Page 92 of Z For Butterfly Man
“Shoot me.”
“What? Why? I’m not gonna do that.”
“We don’t have time. I’m supposed to meet him in a few minutes. If I’m shot, he’ll have to help me himself. That gives me time and a reason to be with him, monitoring him closely. He trusts me, so he won’t suspect anything.”
“At the same time, he has to be close to her, which means you will be, too.”
“I already have a place in mind he might be keeping her. A place with heavy-duty signal blockers.”
“Where?”
“I’ll tell you when I’m one hundred percent sure. I don’t want your squad fucking up. Any mistake could cost her life.”
“Gatsby, this isn’t the best plan.”
“Neither is yours, but it’s our best shot. I’ll disable the jammer the second I get a chance, and you’ll know exactly where she is.” I place two fingers on my left shoulder. “Do your part. Clean through. Nothing critical. It needs to look like you foughtyour way out, like you’re guilty and dangerous. Otherwise Morra pulls me off any operational role, and I’m no use to either of us.”
The first cruiser crests the hill. I nod at Ashford. “Don’t miss.”
CHAPTER 42
Brandon
A good soldier carries silence like a weapon. He knows when to clock the details and when to lock them away.
The sand on Morra’s boots.
The delay in waking me up.
The missing equipment and weapons.
Birdie’s photo sent to his phone byAshfordand its timing.
The fool’s errand he’s sending me on.
These are too much to lock away.
I pray to God I’m wrong. I’ve looked up to that man. Tristan Morra taught me everything I know about the job, took me under his wing, believed in me and gave me an opportunity at a better life when no one else would.
How could he be a murderous stalker who kidnaps, tortures and kills?
There is only one way to prove it. The signal jammer. When Morra isn’t here, I’ll disable it for one second. If Ashford gets a signal, Mrs. Abel is right here, somewhere under this cabin and near the cove, and Morra is Butterfly Man.
A part of me doesn’t want to wait, wants to tear these walls and floors to find her myself, now, and stop whatever pain and horror he must be putting her through, but it’s too much of a risk. I’m only one injured man who doesn’t know what he’s up against on the other side. Any mistake is fatal. Patience is the only key to survival.
I play my part. I eat the fucking soup like a good boy and go to that boat. I contemplate telling Marcus to get him to help, but he idolizes his best friend and hates Mrs. Abel. I bite my tongue and play another part. The soldier that has already fallen but hasn’t told his body yet. I make sure Marcus sees it. He orders me to return and rest, and I have no choice but to follow chain of command.
Morra is nowhere to be seen. He must be with her. That’s my cue. I override the feed, turn off the signal blocker, turn it back on and run as fast as I can. If he suspects the device has been tampered with, he won’t think it’s me if I was never here. Until he figures it out, hopefully too late.
Once I’m out of the cabin’s isolated range and get a signal, I call Ashford. “Did it work?”
“Yes. Sending coords to confirm. Lambert’s Cove.”
I check the message. “Correct. It’s a secluded cabin on the east side near the cove. Ashford, bring sonar and battering rams, big ones. Bring a wrecking ball if you have to. I think he has her under the bunker, and wherever it is he’s keeping her, it has access to the beach.”
“Jesus Christ. I’m on my way.”
“Get a squad ready by the cove, too. I think that’s his way out.”
