He described the incident from beginning to end. He gave as much detail as he could. But when he finished she did not even reply. He had to prod her to speak.

“That’s impossible,” she gasped.

“Is it the same person who hurt you?”

“It can’t be. I shot him in the back of the neck. He’s paralyzed from the neck down.”

“Says who?”

“Says his doctor. He’s a quadriplegic.”

“I would check on that diagnosis if I were you.”

“Matt. How did this person find you?”

“I was going to ask you the same question.”

“I have no idea.”

“The guy must have picked us up when I swung by Amy’s house. He must have known her address. How’s that possible?”

Kelly hesitated. “The person I crippled was given the FBI file on the kidnapping of Jimmy Techer.”

“This guy is FBI?”

“No. He’s a serial killer. But we … well, I used him to help find you.”

“Kelly. This guy is crazy. How could you have used him?”

“I’m sorry, I was desperate to find you. And this man, besides being nuts, is also brilliant.” She added quietly, “Without his help, I never would have found you.”

It took Matt a moment to swallow her excuse. Yet he did not think she was lying. “It’s all right, it’s done. Why is he after Amy?”

“I’m not sure. Like I said, it can’t be him.”

“It has to be him!”

“Okay. Let’s say for a second it is him. He would want Amy because she cheated on you. That’s what drives him, or at least that’s what drove him in the past. It’s possible he admires you for what you’ve accomplished so far. At the same time, he thinks you lack the will to completely punish Amy for her sins.”

“Her sins?”

“He sees every woman who betrays her spouse as a sinner.”

“Are you saying this guy is trying to do me a favor?”

“In his own mind, yes. If it is, in fact, him.”

“Can you ask him not to bother?”

“I’ll check on his whereabouts the second I get off the phone. Are you in a safe place now?”

“Yes. I took steps to make sure we weren’t followed. But I took steps to begin with. Whoever this guy is, he’s smart.”

“He must have an accomplice,” she muttered.

“What do you call him?”

“The Acid Man.”

“Nice. I don’t know if I buy the accomplice idea. It would be hard to find two psychopaths in this world with such similar tastes in torture.”

“It’s the only explanation,” Kelly insisted.

“Do you have any idea who it might be?”

“Yes. How strong was he?”

“He was a grown man. But I don’t think he was as strong as me. He ran at the first chance.”

“Did he wheeze?”