CHAPTER 79

Francis Ackerman Jr. stared out across the dark waters of Lake Michigan. The lights of Chicago’s Navy Pier burned brightly at his back. He glanced in the direction of the Grand Ballroom and noticed a couple in their late twenties as they strolled past him. The woman gave him a strange look, as if she had seen him before but couldn’t quite make the connection.

Had she recognized him? He considered slitting their throats and tossing them into the water.

The familiar voice echoed in his mind. We’re going to play a game, Francis…You’re a monster…Kill her, and the pain will stop…

He clenched his fists with such force that his nails penetrated the skin. He concentrated on the pain. He lost himself within the sensation. No. Focus. You’re just being paranoid. He felt the rage begin to lose its color. She couldn’t have recognized me.

He changed his appearance on a regular basis. He had become a real master of disguise, but he hated living incognito. A part of him missed the old days, when he had killed whoever he wanted, whenever he wanted. But back then, he didn’t care about being caught. He didn’t care about dying. He liked the challenge of the cops being on his heels and being forced to tear through them in order to escape.

But things had changed now. He had discovered his place in the grand tapestry of the universe. He had found his purpose, and his journey was far from over. He was in for the long haul. His excitement swelled as he contemplated his plans for the future and all the games yet to be played.

He had been lying low for some time now. He had learned that he could suppress his hunger through meditation techniques and by cutting himself. Although he had experienced the occasional lapse, he felt that he was doing quite well, making real progress.

He needed to maintain discretion. He had to be cautious. He had to be selective. He couldn’t leave a trail for Marcus to follow. That would ruin all his plans.

He watched the reflections of the city shimmer across the water for a few moments, and then a man with glasses and spiked hair joined him at the railing.

“Do you have the information?” Ackerman said.

The man’s voice trembled. “Yes.”

“Everything I requested?”

“Yes.”

“Will they know that the files were accessed?”

“I covered my tracks. They won’t be able to trace anything back or even know that I was there. What is this Shepherd Organization anyway?”

“I don’t really know. That’s why I need the files. That’s why I needed you to track them down.”

“Because they’re after you, aren’t they?”

Ackerman chuckled. “Maybe, but I prefer the role of hunter, not hunted. I overheard a couple of old friends mention the Shepherd Organization and that they were in the process of recruiting someone very close to my heart. I was bleeding and strapped to a chair at the time. I didn’t enjoy the experience. Reminded me too much of my childhood. I don’t intend to find myself in that situation again, so I need to know my enemy.”

“Well, their security’s right up there with the Pentagon’s. I’d say they’re some pretty serious government hombres. If I were you, I’d head for the hills.”

“Your concern for my well-being is touching, but I don’t plan on getting caught. That’s why I recruited the best hacker I could find.”

“Recruited?!” The man’s voice cracked. “You—”

“Where are the files?”

The man fumbled in his jacket and held out a portable hard drive.

Ackerman took the drive and admired it. The wonderful device contained all the knowledge he required. He unconsciously reached behind his back and wrapped his fingers around the hilt of his knife. The act would complete such a glorious moment, but he had to resist the urge to kill his little hacker friend. He still needed the man, and he was better than that now. He was more than just a killer.

Before he had met Marcus, killing had been his only reason to live, his only purpose in life. Now, he had found his true calling, and his mission eclipsed his dark desires.

“You’ll need a password to open the files, and I’m not going to give you that until you release my sister. When she’s safe, I’ll e-mail you the password.”

His gaze burned through the whiny, little man. “Are you dictating the terms of the game to me?”

“I read the files on you. I know how you work. You had no intention of holding up your end of the deal. If I give you that password, my sister and I are both dead.”

“You should keep in mind that there are worse things than death, my friend. If you’ve read the files, then you know that I could make you give me that password. But, well played. Besides, there’s more to me than just a series of reports and tapes. I’ll let you and your sister live as long as you keep your mouth shut about the job you’ve done for me. I’ll release her this evening, but I expect to receive a prompt reply. Also, I’ll be calling on you from time to time. If you run, I will find you. From now on, I won’t bother your sister. As long as you do a good job, you won’t have anything to fear from me. Is that acceptable to you?”

The man nodded like a bobblehead doll on a bumpy road.

“Do you have the phone number I requested?”

The man fumbled in his jacket again and removed a small piece of paper.

He snatched the paper from the hacker’s hand and verified that he could read the man’s chicken scratches. He waved his hand. “You’re dismissed.”

“What about—”

“Go. Before I change my mind.”

The man scurried away.

Ackerman removed the cell phone from his pocket and dialed the number from the small sheet of paper.

“Hello?” the voice on the end of the line said.

His heart raced. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end at the sound of that voice.

“Who is this?”

“Hello, Marcus. Have you missed me?”

Silence.

“I wish that I could have seen your face when they told you that they couldn’t find my remains among the ashes. In the future, you’ll need to realize that I always have a backup plan. The service tunnel that connected the new building to the old section of the hospital allowed my disappearing act to seem quite convincing, didn’t it?”

“I’m going to find you.”

“I love a challenge.”

“How did you get this number?”

“I have my ways, but that’s not important. I won’t take up too much of your time. I know you’re busy with the new job and all, but I just wanted to say hello. Let you know that I miss you and that I’m thinking of you. I’m so happy for both of us. We’ve realized our destinies. Most people search their whole lives and never know what we know. We know the meaning of our existence. You have become the hero that you were always meant to be. But during our last confrontation, I realized that you still need me. You haven’t reached your full potential just yet. You will need to be tested and tried. And that’s where I come in. I’ve got such big plans for us. After all, every hero needs a villain.”

He closed the phone, pulled the battery, and tossed both halves of the device into the water. Then, the corners of Francis Ackerman’s mouth slowly turned up into a wide grin.

Let the games begin.