CHAPTER 84

The sound of that monster’s voice snatches my breath away.

I’m on the line with the mastermind of the deadliest terror attack in New Orleans history, which is still raging all around me.

But does he know I know that?

He has to. Why else would he be calling? Just to toy with me?

“Hey, Billy,” I answer, as calmly as I can. “Where are you? Somewhere safe, I hope. I’m sure you’ve seen the news. The French Quarter is an absolute—”

He snickers.

“That was some pretty convincing acting,” he says, voice calm and steady. “Really. Of course I’ve seen the news. I’ve also seen things … live.”

That last word nearly causes me to jump. I glance around with sudden paranoia. Does he have cameras of his own installed in the French Quarter? Is he watching me right now?

“And I have to say, I’m impressed with you, Caleb,” he says. “You came awfully close to figuring it all out. To stopping me. You didn’t, as you can see. But you did screw up a lot of my plans for today.”

Furious, I grip the phone tighter and say, “Really? That’s the best news I’ve heard all day. Let’s get together and you can tell me personally how I screwed up your plans, and I’ll screw my Smith & Wesson into your worthless mouth and pull the god-damn trigger!”

He laughs. “Oh, I’m sure we’ll meet, but not right now. You screwed up some of my plans, but not all of them. We’ve just begun. Honest.”

“What else is going on? Billy, come on, tell me!”

Another laugh. “And spoil my fun? Really?”

Jesus Christ.

“Why?” I shout. “Why would you do this? Why in God’s name would you bomb, ram, shoot up your hometown?”

And like the sociopath he is—carefully hidden over the years—he’s got his sermon all ready.

“Because I love my hometown, Caleb,” he says, voice strong and determined. “For years I’ve been watching this city slip lower and lower. Its culture and character worn away by outsiders. The fabric of its society ripped apart. Someone had to stand up, unite us all, and fight back!”

“By killing innocent people?”