Axeman. But here’s something you might not know yet. The Axeman, or the Axeman’s Protégé, as they’re calling this killer, went out and attacked people today who didn’t die. They’re not well, but they’re not dead. Carly Britton was his getaway girl, and you know what he did for her in return? He killed her. Hacked her to pieces in her office. Now, you’re about to go to jail, and we all know jails and prisons can be dangerous places. I’m going to suggest that, if you want to keep this mortal shell you have and not gamble on getting a new one, you tell us who the big man is, the man who ordered you to kill Lou and Virginia Delaney and Anita Calabria, who ordered you to kill again in Orlando, and then started doing the killing here himself with you all obeying his every command, right down to killing one another.” He took a breath, then continued. “So here’s my question... What can you tell us?”
Katie thought Sonny Hartfield turned a bit white. He wasn’t smiling.
He turned to his attorney. She also thought his voice had changed, was wavering.
“I don’t want to see these people. They can gather their evidence. They can ask me anything they want, in a court of law.”
Rutger looked at the two of them unhappily. He probably didn’t want a deranged killer out there, either. He probably had family himself or even worried for his own life. But he did his duty.
“You heard him. Interview is over,” he said.
Katie and Andre stood to leave. In the outer offices, they met up with Dan, Axel and Ryder.
“What do we do now?” Katie asked.
“We wait. I believe our Axeman is cleaning house,” Dan said, looking at Axel.
“And we’re ready,” Axel said.
Katie frowned.
Dan explained. “The Axeman’s Protégé is trying to tie up loose ends. It’s harder to reach Sonny Hartfield when he’s being held, but we think he’ll make a try at it. And when he does, Sonny might realize that he lived by the axe...and will die by it if he doesn’t speak up and get assistance.”
Axel, Ryder and Andre nodded at her.
“Time,” Dan said. “It’s just a matter of time.”
“And with that, I’m hitting the hay,” Axel said. “I suggest you all do the same. My phone will ring the second anyone has anything. And you’re all on speed dial.”
“Katie?” Dan asked.
She smiled at him. “Yep. I could go to bed,” she agreed, and then she lowered her head. That could mean two things.
And it did.
The team parted ways. Dan drove back to Katie’s house.
In the yard, the dogs greeted them happily.
Dan pet the dogs, but he did so absently, looking at the house.
He knew Katie was watching him. “Well, here’s the good. No one has come near your place. The cameras are still recording, and their input is seen back at headquarters.”
“That must be very boring for someone,” Katie said. She also bent to greet the dogs.
“I imagine.”
He smiled, looking at her. “Sex first—or food first?” he asked.
“Uh...”
“I’d usually opt for sex. But I’m tired. We’re both tired. And we haven’t eaten much today, but...last night you were so sound asleep...”
“I didn’t mean to be.”
“Katie, I’m teasing. You needed the sleep, and I’m glad you were able to. But the days aren’t going to get any better. So, how about we go with food, sex and sleep.
