Deacon shrugged. Well carry on as we have been.
Youll take over the organization when the time comes? she asked anxiously.
Youre more qualified to run it than I am, he said with a frown. Besides, I like being in the field.
I know you do. And thats what worries me because one of these days
One of these days, what?
She hesitated. One of these days you may meet your match out there.
Thats not going to happen. But Deacon knew it could easily happen because on every mission the killer always had the advantage. He was on his home turf, and the only way for Deacon to even the odds was to recruit someone locally to help him. Someone like Marly Jessop.
He said none of that to Camille, however, because she tended to be a worrier and she had too much on her plate as it was. She was right. Her grandfather might not last much longer, and when the time came, Nicholass death would hit her hard. Shed lost her only child not so long ago, and though she put up a brave front, Deacon knew she hadnt recovered from the blow. Her grandfather and her work were all she had left.
And at that, she had a damn sight more than Deacon.
So how are things going down there? she asked, and Deacon could tell she was deliberately changing the subject.
Theres been another death, he said, his gaze riveted to the front of Ricky Moraless house. They were bringing out the body. He watched as they hauled the stretcher down the steps and across the soggy yard to the hearse. Marly was talking to Navarro now, and Deacon frowned. There was something about her body languagesomething about the way she looked up at her superior
Deacon?
He gritted his teeth and glanced away. Yeah, Im still here. Im at the scene now.
Is ita suicide?
Theres suicide and theres suicide, he said.
Yes, I know. Deacon could picture her seated behind her computer, dark hair pulled back and fastened primly at her nape as she scowled at her screen. Her full lips would be pursed in concentration, her violet eyes shadowed with a grief that had only deepened in the months since her sons death. Do you have any leads?
Nothing concrete. I have a couple of names Id like you to run through the usual databases, though. I dont expect anything to turn up, but you never know. The first one is Tony Navarro. Hes the chief of police down here.
Any particular reason youre interested in him?
Deacons gaze went back to the couple on the porch. Just a gut instinct.
You really think the chief of police could be one of them? Camille persisted. She must have sensed something in his voice. Sometimes her instincts were uncanny.
One of us, you mean? Deacon countered.
She hesitated. You know I dont think of you that way. Besides, not everyone who went through Montauk was or is a killer. Some of the men have even gone back to their normal lives.
Yeah, Deacon said. And some of them are in psychiatric wards. Some of them are living on the streets. And some of them had continued to kill.
You said there were two names, Camille prompted.
The other is Sam Jessop. I havent met him yet, but from everything Ive learned, he matches the profile. He was in the army, and he comes from a military family.
Okay. Ill check them out and get back to you. Anything else?
Theres an abandoned army base not far from here. See what you can dig up about it.
He heard her catch her breath. You dont think it was part of Montauk, do you?
We know they expanded the operation, Deacon said. And weve never discovered the other locations. Its worth checking out.
That should keep me busy for a day or two, Camille said. In the meantime, keep in touch, okay? Grandfather worries about you. So do I, she added reluctantly.
Deacons features tightened. I wish you wouldnt. I dont deserve it.
Camille sighed. Youre never going to get past it, are you?
A muscle began to pulse in Deacons jaw. Get past who I am? What I did?
You were following orders, Camille said. You were programmed to
Kill people.
You dont know that for sure.
Face it, Camille. Just because I cant remember doesnt mean it didnt happen. I was an assassin. You dont move on from something like that. Theres no redemption for what I did.
There might be, she said softly. If you could somehow find it in your heart to forgive yourself.