“No, by purging our city of the outsiders who come in here and suck away what’s right and noble of New Orleans,” he says. “C’mon, Caleb, as a cop, you’ve seen what the outsiders have done to our city. They take away our food, our culture, our music, and what do we get in return? Dirty money … and when the time comes when we need real help, like Katrina, we’re treated like an old hooker who’s overstayed her welcome.”

I squeeze my eyes shut. I’m just a cop, not a shrink. But somehow, I’ve got to stop him … or at least delay him. My heart is thudding so hard that it nearly hurts my chest, and I realize that right now, in these very seconds, I have the possibility of stopping any more carnage, to halt whatever it is that Billy is planning to do next.

I take a breath. Swallow my anger, my pride, my cop mind.

“Billy … you know, I’ve never thought of it that way. I hate to admit it, but … please, tell me more. Tell me what else is coming.”

Another laugh. “A few seconds ago you were promising to blow my head off. And now you want me to believe you’re a convert? Not bad, but Caleb, please, don’t insult my intelligence.”

“Billy … ”

After a pause, he asks, “Just before I go, consider this, you greasy spoon line cook. Have you ever lost something dear to you, Caleb? A job, maybe? A business? What about … a person? Maybe two?”

My mouth turns dry as sandpaper. My pulse soars.

Did this son of a bitch just threaten Marlene and Vanessa?

“Billy, what the hell did you just say to me?” I shout back. “Are you still there?”

Another laugh.

“The sky’s the limit, Caleb,” he says. “Remember that.”

Then he hangs up.

CHAPTER 85

My feet jackhammer the pavement.

My arms pump like pistons.

My throat and lungs are blazing.

The MP5 threatens to shatter my shoulder from all the bouncing around.

The distance from here to where Killer Chef is parked is only about a third of a mile.

But right now, it feels like light-years.

I tried phoning Marlene and Vanessa multiple times as soon as Billy hung up on me. No luck. The calls never went through.

I tried texting them. Warning them. Imploring them to find shelter and stay safe, wherever they were. But the messages never went through.

I have no idea where they are.

Or … God, if they’re even still alive.

And Billy could very well be bluffing. Trying to distract me, throw me off his trail.

But I’ve seen what he’s capable of. If he really does have something planned against the two most important people in my life, I need to protect them.

I can’t take any chances.

I have to find them. Save them.