He smiled and shook his head. “The bastard wasn’t supposed to survive. Neither were you, actually. But then, when we found George in Orlando...and then that idiot, Dan Oliver! Wow, he made my day going after George the way that he did. I mean, I made sure he was led toward George Calabria all the way, and I’m good at what I do.”

“I guess so. You had Carly Britton as your sixth?”

“Carly couldn’t get going in business. I managed to set her up. And afterwards, she was happy to be one of The Six, though the most worthless, I’m afraid.”

“She saved your ass this morning,” Katie noted sweetly. “And then you killed her,” she added softly.

He shrugged. “I was afraid the car might have been seen.”

“Did you kill her husband, too?”

“No, I couldn’t find the lucky bastard. But...hey. He’s out there somewhere. Though, Katie, to be honest, I wanted you for the grand finale. You escaped the boat! You got twelve bonus years. I was so anxious, waiting for reports from Sonny. Because you see, you should have been first. Your dad and his precious wife, your mother, should have had the agony of watching you hacked to pieces first. Can you imagine that pain? And your dad would know it was all because he just had to be a hero, couldn’t leave us to do what needed to be done...to frankly worthless people. They didn’t deserve anything they had. They could have just run crying to FEMA. Your dad! He thought he was powerful that day. I showed him.”

“You killed a man. Thousands of thugs have done the same,” Katie said. “You’re nothing special.”

“But I am... I’m the Axeman of New Orleans. And now...”

“You poisoned your own dogs!”

“Well, if you shut up, I can get out of here. I’m just going to shoot Dan Oliver when he comes looking for you. I’m not sure he’s even worthy of the axe. Then I can save my dogs. Oh, Katie, I just can’t tell you how I’ve loved this! Watching you admire me, fall in love with the mules and the dogs. And bring in so much money! Thinking you were safe. And all the while, I knew. I knew this day would come... Oh, don’t worry. I will get away with it. My dogs were poisoned. The killer was after you. I tried to stop him! I was injured horribly...well, not that horribly, but I do know how to make it look like I was attacked.”

She listened to him, scrambling in her mind for more to say.

Dan had to be out there by now. But if he just kicked in the door, Monty would shoot him, then chop her to ribbons, harm himself...