Page 154 of Give Me Redemption

“Pipe. It’s Dalton. I need you to trace an IP address.”

“Shoot,” he says.

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It’s as if I’m not even thinking, I’m just doing. Like a robot who’s wired to listen to his master. But I’m not sure who the master is.

The psycho who has my sister?

My own mind?

I drive like a bat out of hell, thanking God, I filled up already. I see Jace called me earlier, so I try him back, but he doesn’t answer. Service is tricky out at the ranch sometimes, so maybe he’s in a bad spot. I leave a message.

“Jace, I’ve got a lead. I’m headed to Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Don’t worry. Love you.” The words come out calm. I’m self-possessed or just possessed.

I go to put my phone down when it starts ringing.

“Hello?” I say.

“Dalton, please tell me you’re on your way home.”

It’s Monroe. He probably got the email, too. Our emails are linked because we work on the same cases.

“Everything is fine. I’m going to find him.” He’s too close for me not to. This might be my only chance. We’re gotten nothing from him in months, and before that it’s been years. I need to know who this man is. I need to look him in the eyes and watch him die. Nothing can stop me at this point. My mind is one-tracked.

I will find him.

I will end this.

“This is dangerous. Stop and let me meet you.”

“I don’t have time, Monroe. I’ll call for backup when I need it. Don’t worry,” I say evenly.

Am I possessed? I tilt my head, my eyes darting to the rearview mirror before looking back at the road.

“I swear to God, Dalton. You better watch your fucking back. You’re dealing with a psychopath. Not some small-time idiot.”

“I’ll be safe.”

I’m not sure who the psychopath is.

Himor me?

I hang up with Monroe, put both hands on the wheel, and speed into the night. I’m wired, my blood pumping with adrenaline.

The thought of seeing what this monster looks like is giving me an unexplainable high. I take in a shaky breath.

I know even if he’s there it doesn’t mean I’m going to find my sister, but if I find him, I will stop at nothing to make him talk. He will show me where she is.

He thinks he’s psycho? He hasn’t met me yet. I’ve been preparing for this day all my life.

It’s engrained inside of me now.

Blackness wraps around my heart, shading my soul. Right and wrong don’t exist in this dimension.

We’re on a different playing field. Parallel to the real world. This is where things turn to gray. The sun doesn’t shine here, and the moon hides. I’ll do what I have to do to make sure he doesn’t walk this earth anymore.

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