CHAPTER 61

Ackerman watched the couple as they slept. So peaceful. So serene.

He reached out and brushed a strand of hair away from the woman’s face. She stirred and made a quiet mewling sound, but she didn’t wake. He felt like God as he watched them. He felt all-powerful. I giveth, and I taketh away.

He flipped on the bedroom lights and said, “Wake up.”

The man sprung into action and dove for the gun on the nightstand. The cop’s eyes filled with terror when he realized the weapon was missing.

Ackerman aimed the sawed-off shotgun at the man. “Do you know who I am?”

“You’re a crazy son of a—”

“You know, Major Steinhoff, I considered playing a little game with the two of you, but I’m on a mission. I have more important things to do. So let’s cut to the chase. If you know who I am, then you can guess why I’m here. Tell me where she is.”

Major Steinhoff’s eyes widened with understanding. “You can go to Hell, you sick freak.”

He sighed with disgust. “Probably will, but I think you should worry about your own soul at the moment.” He shifted the shotgun’s aim to Steinhoff’s wife. “I won’t blink an eye, and you know it.”

“And what? I’m supposed to believe that you’ll let us live if I tell you?”

“Listen, I’m a different person now. I really don’t want to kill you. That doesn’t further my goals. Believe that or don’t believe it, but you had better believe that you’ll die screaming if you don’t tell me.”

Steinhoff’s eyes hardened. “Fine. She’s under guard at Penrose Hospital.”

He smiled, but the expression didn’t reach his eyes. “See, that wasn’t so hard, was it? What room?”

“1408.”

“Wonderful. Let’s go.”

“We’re not going anywhere.”

“Don’t worry. It’s just a little ride in the trunk. If you’re telling the truth, then I’ll have more important things to worry about than the two of you. But if you’re lying to me, then I’ll remove a piece of your wife’s anatomy, and we’ll start all over again.” He let his words hang in the air a moment and then said, “Are you ready to go?”

Steinhoff hesitated and looked over at his wife. “Wait. She’s in the new building at Memorial Hospital on the north side of town. It’s still under construction, but we convinced them to open up a room for her on one of the partly finished floors. She’s on the fifth floor. I don’t know what room. Some of my best men are guarding her. They’ll take you down. You won’t even get close.”

“I appreciate your honesty and your concern, but I’ll take my chances. Let’s go for a little ride.”