Dalton was in bad shape, but not as bad as Kramer. Montez’s interrogation techniques always produced a lot of blood, but not fatally so. He’d never lost a subject during questioning. Accidentally killing a subject was inexcusable and costly. Rule number one in interrogation: You can’t question a dead subject.

Still, he hadn’t fully broken Dalton. The man acted as if he were telling all, but decades of experience told Montez he hadn’t extracted everything yet.

His cell rang. An unavailable number. Should he answer it? He doubted it could be anyone threatening. No one but his men had this number. With irritation he asked, “Who is this?”

“It’s Julio. We’ve got trouble.”

“What phone are you using? Where’s Hector?” Montez put the call on speaker so Duane Dalton could hear it.

“Two men broke in here and started shooting the place up. They killed Hector and Pablo!”

“Calm down. What’s your status?”

“I’m okay, but Miguel is hurt bad.”

“Where are the gunmen?”

“I shot them from the second floor office, they didn’t see me in time. They’re both dead. We can’t stay here, the police could be coming.”

“Who were they?”

“I don’t know. Big guys. No uniform or IDs.”

“By big you mean tall?”

“Yes.”

“What phone are you using?”

“Hector’s phone is broken. I’m using a dead guy’s phone.”

“Kill the woman and leave immediately. Don’t leave Hector and Pablo there. Put them in the van. Miguel too. Torch the warehouse and get down here right away.”

He ended the call and turned his attention back to what was left of Duane Dalton. He yanked the gag from Dalton’s mouth.

“Wait! Don’t kill her.”

Montez smiled. “Oh? And I suppose you had nothing to do with this latest attack?”

“I didn’t. I swear.”

“You have lied to me for the last time.”

“Please, she’s no threat to you.”

“I don’t give a damn about your ex-wife.”

“Please, I’ll tell you—”

“Tell me what?”

“Everything. Call your man back. Don’t kill Nichole. Please!”

Montez took several steps away and pretended to dial his phone. He had no intention of sparing Dalton’s ex-wife. He’d been betrayed for the last time.

“Julio, change of plans. Don’t kill the woman,” he feigned. “Take her with you. Call me when you’re almost here.” He completed the act by pressing the end button, then turned back to Dalton. “All right, you have my complete attention. Conceal nothing, color no facts this time, or I promise I’ll let my men have their way with your precious little girls. Many, many, times.”

Montez inserted a thumb drive into the laptop, opened the video recording program, and turned on the camera. “From the beginning, please.”

***

Satisfied, Nathan took his cell back from the mercenary and tucked it into his pocket.