Page 102 of Free Fall (The Quantico Files 3)

50

Alex was ready. Dressed, looking as good as she could under the circumstances, the knife tucked inside her bra where it couldn’t be seen but where she could get to it quickly. She’d decided to wait until Andy passed her off to the other guy. The nice one. That personality should be easier to subdue, although she still wasn’t convinced Andy and her date were the same person. She was prepared for that possibility, but she was also keeping an eye open for whoever referred to himself as the Ghost Rider.

If only she could be sure if he was a third personality or a third man. There was no way to know, but she planned to have her date completely secured before any kind of violent personality could emerge. She’d dealt with dissociative identity disorder when she worked for the National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime in Kansas City. They’d tracked down a spree killer who’d shot up a shopping mall. Cameras captured the event, so it didn’t take long to find the guy. When they arrested him, he manifested four different personalities.

Turned out his childhood had been a nightmare of abuse and pain. His way of dealing with it was to create three other selves who knew nothing about the horror he’d endured. They were produced to help him tolerate his life. Unfortunately, one of the personalities was angry and violent. He was the one who’d shot several people before a security guard took him down, saving many lives.

Alex believed the man was truly ill, but even though a psychiatrist testified about his disorder, he was found competent to stand trial. Of course, he was found guilty. He’d been in prison a little less than a week when he was killed by an inmate who thought the man was trying to molest him. He wasn’t. One of his personalities manifested as a child. Alex was certain he was just afraid and trying to find someone to comfort him.

She pushed the memory out of her head. She couldn’t afford to feel sorry for the guy she was getting ready to face. She had to take him down.

With her panel open, it felt as if she’d waited forever when the door opened at the end of the hall. It was showtime.

Logan felt as though someone was shaking him awake, and then he was overwhelmed with yet another strong desire to pray for Alex. He reached for the Bible next to his bed and searched for Scriptures to claim over her. Especially Psalm 91. He was determined to pray all night if he had to.

After everyone else received their dinner trays, Andy opened the door to Alex’s cell. He stepped behind the door so she couldn’t see him. Fine. She’d play along for now. Besides, if he was also her date, she wanted his alter ego, not him.

“Walk to that door at the end of the hall. Don’t look at me. If you do—”

“I know. Everyone will be punished.”

“I’m glad you understand.”

“Yeah, I do. I won’t give you any trouble.”

As Andy walked behind her, Alex had never been more determined in her life. She was going to get these women out ... even if she had to die doing it.

“Open the door and go up the stairs,” Andy said from behind her.

She did as he instructed and stepped inside a beautiful kitchen. It looked clean and organized, although she could tell someone had been cooking. The rest of the women would be eating now. How could one man do all this? Of course, he had nothing else to do. Obviously, he didn’t have a job. This had to be his full-time gig. Still, she was bothered by the idea that they were dealing with just a single individual. What was she missing?

“Sit down at the table and wait. I’ll get your date.”

She lowered herself onto a chair, wondering when his other personality would show up. In the meantime, she scouted out her surroundings. Was there anything here that would help her? She thought about searching the drawers for other knives, but the one she had was more than sufficient. Made to be even harder than most metals. And if he caught her . . .

She decided to stay where she was.

She looked around for a phone or for keys, but she didn’t see anything. A clock on the wall read almost six thirty. At least she knew what time it was, not that it made much of a difference.

Everything will be all right.

Alex looked around, but she knew no one was there. She smiled to herself and took a deep breath. “Thank you, God,” she whispered.

Finally, the door opened, and a dark-haired, good-looking man appeared. Was this the personality who’d shown up at the amusement park? She doubted it. Based on what she’d been told, he was too weak. Too nice. This personality was probably closer to the way he was before whatever trauma he’d endured.

“Sorry about this,” he said. “But I have to tell you that if you try to run or cause me any trouble, the other women will be hurt. And you’ll be punished as well. Do you understand?”

She nodded. “I understand.”

“Okay, let’s go.” He held out his hand, and she took it. She wanted to get him as far away from the house as possible.

He opened some French doors, and they stepped out onto a patio. Alex could see the amusement park not far from where they stood. Were investigators looking for this connection? With everything inside her, she prayed they were.

When Jeff’s cell phone rang, he looked at his watch. Six-thirty. He was home, and Lisa had just called out for him to come to the dinner table.

“In a minute,” he said.

She came into the living room. “Jefferson Cole, I want some time with you. If it’s work...”

---