Page 75 of Somebody's Watching Me
“Michael Anthony Sinclair, born April 4, 1988,” she read aloud from an article that seemed to have the most accurate and unbiased take on the man. “Of course, you’re an Aries.”
Her phone rang, and she answered it while continuing to read. “Hello?”
“I’m also a Sagittarius rising, but I like to think my moon being in Cancer helps balance all that fire.”
Jamison stopped breathing, struck into a paralyzed state.
“How’s the research going?” Michael Sinclair asked. “Learn anything interesting?”
The teasing in his tone broke through the mind-numbing shock. “Nothing that I didn’t already know. You’re a monster.”
“If you believe the stuff some people write about me, then yes, I’m a monster.”
She glanced around the room in a panic, as if there was someone nearby who could help.
“You look lovely, by the way,” he added. “I know you’ve spent most of the day in bed, and I’m sorry to be the cause of that, but you’re stunning nevertheless.”
She snapped the laptop shut, realizing he’d hacked into her computer.
“I can still see you.” His whisper slithered its way up her spine. “You can’t hide from me.”
Thinking of how she’d been sitting naked in front of the vanity minutes earlier, a sick dread hit. What was she supposed to do? Run downstairs and alert someone? Try to send a message for help?
Remembering how Rowan had once said he could gather data from a phone days after a call took place, she summoned the courage to engage. “You don’t seem the type to buy into Zanmi’s bullshit.”
“When it comes down to it, Toby and I have a lot in common.”
“Yeah, you both kill people for no reason.”
“On the contrary, when I kill, it’s with purpose.”
One of the first things she learned from Liam was how to channel the outrage you felt when detailing the life of victims. It was his thing. To take the time and make them human and more than a headline. The method helped him stay focused, pulling the spotlight off the evil and shining it where it belonged.
In the articles she’d just read, Sinclair always talked at length about the people he killed, making sure the world knew their crimes. But there were two she didn’t see any mention of, except for a single statement he sent to the press.
“If you’re anything like Toby, it means you kill because it feels good,” she taunted. “So, tell me, did it feel good killing those kids in the daycare? One was four and the other two, right?”
Michael let out a sigh heavy enough to vibrate the phone against her cheek. “I’ll regret their deaths every day of my life, and even have their names tattooed on my chest to remind myself never to be so careless again.”
“Don’t tell me you didn’t know they were in there.”
“I didn’t.”
“Bullshit.”
“I didn’t,” he spat out, all friendliness gone. “I trusted someone to clear the building with a false fire alarm, but he thought it would make more of an impact if we had a couple of dead kids under our belt.”
The sudden snap in his demeanor was startling, but she reminded herself she wasn’t dealing with a rational person. The man had spent almost half his life in a hostile environment, killing people.
“And is this person still one of your good little soldiers?” She sneered at the empty space, not sure where to aim it. “Did you bring him with you to Zanmi?”
“No, I put a bullet in his brain and called it a day,” Michael replied, regaining his composure. “Weak links should never be tolerated. I’m sure you understand how it is.”
Weak links should never be tolerated.Where had she heard that before? Somewhere recent.
“But why are you working with Zanmi and trying to kidnap me and my cousins? And don’t tell me it’s because of your devotion to Toby.”
“You shouldn’t underestimate him. Tobias Miller is smart and has an impressive vision he wants fulfilled. It would be a shame for it to end so close to the finish line.”
