Creighton found that it wasn’t easy to walk with his feet shackled together and his hands cuffed in front of him, and he stumbled a little as the two cops led him into the elevator. Well, at least he wouldn’t have to put up with the restraints for long. He’d be free soon, in just a few minutes, as a matter of fact. And when he died later tonight it would be worth losing the finger. It would be worth everything.
He discarded Lien-hua Jiang’s sock in the elevator and watched the blood from his hand drip and form bright patterns on the tiled floor.
His little meeting with her had gone well. Yes, very well.
Despite the fact that the feds had somehow found out his real identity, things had still ended the way Shade had planned.
The elevator clanged to a stop, the doors slid open, and the three men began their long walk to the room at the end of the hall.
Creighton could tell he’d shaken something loose inside of Special Agent Lien-hua Jiang. And he liked that very much. It brought him a tingle, a promise, a cool inviting shiver. He’d brushed up against that secret little something hidden in her past, deep in her psyche. And touching her pain in that way tasted sweet to him.
Sweet and strong.
The lotus flower had begun to unfold, just as Shade said it would.
Lien-hua had tried to hide it, they always do, but you can see it in their eyes. Eyes never betray you. Inside of every woman lives a needy little girl wanting to feel pretty, loved, secure. Expose her to her imperfections, toy with her desire to feel loved, rattle her sense of security, and you bring that needy little girl to the surface.
And during the investigation, Agent Jiang’s eyes had told him how fragile the girl inside of her was, and of course, Creighton already knew why. Actually it was one of the reasons Shade had chosen him.
Probably the main one.
They reached the infirmary door and one of the cops grunted for Creighton to stop. So he did.
Creighton Prescott Melice stood still and submissive between the two men he was about to kill.