Chapter 22

Late that afternoon, on the outskirts of Waco, Texas, clouds gathered like a thousand black kites knotted together and trapped. The air inside cabin 13 suggested the smell of burning rubber and paint fumes. The Lone Star hotel had a long reputation for drug sessions and sleazy hookups. The room’s two occupants lay naked on the bed. The woman had taken her last breath half an hour ago. The needle hanging out of her arm had seen to that; there was nothing he could do. His thoughts were now of sorrow. He wanted to try, but it hurt too much. Raising his eyes to the ceiling, he whispers a prayer. A tear escapes as he slowly let go. His life slipped away.

At last, he is rid of that stuck-up bitch of a boss Olivia Reed.

* * *

“I’m assuming there is still a patrol car parked at Wayne’s,’ Dean said when they were a block away. “I’ll park out of sight and sneak through backyards. I don’t want to get shot by some nervous deputy.” He pulled up to the curb six houses away from Waynes. Ben grab