“I’ll tell him that he’s got me very excited. I’ll put his hands on me to show him just how much. I’ll tell him that I’m going to do it just the way he likes, really, really slowly. If he lets me, I’ll undress him.”

“If he fights you?”

“I’ll act as if it’s all part of the game he likes. I’ll keep straddling him. When he tries to get out from under me, I’ll make sure it looks like we’re playing. Getting physical.” Her tone had gotten even stronger.

“Good.”

“Once I’m off him, I’ll start screaming for him to get out.”

“What then?”

“I’ll wait twenty minutes. If the police don’t show up, I’ll call them myself.”

“What will you tell the police when they show up?”

“I’ll be crying. I’ll pretend to be scared. I’ll tell them that I’m a self-employed escort and that he was my client. A regular.”

“When they ask you if you know who your client is, what will you tell them?”

“I’ll say that his name is Russ Evans and he’s the Secretary of Agriculture. I’ll tell them I had decided to record us fucking. I’m going to use that word, too. I’ll tell them that the video camera was recording when he got rough with me after I told him to leave. Then I’ll show them where I hid the camera and tripod.”

“You’re very good at this,” the man said.

“When will I get paid?”

“Soon. Very soon. Half now, half when you’re done. You did terrific here. It will be a pleasure working with you.”

“Thank you.”

Darlene stared blankly ahead. Her hands were trembling and her breathing was shallow. A cold sweat had formed on the back of her neck and dripped unpleasantly down the inside of her blouse.

The voice of Double M returned. “If you want to help Secretary Evans, we must meet. There’s an alley behind the movie theater on Columbus Avenue. Eight P.M. tomorrow night. Come alone. Tell no one except Kim Hajjar about this recording. Lives are in danger.”

The children finished singing and were rewarded with rapturous applause. Darlene rose to her feet, applauding, though numbly. He legs were Jell-O.

“This is the end of the transmission,” Double M said. “It will loop for ten minutes more before—”

The recording went silent.

Chapter 23

CHAPTER 23

Despite knowing that Joey Alderson was in his mid-twenties, Lou had trouble not thinking of him as a boy—especially following the disaster at Millie’s. For much of the early drive from the hospital back to Kings Ridge, Joey stared contentedly out the window, making no attempt to initiate conversation. His thumb and hand, immobilized in plaster, were supported in a sling.