Mind Games - Page 229

“So I’m doing a little consulting,” Howard said, and flipped off his former partner. “I tried golf, even tried pickleball, and my wife said I was driving her crazy.”

“You’re too good a cop not to use your skills and experience.”

“See that?” Howard pointed at Musk, then turned to extend a hand to Ty. “Chuck Howard— Whoa! Get out of town.” Gripping Ty’s hand, he shook enthusiastically. “Tyler freaking Brennan. I embarrassed my kids belting out ‘Where We Run’ in the car back when that one hit.”

“You embarrassed everybody,” Musk claimed. “Here’s a curveball.” Musk extended a hand. “I’d like to hear about the windup and delivery, but we have to get started. You’re waiting here?”

“I’m waiting.” Ty turned Thea to him. “Right here.” He kissed her. “See you in a few hours.”

Howard took her arm, guided her away. “Now I really want to hear how that happened.”

“We’re neighbors.”

“Is that so? Well, the rest can wait. Got your ID?”

“Yes, in my pocket. Nothing else.”

Inside the walls, the world outside vanished. Not an illusion, Thea realized. The purpose.

And worse, so much worse when with Musk and Howard and their uniformed escort they were cleared through the first security door and into a building.

Sudden claustrophobia clogged the air in her lungs.

“It’s normal, what you’re feeling,” Howard told her. “I don’t have to be a mind reader, Thea, to know what you’re feeling. It’s normal.”

“Okay.” She had to resist the need to rub the cold chill from her arms. “It’s okay.”

“If at any time you want to call this off—”

“I won’t.” She shook her head at Musk.

She submitted to the scans, answered the questions, signed the paperwork. She listened to instructions.

No physical contact. Remain seated. Do not approach the inmate.

More doors, more cameras, more hallways.

“Here’s your stop.” Howard took her hands. “He’s already secured inside. Cuffed, leg shackles. They’re bolted to the floor. He can’t get up. He can’t touch you.”

Not physically, she thought. But he had other ways.

They both had other ways.

“I understand.”

“There’ll be a guard inside the entire time. There are cameras, and Phil and I will be watching, also the entire time. We won’t be far away.”

“I know. I’m fine.” More than she’d expected to be. She felt she’d already run a gauntlet, and survived.

“Do what you’ve gotta do then.”

The guard opened the door, and she stepped inside.

She felt it, felt his first stab of shock when he looked up, when their eyes met. Confusion followed it, then slowly, very slowly came the almost giddy delight.

His mouth twisted into a smile.

“There you are! In the fucking flesh.”