“No.” He told the lie without flinching. In addition, she had been stabbed several times, which could have a sexual component. “A blow to the head, fast and hard, killed her quick.” It was a blatant lie, so he had to make sure Dana never saw the entire report. Candy had slowly bled to death, and she had to have been in torturous pain.

Wolfe glanced at the defenseless woman in his passenger seat, one being hunted from too many directions.

The burner phone buzzed from the back seat.

Every muscle in Wolfe’s body tensed as Dana dropped her feet and partially turned. “Pull the black phone out of my pack, but do not answer it.”

She released her seat belt, gave him a look at the order, and then leaned over to unzip his pack. “Is this a burner phone? Why do you have a burner phone?” She grunted as she turned and settled back down, handing over the innocuous-looking phone.

Wolfe took it. “Don’t say a word. Don’t even breathe.” He reached over and turned up the music, which was a combination of country and rock. He pressed the phone hard against his ear so she couldn’t hear anything. “What?” he answered, the knuckles on his left hand turning white on the steering wheel.

“Hey, buddy. I didn’t want you to think I was ignoring you.” Rock came over the line clearly, anticipation bubbling through his voice. “Had a couple of things to take care of but am narrowing your location down.”

“Are you, now?” Wolfe couldn’t hear anything in the background on the other end of the line. Perfect silence. Not even the hum of an air-conditioning unit. “Somehow, I don’t think you’re very close. I’m getting kinda bored waiting for you.”

“Then maybe you should learn to track and find me. You never were as good.”

Not exactly true. They just had different styles, and Wolfe’s style of patience usually won out. “I’ve found your contact and know exactly how you got the heroin here,” he taunted, hoping Rock would bite and not catch that he was bluffing.

“Maybe you do know, but it’s too late for me to worry about it. I got my hands on your military file, and boy, it looked like you had some trouble in that German hospital. Pain and outbursts and a whole lotta PTSD. Feeling any better?” Rock chuckled.

“Much,” Wolfe said, hiding his instant irritation. “Guess that file didn’t reveal where I’d gone upon discharge.” He’d made sure the records showed him being discharged and not sent to the Deep Ops Unit.

“Nope. Just makes the game more fun. For now, get ready. I’ll see you soon.” Rock clicked off.

Wolfe drew in several breaths to calm his temper and then slipped the phone into the pocket by the door.

Dana crossed her arms. “Well? Who was that?”