“How long had it been going on?”
“I don’t know. A few months at most.”
“Where did they meet?”
“I don’t know. I don’t know anything more than I’ve told you, except that Gwen used to participate. When she was in the mood.”
Neither of us speaks for a minute. I listen to the sound my tires make as they roll over tar patches on the road.
Finally I say, “Tell me what happened.”
“I left the guards out front, knew I didn’t have much time. Eva started begging for her life. She was naked, on her knees, head bowed…it was pitiful. But I was furious, you know?”
“I know.”
I also know that Callie never leaves any loose ends. If she killed Eva, she killed Lucky. And if she killed Lucky, she killed Gwen. Callie never leaves anyone alive who can identify her.
She’d kill the fucking rooster, if she thought it could talk.
“You executed Eva,” I say.
“Eventually.”
“Eventually?”
“After I stopped laughing.”
“You laughed?”
“She looked so ridiculous! I don’t know, Donovan. When you’re not part of the sex, it all looks so…silly.”
“On the news it said they found four bodies.”
“Right.”
“You took Eva with you.”
“No. I wanted the world to see what she was doing. And the pig she was doing it with.”
“What did you do to Gwen?”
“You’re going to be very angry.”
49.
“What did you do to Gwen?” I repeat.
“How close were you? Had you already fallen in love?”
“We were as close as two people can become in the space of a day.”
“You know how absurd that sounds, don’t you?”
“Story of my life. Look, I’m not mad at you. You mean…everything to me. We go way back. I’ve already lost Quinn, lost Lou for all practical purposes, can’t trust Darwin. You’re all I have. And even you don’t trust me.”
She sighs. “If I knew you were going to make a speech I would’ve made popcorn.”
“Funny.”
“Cut to the chase, Donovan.”
“I really cared about her. But there’s more.”
“Tell me.”
“You remember the device I’ve been looking for?”
“Of course.”
“I’m certain Phyllis buried it in one of Gwen’s implants.”
“What?”
“When she did her boob job.”
Callie laughs. “That’s hilarious! What a perfect way to get back at her and Lucky.”
“You understand it?”
“I’m a woman, remember?”
“I do.”
“And now you want to recover the device.”
“If I can. Where’s Gwen’s body?”
“In the trunk of my car.”
“I’ll be there in five.”
