Page 95 of Counter Attack

“Why do you say that?” Nathan asked. “I mean, I get the connection to you—I’ve always said the killer is after you, but how—”

“Denton had several books in his condo, and the title of one wasUltricem Angelus. It’s about an avenger’s quest for justice.”

Alex clenched her jaw. This was one sick killer—blaming her for Denton’s death and then killing those women because they looked like her. She turned to Dylan. “See if you can get in.”

He clicked on the link.“One hundred dollars in cryptocurrency needed to access this site”flashed across the screen.

“How do we know we’d get in if we pay the hundred?” Alex asked.

Dylan shrugged. “You don’t, but it’s probably legit simply because if a player gets in, Phame stands a chance of getting more money from them.”

“How do I get cryptocurrency?”

“From sites that are like ATMs, where you can buy Bitcoin using a credit card or PayPal.”

“Then get me a hundred dollars in Bitcoin. I’ll use my credit card.”

“You sure?”

She gave her deputy a curt nod. “I want to see what’s on this site.”

It was amazing how easy and quick it was to spend a hundred dollars. Dylan returned to Phame’s site and paid the money. Immediately a grainy video started and a person’s legs and feet appeared.

“Okay,” Dylan said. “I see how you play this—it looks like it’s story driven. And watch out for shooters—it’s probably how the game is scored.”

“What do you mean?”

“Some of the most popular video games are shooters—you know, like the shoot-no-shoot targets at the firing range, only these are on the computer, and when you make a mistake you lose points—you have to be fast. I wish I had my gamepad.”

“What’s that?” Alex asked.

“It’s a controller. Makes it easier to play, but we can use your keyboard and track pad, just won’t be as fast.” He frowned. “That’s weird.”

“The whole thing is weird,” Nathan said.

“That’s not what I mean. The character onscreen looks like a real person instead of animated ...” He shook his head. “Anyway, that person is basically you in the game, and I bet there’s a crossroads ahead where you’ll have to choose which way to go. Ready to start?”

“I guess.”

Dylan clicked on the begin button and the video jumped to life, the steady, slow beat of drums playing as the character walked through fog. The music seemed to thrum in her chest. Sure enough, there was a crossroads and a question flashed on the screen.“Left, right, or straight ahead?”

“Which way?” Dylan’s hand hovered above the keyboard.

“Does it matter?”

Before he could answer, the drumbeat intensified as a photo flashed on the left side of the screen and quickly faded with the drums. Alex stared at the screen. “Can”—she swallowed hard—“you bring that photo back?”

“I don’t see an option for that. What was it? It was so fast I couldn’t tell.”

Nathan leaned in closer. “It was the first victim of the Queen’s Gambit. Courtney Johnson.” His voice held a quiver, and she raised her gaze. He was right, and Nathan looked as sick as she felt. This monster had made a video game of his kills.

The question flashed again. “Go left,” Alex said.

The player turned and a masked player popped out of a side street with something in his hand. “Shoot!” Alex said.

Dylan pressed the shoot button, and the player dropped. A red message flashed on the screen.“You killed a man armed with a cell phone. Minus one hundred points.”

Alex regrouped.This isn’t real. Focus.Her character traveled down a narrow street and approached a woman standing on the corner. Alex pressed her hand to her mouth. “Can you stop the game? I want a better look at the woman.”

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