“You took the vial of epinephrine from your father’s bag. You emptied it and replaced it with white vinegar. It was acid he accidentally injected into his own wife’s heart the second time she had an attack.”

“So? She hurt my father.”

“Your excuses bore me.”

He looked weary. “I’m a dragon. You’re a knight in shining armor. You’re victorious. The victor should not gloat.”

“Want me to kiss your ass?”

He drew in a ragged breath. “In olden days, when a dragon was defeated on the field it had to grant three wishes to its conqueror. Let us reverse that tradition and have you grant me three wishes.”

“Such as?”

“Wish number one. Bandage my wrist. Apply a tourniquet. Let me live.”

“No. You’re too dangerous alive.”

“You have exposed all my devices. I’m harmless now.”

“No.”

He appeared in pain. “Wish number two then. Let me talk to Matt.”

“Why?”

“Since you told me about him, I’ve wanted to meet him. I feel a special kinship with him. We’ve both suffered. That’s why I sent Scott to help him with Amy. Do you have his number?”

“Yes.”

“There’s a phone on my coffee table. Let’s call him, see how he is doing.”

Kelly hesitated. Her gut didn’t want the Acid Man getting anywhere near Matt, yet it was a fact the monster would be dead within minutes. Since he had already been attacked once by the family, perhaps it would comfort Matt to hear the death rattle in Gene Banks’s voice, and know the threat was finished.

“I don’t know if he’ll talk to you,” she said.

“He’ll talk to me.”

Kelly picked up the phone. She had memorized Matt’s cell numbers. She dialed the one he had given her just before Catalina. She was surprised when he answered.

TO GET to the camping spot Matt had chosen for their hideaway, he had taken a winding dirt road that was so close to nonexistence that it could vanish in a cloud of dust. Driving down the steep terrain in the dark was a harrowing experience. He wished they had a parachute as well as four-wheel drive. But eventually they ended up on a sane road that ran alongside the same stream that stretched beneath the ledge where he had stranded Amy. He stopped the car and turned off the engine beside the water. Craning his neck, he tried to spot her but it was too dark. Jimmy stared at him with large brown eyes. It spooked Matt how much his son looked like Amy.

“Do you miss her?” he asked.

Jimmy looked sad.

Matt was surprised when his cell phone rang. For a moment he thought it must be Amy. “Hello?” he said.

“Matt, this is Kelly. How are you?”

“Fine. This is a pleasant surprise. How are you?”

“Great. Are you alone? Is Amy there with you?”