Page 143 of Girl Between (Dana Gray FBI Mystery Thriller #5)

Dana spun away from Monroe, but he moved faster. Grabbing a fistful of hair, he yanked her back, landing a punch in her kidneys that stole her breath. She tried to fight him off, but he had the upper hand. He had hold of her throat and drove his knee into the wound in her abdomen.

Pain lanced through Dana so fast and hot that her vision tunneled.

Doubling over in agony, she crashed to her knees. The bone saw she’d brought to defend herself with skittered uselessly across the floor.

Monroe laughed. “You found a toy. Impressive.”

But he wasn’t done.

Dragging her back to her feet, he grabbed zip ties from his pocket and secured her hands behind her back. Both of them were heaving from the effort, but Monroe was grinning. He wiped a smear of blood from his face; her blood. It seemed to add to his excitement.

Dana spat more of her blood onto the floor thanks to an elbow she’d caught in the jaw during their scuffle. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”

“You know what they say, love what you do … ”

“I don’t get it. Why did you drop out of med school? You could’ve been doing this legitimately,” she said, nodding to the rows of gurneys.

“Legitimacy is overrated.”

“No, it’s more than that. I’ve been to your slaughterhouse. I saw all the bones, the mummified woman in the attic. You enjoy this. The torture. The mutilation. Why is that? Did someone do it to you?”

Monroe laughed. “You don’t know anything.”

“A parent, maybe?”

“My parents have nothing to do with this.”

She ignored the lethal tone his voice had dropped to. “You mainly kill women, so I’m betting it was your mother. What did she do to you, Levi?”

He gave her an oily smile. “Mother was a saint.”

“And this is how you repay her?”

“This isn’t about her.”

“Then who? Who did you do all of this for?” When Monroe didn’t answer, Dana pressed him. She wanted to keep him talking, buy herself time, but beyond that, she was curious.

Levi Monroe was the most complex killer she’d ever encountered. “Oh, come on. What’s the harm in telling me now? We both know the only way I’m leaving this place is in a body bag.”

He ignored her question; instead he started to march her back through his murder ward. Dana didn’t think he was going to take her bait at first, but then he started talking. “Ya know, you’ve come closer than all the others. I really thought you’d get there, but it seems your time has run out.”

“Then tell me, what did I get wrong? What little slice of genius did you slip by me?” His smugness angered Dana.

“I was right about Landry. I knew he was involved somehow. Though I didn’t expect his dying daughter was a hostage.

Is that the touch of fresh hell you’re so proud of?

Because I’ve gotta say, kidnapping a blind girl is amateur hour. ”

Dana was doing her best to channel Jake and get under Monroe’s skin. And it seemed to be working. “You’re not asking the right question,” Monroe sneered.

“Maybe it’s not important. Maybe you’re just a psychopath.”

“It’s not about who. It’s about why.”

“Okay, I’ll bite. Why Landry?”

“Too bad you won’t have the chance to ask him. He’s the villain in this twisted tale.”

“Somehow I doubt that.”

Monroe sucked his teeth, tsking her like a petulant child. “Come now, Dr. Gray. I thought you were the smart one, able to see him for who he truly is.”

“Why don’t we get him and let him tell his side of the story?” she countered. “I’m sure Amelia would love to hear it.”

“Tempting, but no. I have much to do tonight.” He ran a finger down her cheek.

“Pity though. I think you would appreciate what I have in store for all your friends. I know you’re stalling because they’re down there.

” He grinned fiendishly. “The mighty NOPD and FBI. They’ve only just scratched the tip of the iceberg when it comes to my work. ”

“The slaughterhouse … that isn’t where you started?”

“Oh, it is. It was the perfect playground to hone my skills. But it’s not all of them. Not even close.”

Dana’s eyes stung with unshed tears. She knew Monroe was only revealing this to her because it was over.

She was going to die here. But if that was true, she needed to know the truth, so she asked again.

“Fine, I know when I’m beat. You win. So why not tell me the truth before you add me to your list of victims?

The Harvest Girls. That was you, wasn’t it? ”

An impish smile made his lips twitch. “Maybe.”

“Elizabeth Barton. Her necklace was at your house.”

“Was it?”

He was being too coy. A killer as meticulous as Monroe knew exactly what trophies he had.

If he’d killed Elizabeth Barton and the other missing Harvest Girls he wouldn’t be able to resist bragging.

He was in control here, literally marching her to her death, yet still he was fishing for approval, desperate for validation.

She’d be damned if he got it. “Nice try, I know it wasn’t you. ”

“Yeah? How’s that?”

“I know a priestess in the quarter. I took Elizabeth’s mother to her for a séance. And you know what she found? Elizabeth is alive.”

Monroe’s temper flared. Wrenching her hands painfully, he snarled in her ear. “If you believe that garbage, you’re not the worthy adversary I gave you credit for.”

“Are you really too ignorant to believe there’s nothing beyond this world?”

“Ignorance is what pays for that stupid tourist Voodoo garbage. They’re the real criminals. Selling talismans and protection spells to the desperate. Nothing but scam artists.”

It was the second time the mention of Voodoo had pierced Monroe’s cool exterior. It was his trigger. Dana just needed to dig deeper. “That’s why you hunt your victims in the Quarter. If they’re going to be preyed upon, you want to be the predator.”

“ He was the predator!”

Dana bit her tongue, fighting against the painful angle that Monroe was twisting her bound arms. She waited, wanting him to say more, to follow her down the rabbit hole. If she could keep him distracted, she stood a chance. Monroe panted angrily but didn’t offer more.

Finally, Dana spoke, keeping her words soft. “It was Landry, wasn’t it? What did he take from you?”

“Everything!” Monroe yelled, spiraling deeper into his trauma.

Then, as if the universe had aligned with her prayers, the lights went out.

Without hesitation, Dana sprang!

She’d been summoning her strength all along waiting to strike.

Now was her chance. Lowering her shoulder she charged Monroe.

Catching him by surprise, he staggered off balance sending what sounded like a tray of medical instruments clattering.

Dana didn’t wait to find out. She only had moments to escape.