Page 56 of The Perfect Crime

“I guess,” he said.

“You know what occurs to me, Mark?”she continued.

“What?”

“Both of us are in a tight spot these days,” she told him.“If we’re convicted, and let’s be honest—that’s the likeliest outcome for both of us—then we’re going to spend the rest of our lives in cells less spacious than the ones we currently inhabit at Twin Towers.That doesn’t sound fun.”

“I’m trying to make my peace with it,” he said.

She leaned in slightly and lowered her voice.

“What if you didn’t have to?”she purred.

“What?”

“In my prior life, I was apparently pretty good at getting out of tight spots,” she said.“They tell me I did it in the military and later in the CIA.And though I don’t remember it, I’m on trial, at least in part, for killing four guards while escaping from a prison transport vehicle.So I guess those skills are there, even if I don’t have recall of them.”

“What are you suggesting?”he asked.

“I’m not suggesting anything,” she said, sounding slightly hurt at the accusation.“I’m just musing on the fact that I apparently have a skill set that could help the two of us change our unfortunate circumstances.And we both know that you have the craftiness, toughness, and unflinching will to do what needs to be done when the time is right.I just wonder what we could accomplish if we put our two skill sets together.”

The bus came to a stop at the entrance to Twin Towers.As the gate slowly creaked open, he thought about her non-proposal proposal.He had to admit that he was intrigued.This was the first time in forever that he had allowed himself to think of a life outside of prison.

But the methodical, practical part of him knew better.They were two of the most high-profile prisoners in the whole system.The idea that the people securing them would let down their guard long enough for them to get free was almost certainly fool’s gold.Which meant that they’d probably have to kill their way out.

And while he didn’t have any objection to that, per se, he was skeptical about how successful they’d be.Ash Pierce might be a former CIA assassin, but he was a failed college student.He doubted that he’d fare as well as her when things got rough.

You’re right to be worried,his Jessie told him,this one can’t be trusted any more than the profiler can.

Mark nodded in silent agreement with his unseen advisor, the one who had guided him through so many trials and tribulations over the last year and a half.He had to be very careful here.

Another prospect occurred to him.If he was that dubious about the chances of escape, maybe his best bet was to tell Jessie Hunt about Pierce’s gestating plan.He’d surely win brownie points, which could translate into a nicer cell, better meals, and maybe even more visits.She’d be in his debt.And having Jessie Hunt in your debt was always a good place to be.

This situation would require some more thought.

EPILOGUE

Ash Pierce kept a straight, sullen face as the bus pulled into the underground garage.They always removed the male prisoners first, then the women.So she waited patiently as the men were individually unshackled from their bus seats and then led out.

As Haddonfield shuffled down the center of the bus, he glanced back at her.She didn’t make eye contact.Unlike on the drive over, the guards were paying attention now.Any indication of a personal connection between the two most infamous killers in Los Angeles would raise alarm bells.She didn’t need that.

But she'd laid out the bread crumbs for the kid.Now, she'd see what he did with them.The truth, which he didn't know—which no one but her knew—was that her memory had returned weeks ago.Shewasthe old Ash Pierce, with all her original memories and skills intact, not to mention the moral ambivalence that had made her so good at her job: killing.

However, Haddonfield reacted to her idea, it would create chaos.If he agreed to work with her, she could use that to her advantage.If he went to the authorities, maybe even to Jessie Hunt herself, she could deny his allegation and claim that she was being railroaded by the LAPD, which would help her at trial.

Either way, Mark Haddonfield, though a prodigious killer himself, could be a useful idiot.And she intended to use him.

Ash Pierce lowered her head.She didn’t want anyone to see her face.She didn’t want them to see that she was smiling.