Page 22 of Black Hearts

“Oh, but I do. I know everything about it, down to the cracked marble fountain out the front,” I said smoothly. “So I need you to do me a favor and call William.”

Dwyer’s eyes went wide, and I could tell he finally believed that I knew a lot more than I actually did. “How… how do you know where it is? And how do you know about him? Who the fuck told you?”

“I have my ways. I have William’s number, too,” I said, pulling out my phone. “I think it’s an old one, but I’m sure you have the new one, right?”

He didn’t respond and simply stared, presumably still unable to believe someone had betrayed their loyalties and given me crucial information. Allegedly.

“Anyway, here’s your task, if you want a slightly quicker death. You’re gonna call William, and you’re gonna tell him you received a letter from the Heartbreaker.”

“A letter?” Dwyer shook his head. “I don’t understand.”

I held up a hand. “Don’t interrupt. You’ll say the letter was taunting you, saying that the Heartbreaker is actually one of you, and that the whole ‘Alex Magnusson’ thing was a red herring he threw out there to trick you. He’s a Circle member gone rogue years ago, out of guilt. That’s how he’s been getting you all. Slowly, surely. One by one. He could’ve gotten rid of all of you years ago, but he’s enjoyed playing this game with you. Enjoyed watching you all squirm, waiting to see who will be next.” I paused for dramatic effect. “After you’ve said that, you need to tell William he has to organize an event for every single member at the mansion. It’s compulsory they attend, or else it will be assumed they are the guilty party and dealt with accordingly. Once everyone is there, you’ll be able to start figuring out which one of you is the killer. Kinda like a game of Clue, only for sick pedophiles. Think about it.”

Dwyer looked down at the floor, contemplating my words. Blood was still seeping from his ear wound and the carved circle on his stomach. He looked hopeless.

“Alex,” Celeste whispered, pulling me aside again so that he couldn’t hear anything. “We don’t actually know where the mansion is. Even if he does what you say, how are we going to get there for this event?”

“I think we’ll be able to find it. Dr. Fitzgibbons told me quite a few details about it, and I think those details might trigger enough in your mind to help you remember where it is.”

Her eyes widened. “But what if I don’t?”

“Then we’ll just have to find it the hard way and drive around looking at every mansion in a thirty mile radius until we find one that matches the description.”

“That could take ages.” She crossed her arms.

“I’ll have him make the event in two weeks’ time. But don’t worry, angel. I think you’ll be able to remember. I believe in you.”

She chewed her bottom lip. “I guess I did start to recall more stuff recently. Last night I finally remembered what the main ballroom looked like.”

I touched a hand to her shoulder. “See? It’s gonna be fine.” I knew it was a gamble, but I had a feeling it would work. Celeste had been exposed to the truth for a while now, and the memories were returning, slowly but surely. They would keep coming.

“I’ve thought about it,” Dwyer said from the other side of the room.

We returned our attention to him. “And?” I asked, stepping closer.

He gave me a cold, humorless smile. “And my answer is still: fuck off. Just because someone else gave up information and helped you doesn’t mean I will.”

Celeste jumped in before I could reply. “I had a feeling you might say that,” she said. “But you should know, I remember your desk back at the field office. You have a photo of your kids on there. You might like hurting other people’s kids, but you don’t want yours sliced and diced, do you?”

She tilted her head to the side questioningly. I smiled at her. She was taking to this game like a duck to water. We both knew we’d never hurt Dwyer’s kids, but he didn’t know that.

“You... you wouldn’t do that,” he muttered. We’d rattled him; I knew it.

Celeste smiled. “Is that a risk you want to take? What were their names again?” She scratched her chin. “Oh, Eric and Sarah, right? Shouldn’t be too hard for us to track down.”

“I….” Dwyer shook his head helplessly. “Please. Don’t.”

“What’s it like being the one to beg for once?” I asked, staring down at him without a trace of pity in my expression. “Must feel weird, huh?”

“You couldn’t really hurt a kid, could you?” he replied softly, his eyes wide as he stared at each of us in turn.

“That’s ironic, coming from you,” Celeste said, her cheeks blazing red. “Last night, I remembered everything from when I first met you, Dwyer. I was only six, but you still wanted to take me upstairs and do things to me. You certainly don’t seem to have any issue with hurting kids, so why should we?”

“I promise, if you do as we say, they will be fine,” I added.

He looked down, realizing there was nothing he could say or do to change our minds. “I’ll make the call,” he said listlessly.

“Good.” I went and retrieved my gun. “I’m gonna hold this near you while you make it. You go off script for even a split second, and I’ll shoot you right in the cock. Then I’ll find your kids.”

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