Page 143 of The Bone Hacker

“So he beats her to death?”

“Benjamin has killed four people.” Monck sounded as amped as I felt. “He’s insane.”

“Now what?” I asked, not really buying the explanation.

“Now I toss this place from here to tomorrow.” He yanked more gloves from the satchel.

“I can’t let you do that.”

We turned. Rossiter was well into the hall. Reid was by the door, limbs and face in vigilant cop mode.

“I’m sure you didn’t mean that the way it came out,” said Monck, lips barely moving.

“I’m afraid I did,” Rossiter said.

“You have no authority here.”

“You’re poking into business way over your pay grade, detective.”

“Is that so,special asshole.” Monck was no longer bothering to conceal his fury. “Here’s how this plays going forward. You and the people’s princess over there”—jabbing a thumb toward Reid—“focus on your lost agent. You leave me to my serial.”

“Or?”

“Your situation on this island becomes very difficult.”

“Is that a threat?”

“That’s a fact.”

Reid’s jaw muscles bulged and his fingers curled into fists. Rossiter pooched out his lips but said nothing.

Seconds passed.

A floorboard creaked. An appliance hummed in the kitchen. Beyond the screen door, the crows called to each other, perhaps opining on the absurdity of jurisdictional squabbles.

Having considered his options, which were limited, Rossiter spoke. “I’m going to have to ask the lady to leave.”

The lady?

“No.”

Monck’s shotgun retort surprised and pleased me.

Rossiter sighed.

“You have a point, sir. We are on your turf. Therefore, I am willing to divulge limited intel on a need-to-know basis. Needless to mention, anything I say goes no further than the four of us.”

“Needless to mention,” Monck said.

Annoyed by Rossiter’s “lady” reference, I merely glared.

“We believe our two investigations are linked.”

“The Provo killer and Cloke’s disappearance.”

“Yes.”

“You think Benjamin offed your guy.”

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