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cried for five minutes, deep, racking sobs that made it hard to breathe. When it was over, the hurt was partially cleansed. He sat up, wiping the wetness off his red, puffy cheeks with the back of his hands. Sniffing back the remaining tears, he started the ignition. Suffering, that's what Moloch said he wanted to inflict. Well, he got his wish. Jason felt a large gaping hole in his heart that would be impossible to fill. He could only hope Moloch hadn't carried out his threats against Alex. He didn't believe Moloch would kill her only to leave her to be found later. It would be much more cruel to do it in front of him. So Alex might still be alive. Or was that just desperate hope? He was stopped at a red light on Lawrenceville Highway when the world disappeared around him, blackness enfolding everything but the interior of his car. A pair of frigid silver eyes formed over the passenger's seat. Jason raised the golden aura but held his place, not shying away from the apparition. "Hello, Jason," Moloch said. "I just thought I'd let you know that I'm over at Alex's place. We've had a wonderful conversation. I feel like a part of the family now." "You bastard. Is she still alive?" "Of course. I wouldn't hurt her, at least not as long as you're not here. Don't worry. I'll wait until you arrive to start the festivities. Oh, by the way, your father's here, too, but I'm afraid he's not in such good shape." "What have you done to him?" Jason demanded. "Me, personally? Why I've done nothing. Your friend, Anson Quintard, says he thinks it's either a heart attack or a stroke. But he admits he's not sure." "Quintard? What's he got to do with this?" "Oh, he's my little helper these days. You know what? I think he hates you as much as I do and he's just dying to watch what happens to you." Moloch laughed. "But enough of that," he said. "The end result is that your father isn't long for this world. Then again, neither are you or your pregnant bitch. So take care and we'll see you soon." The world cleared and Jason heard the loud honking of a horn as an impatient driver behind him wondered why he wasn't moving for the green light. He slowly accelerated. His mind was racing, but not about what Moloch said; he expected as much. What surprised him was the way he felt when Moloch appeared. The swell of power within him was instantaneous and took on added strength when Moloch's words made hatred rise inside him. Yet it wasn't like the rush of energy he had felt on the tennis courts. Yes, it was strong, monstrously so. But it had a dark edge that left a nasty residue on him, like the time as a boy when he had stepped on that dead cat on the side of the road. What does it mean? he wondered. Why was the power different this time from the last? His gut told him the distinction was important, perhaps crucial, but it still escaped him. Moloch obviously was laying a trap, expecting him to just walk in on the pretext of saving his father's and Alex's lives. He was going to try to save Alex and his father all right, but he'd be damned if he would follow Moloch's game plan. He had an idea of his own. Turning on Mountain Industrial Boulevard, he drove toward the massive complex of one-story offices and warehouses lining both sides of the road for miles. Behind the complex were acres upon acres of flat, empty land, the trees bulldozed to make way for buildings still in the planning stages. It was a vantage point offering a wide-open view for several hundred yards in any direction. Pulling into an entrance of the complex, he drove until he reached the last open piece of land, a red-clay plot about five hundred yards square sitting a quarter of a mile behind the other buildings. At the edges, the field sloped up about ten feet to row after row of Southern pines. Trees surrounded the field on three sides; only the road side was open. Jason pulled the car to the curb and stepped out, then walked slowly to the middle of the field. He looked at his watch. Half past five. At this time of the morning the office complex was empty. People wouldn't start arriving for another two hours. Things would be over by then. He was strangely calm. It was all coming down to this. One way or another, things would end right here, right now. There was something peaceful and settling about the thought. He reached into his pocket. He didn't need to check to see if anything was in there; he knew there would be. He pulled out the disappearing ball trick. Holding it in the palm of his hand, he gazed at it for a moment and smiled thinly. With the briefest thought, he vaporized the toy. "Here we go," he said out loud. He opened his mind and called. Chapter 40 « ^ » Why won't my heart stop pounding? Quintard asked himself every couple of minutes. He sat on the couch in Alex's apartment, but knew he wouldn't be able to stay there long. Within seconds, he stood and walked across the room, then went to [ Pobierz caÅ‚ość w formacie PDF ] |
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