Page 53 of Vicious Hearts

I wonder why The Dollmaker didn’t justkillFarraday in the hospital. He has access to him somehow—surely it would be better to tie up that loose end instead of keeping him quiet with a combination of a chemical cosh and threats against his family?

The killer had access to chloroform and pharmaceuticals. That’s not difficult, though. Graham could get those things easily, but so could most people. Ben’s profile said as much.

What else?

Graham did what he could to cause trouble for me after we broke up. He put pressure on Oliver to sack me if I didn’t drop my support for Farraday, but that could just as easily be because Graham is a vindictive prick who wants to shit all over something that matters to me. Just because his mom and dad don’t give him enough attention.

Yawning, I sit on the floor by the open door. I rest my head on the glass as the sounds of the city drift in.

My attacker drove a long way out of the city. The Dollmaker supposedly dumped his victims far from where they were abducted, but how do weknowthat? The kids weren’t identified, so we don’t know where they came from, only where they were found. There were no connections between the sites. And why bother anyway?

I’m beginning to wonder how much of the ‘factual’ information in the case file is actually based on Farraday’s confession. The data wasn’t scrutinized closely because Farraday pleaded guilty, but knowing what I know now, it would be interesting to read it with fresh eyes.

The killer hasn’t come back for me yet, but maybe that’s because I have Ben close by.

If I was murdered, Graham would be top of the suspect list, but he’s had quite the scare. Two beat-downs in one day from Ben, and although Hillard was reluctant to let Ben walk, he at leastknowswhat happened.

It wouldn’t take long to find out the grizzly details of how it went down between us.

Many serial killers begin with more minor acts. Little fantasies, acting stuff out. If Graham was abusive to his son, escalated, then murdered him, it would make sense. It’s a high-risk strategy, and he probably didn’t think it through, but when he got away with it, he must have thought he wasinvincible. He has enough money to pay off whomever he chooses.

I dare not say anything to Ben—if I spin him up into a frenzy, he might do something stupid or even kill Graham, even if Ben doesn’t believe Graham’s The Dollmaker.

The Bratva can insist a high-profile homicide gets brushed under the carpet, but they wouldn’t pull out all the stops, not for Ben. Judges would be bribed, and he’d get off lightly, but he’d still go down for it.

I lie on the floor and pull the throw over me. My eyes are heavy, but I don’t want to get back into bed. If I wake Ben, he’ll be able to tell I have things on my mind, and he’ll drag it out of me.

I don’t know for sure what I’m capable of. Nor do you.

Did Graham say that to me once? I don’t know.

Dirty little slut.

Graham definitely saidthat. But those words feel different now.

Sleep is creeping up on me.

It’sBenwho’s speaking to me. In my imagination, in my memory, I hear his voice saying disturbing and beautiful things.

Good girl.

Dirty little slut.

Good girl.

Love can vanish without rhyme or reason. It justgoes away.

But even that fear makes no difference to how I feel. I’m crazy about him. Any time together is worth the misery that will come when I’m lonely again.

I’ll be his good girlandhis dirty little slut. I’ll be anything he wants if he stays by my side.

What is he willing to be forme?

18

The Dollmaker

I’ve had a hard life, never gettingrespect. I DESERVE to succeed at this, and these FUCKERS are spoiling everything.

---