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His big right hand locked on Chelsea Jewells throat.
He lifted her. She weighed nothing.
Stop it!
No.
No, Perry, NO! Bad Perry!
She didnt look scared. She didnt look evil, either. She looked like a spoiled child, a child who did whatever she wanted, took whatever she wanted.
He squeezed a little harder.
Fear crept into those angelic blue eyes, the realization that maybe she didnt control him.
You have to do what I say! I told you to kill that man, and you did!
You didnt make me do it, Perry said. I couldnt let him wind up like me. I had to help him.
Footsteps rushed up the stairs behind him. Perry turned to face the open door, Chelsea still held out in front of him. The last gunman sprinted down the hall, M4 raised. He skidded to a halt when he saw Chelsea held in the air like a s.h.i.+eld.
Perry aimed and fired.
The bullet hit the last man dead center in the forehead. He took one step back, dropped his gun, then lifted his right hand, weakly, as if he wanted to touch Chelseas hair one last time.
The man fell backward.
He didnt move.
Perry looked at Chelsea. So beautiful. He understood that mans dying gesture of love, of affection.
Why would you kill me, Perry?
Hate tinged her ice-cold eyes.
Cold, like the eyes of a hatchling.
Youre not like anyone else. I can see into your memories, Perry. No one accepted you for who you are, but with me you can be what you were born to bea killer.
Maybe thats what I was born to be, Perry said. But its not who I am anymore.
It is, and you know it is. Why help them? What have these people ever done for you?
One of them was going to take me fis.h.i.+ng, Perry said.
Then he shot Chelsea Jewell in the face.
DEWS SATPHONE
A soldier handed Margaret a satphone. She just looked at it. Clarence took it and answered.
Agent Otto here.
The voice on the satphone was crackling but clearly audible. Its Murray. Ive got Perry. He wants to talk with Margaret.
Margarets body sagged in her seat. Perry was still alive? Not for long, not long at all.
Okay, she said, and took the phone.
More crackling, then the deep voice of Perry Dawsey. Hey Margo.
She fought back the tears. If she cried too hard she couldnt speak. Hey, she said. Are you . . . are you on Dews phone?
Yeah, Perry said. I got Chelsea. The voices have finally stopped, but . . . I dont think Im doing so good. Ive got those things inside me. It hurts. Bad. I think theyre moving to my brain. Margaret, I dont want to lose control again.
You wont, she said. They wont have time.