9781787461857

In 1993, James Patterson wrote Along Came a Spider, which introduced the world to Alex Cross, a young detective working out of Washington, DC. Idealistic and courageous, Cross’s deep love for his family gives him the strength to overcome the many forms of evil he confronts in his life and work. Since then, every Alex Cross thriller has been an international bestseller. Criss Cross is the twenty-seventh novel in this extraordinary series.

James Patterson is the author of other bestselling series, including the Women’s Murder Club, Detective Michael Bennett and Private novels. His books have sold in excess of 400 million copies worldwide. Passionate about encouraging children to read, he also writes a range of books specifically for young readers. James has donated millions in grants to independent bookshops and has been the most borrowed author in UK libraries for the past thirteen years in a row. He lives in Florida with his family.

Why Why everyone everyone loves loves James James Patterson Patterson andand AlexAlex Cross Cross ‘It’s no ‘It’smystery no mystery whywhy James James Patterson Patterson is theis world’s the world’s mostmost popular popular thriller thriller writer. writer.

Simply Simply put: put: nobody nobody doesdoes it better it better .’ .’

Jeffery Jeffery Deaver Deaver

‘No one ‘No one getsgets this big this without big without amazing amazing natural natural storytelling storytelling talent talent – which – which is what is what Jim has, Jim has, in spades. in spades.

The The AlexAlex CrossCross series series proves proves it.’ it.’

Lee Child Lee Child

‘James ‘James Patterson Patterson is theis gold the gold standard standard by which by which all others all others are judged. are judged. ’ ’

SteveSteve BerryBerry

‘Alex‘Alex CrossCross is one is one of the of the best-written best-written heroes heroes in American in American fiction. fiction. ’ ’

Lisa Scottoline Lisa Scottoline

‘Twenty ‘Twenty yearsyears afterafter the first the first AlexAlex CrossCross story, story, he has he has become become one one of the of greatest the greatest fictional fictional detectives detectives of alloftime, all time, a character a character for the for ages. the ages. ’ ’

Douglas Douglas Preston Preston & Lincoln & Lincoln ChildChild

‘Alex‘Alex CrossCross is a legend is a legend .’ .’

Harlan Harlan Coben Coben

‘Patterson ‘Patterson boilsboils a scene a scene down down to the to single, the single, telling telling detail, detail, the element the element that that defines defines a character a character or moves or moves a plot a plot along. along.

It’s what It’s what firesfires off the off movie the movie projector projector in the in reader’s the reader’s mind. mind. ’ ’

Michael Michael Connelly Connelly

‘James ‘James Patterson Patterson is The is The BossBoss . End. End of.’ of.’

Ian Rankin Ian Rankin

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3/14/17 2/22/17

5:12:16 8:35:20 PM

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WHO IS ALEX CROSS? Physical Physical description: description: ====== ========== ============ ========

Alex and weighs weighs 196 196 lbs lbs (89 (89 kg). kg).

Alex Cross Cross is is 6 foot 3 inches (190cm), and He He is is African African American, with an athletic build.

Family Family history: history: ==== ======== ============ ========

Cross known as as Nana Nana Cross was was raised raised by his grandmother, Regina Cross Hope - known Mama subsequent Mama -- following following the death of his mother and his father's subsequent descent Winston-Salem, North North descent into into alcoholism. He moved to D.C. from Winston-Salem, Carolina, Carolina, to to live with Nana Mama when he was ten.

Relationship Relationship history: history: ======== ============ ============ ========

Cross children Damon Damon and and Cross was was previously previously married to Maria, mother to his children Janelle, shooting. Cross Cross Janelle, however however she was tragically killed in a drive-by shooting. has has another another son, Alex Jr., with Christine Johnson. He is now married to Detective Brianna (Bree) Stone, who was recently appointed Chief of Detectives for the Metro Police Department.

Education: Education: ========= ==== =====

Cross has has aa PhD PhD in psychology from Johns Hopkins University Cross University in in Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland, with with a special concentration in the field of abnormal Maryland, abnormal psychology and and forensic psychology. psychology Employment: Employment: ========== === =======

Cross works works as a psychologist in a private practice, based in Cross in his his home. home. He He also consults consults for the Major Case Squad of the Metro Police Department, also Department, where he he previously previously worked as a psychologist for the Homicide where Homicide and and Major Major Crimes team. team.

Crimes P R O F I L E A loving loving father, father, Cross Cross is is never never happier happier than A than when when spending spending time time with with his family.

He is also a dedicated member of his community and his family. He is also a dedicated member of his community and often often volunteers at at his his local local parish parish and and soup volunteers soup kitchen. kitchen. in the practice or consulting for MPD, in the practice or consulting for MPD, he he enjoys enjoys

When When not not working working playing playing classical classical music on on the the piano, piano, reading, reading, and and teaching teaching his music his children children how how to to box. box.

Central Washington FARAGUT NORTH

ck

Ro

FARAGUT WEST

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George Washington University Hospital

MCPHERSON SQUARE METRO CENTER

The White House

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FBI Headquarters

FEDERAL TRIANGLE

Washington Monument Lincoln Memorial

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Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial West Potomac Park Tidal Basin

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Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial

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L’EN PLAZ

Mandarin Oriental Hotel

Thomas Jefferson Memorial

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The Pentagon

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SMITHSONIAN

East Potomac Park

CIA Headquarters, Langley, Langley Virginia 66

Alexandria 495

Springfield

495

WASHINGTON WASHINGTON

395

Annandale

Joint Base Andrews, Andrews MD

495

Clinton

Verizon Center

95

WASHINGTON UNION

Union Station

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Accokeek Waldorf 95

Metropolitan P.D. Headquarters

MALL

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United States Capitol L’ENFANT PLAZA

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WATERFRONTSEU STATION

Lincoln Park

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NASA Headquarters

CAPITOL SOUTH

Library of Congress

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Smithsonian Institution

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Cross family home

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NAVY YARDBALLPARK

os Anac tia River

1000 yards 1000 metres

A list of titles by James Patterson appears at the back of this book

PENGUIN BOOKS UK | USA | Canada | Ireland | Australia India | New Zealand | South Africa Penguin Books is part of the Penguin Random House group of companies whose addresses can be found at global.penguinrandomhouse.com.

First published in the UK by Century in 2019 This edition first published by Arrow Books in 2020 Published in Penguin Books 2022 001 Copyright © James Patterson 2019 Excerpt from Deadly Cross © James Patterson 2020 The moral right of the author has been asserted The characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

The information in this book is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with any mental health concerns or questions you may have.

Typeset by Jouve (UK), Milton Keynes Printed and bound in Great Britain by Clays Ltd, Elcograf S.p.A. The authorised representative in the EEA is Penguin Random House Ireland, Morrison Chambers, 32 Nassau Street, Dublin D02 YH68 A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library ISBN: 978–1–787–46185–7 www.greenpenguin.co.uk Penguin Random House is committed to a sustainable future for our business, our readers and our planet. This book is made from Forest Stewardship Council® certified paper.

CHAPTER

1 I T WA S A M I S E R A B L E M I D - M A R C H afternoon, chill and sleeting, as John Sampson and I ran to the main gate of the Greensville Correctional Center, a hexagon-shaped high-security prison in the rural, southern part of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

We ducked inside the security shack, showed our badges and identifications, and surrendered our service weapons. A gate rolled back, and we walked through.

As a homicide detective with the DC Metropolitan Police and as a behavioral specialist with the FBI, I have been to many jails, prisons, and penitentiaries over the years, but I am still unnerved by the sound of steel-barred gates slamming shut behind me. We passed through seven such gates, following Warden Adrian Yates and several reporters who’d arrived before us.

One of them, a journalist named Juanita Flake, said, “Is it true, he chose?”

3

JAMES PATTERSON

The The warden warden kept kept walking. walking.

“Can“Can you — you ” —” Warden Warden YatesYates spunspun in his in tracks his tracks and and glared glared at her, at her, looking looking barely barely in control. in control.

“I don’t “I don’t wishwish to talk to any talk further, any further, Ms. Flake.

Ms. Flake.

I’m I’m not in notfavor in favor of this, of this, but itbut is it myis job my to jobsee to itsee done. it done.

You You wantwant it it different? different?

Call Call the governor.” the governor.”

Yates, Yates, who who had been had been criticized criticized by the bymedia, the media, wentwent to the tonext the next gate,gate, which which slid back. slid back.

Three Three gatesgates later,later, we entered we entered a small a small am- amphitheater phitheater withwith perhaps perhaps thirty thirty seats.seats.

Twenty Twenty of theofseats the seats werewere already already taken. taken.

Despite Despite the years the years that that had gone had gone by since by since I’d seen I’d seen them,them, I recognized I recognized manymany of the ofpeothe people gathered ple gathered there.there.

TheyThey recognized recognized us asuswell. as well.

MostMost nodded nodded and smiled and smiled weakly. weakly.

A fivesome A fivesome sitting sitting together together sneered sneered and, and, I’m sure, I’m sure, spokespoke bit- bitterlyterly aboutabout us under us under theirtheir breath. breath.

Those Those threethree menmen and and two two women women werewere by far bythe farbest-dressed the best-dressed people people in the inroom. the room.

The The men—two men—two brothers, brothers, bothboth middle-aged, middle-aged, and their and their father— father— worewore well-tailored, well-tailored, darkdark three-piece three-piece suits.suits.

The The women—one women—one in in her her sixties sixties and and the the otherother in her in her twenties—were twenties—were dressed dressed in in charcoal-gray charcoal-gray Chanel Chanel outfits; outfits; theirtheir hair hair was perfect, was perfect, theirtheir jewelry jewelry flashy. flashy.

Sampson Sampson found found us seats us seats facing facing a long a long rectangular rectangular window. window.

Drapes Drapes had been had been drawn drawn closed closed on the onother the other side.side.

I started I started to question to question my decision my decision to come to come herehere almost almost immeimmediately. diately.

I hadI had goodgood reasons, reasons, of course, of course, but they but they didn’t didn’t stop stop the the doubts doubts fromfrom creeping creeping in. in.

“You“You framed framed him,”him,” a woman a woman said.said.

I looked I looked up toupsee to the see older the older of the of two the fashion two fashion plates plates beside beside me. She me. She was awas petite a petite woman woman withwith dyeddyed ash-blond ash-blond hair hair and the and the kindkind of tight of tight facialfacial skin skin that that suggested suggested she had she had a high-dollar a high-dollar plastic plastic surgeon surgeon on retainer. on retainer.

4

4

CRISS CROSS

“Mrs.“Mrs. Edgerton,” Edgerton,” I saidI said wearily. wearily.

“That “That was your was your son’sson’s defense defense in hisintrial his trial and during and during his appeals.” his appeals.”

“His“His appeal, appeal, not his notappeals,” his appeals,” Margaret Margaret Edgerton Edgerton hissed. hissed.

“You“You get only get only one appeal one appeal in this in primitive, this primitive, eager-to-kill eager-to-kill state.” state.”

“And“And the Supreme the Supreme Court Court of Virginia of Virginia upheld upheld his conviction his conviction and sentence, and sentence, ma’am.” ma’am.”

She trembled She trembled withwith rage.rage.

“I don’t “I don’t knowknow how how you did youit, did but it,you but you did, did, sure sure as I’m as standing I’m standing here.here.

And And I hope I hope to God to God you carry you carry to to youryour gravegrave the knowledge the knowledge that that you put you an putinnocent an innocent boy on boythe on the otherother side side of that of that curtain, curtain, Dr. Cross.”

Dr. Cross.”

“No,“No, ma’am, ma’am, youryour son put son himself put himself there, there, a long a long timetime ago,”ago,” I I said.said.

“He’s“He’s innocent.” innocent.”

Warden Warden YatesYates said,said, “We “We needneed to begin.” to begin.”

“My“My son is son innocent!” is innocent!”

Mrs.Mrs. Edgerton Edgerton shouted. shouted.

“You“You can’tcan’t do do this!”this!”

“The“The law demands law demands this,”this,” YatesYates said.said.

“If you’d “If you’d rather rather not be not be here,here, I understand.”

I understand.”

He left Hethe leftroom. the room.

She She glared glared at me. at me.

“Remember “Remember this this moment. moment.

It’s when It’s when you you doomed doomed youryour soul.soul.

You You will burn will burn in hell.” in hell.”

ThenThen she stormed she stormed awayaway to her to her husband’s husband’s side,side, where where she she brokebroke downdown sobbing. sobbing.

A few A states few states in the incountry the country allowallow the doomed the doomed man man to choose to choose his method his method of execution; of execution; in Virginia, in Virginia, the choice the choice is lethal is lethal injecinjection tion or electrocution. or electrocution.

The The drapes drapes rolled rolled backback and revealed and revealed not anot a gurney gurney but abut heavy a heavy oak chair oak chair withwith arm,arm, leg, and leg, chest and chest straps. straps.

TwoTwo corrections corrections officers officers entered entered the death the death chamber. chamber.

Warden Warden YatesYates followed followed themthem and and watched watched his officers his officers openopen the only the only otherother doordoor in the inexecution the execution facility. facility.

A shaved-headed A shaved-headed man man in hisinearly his early forties forties stepped stepped out. He out.was He was 5

5

JAMES PATTERSON

tall and tall lanky and lanky and appeared and appeared slightly slightly drugged. drugged.

He looked He looked not at not at the electric the electric chairchair but through but through the window the window at us.at us.

Michael Michael “Mikey” “Mikey” Edgerton Edgerton drewdrew himself himself up touphistofull his height full height and and thenthen walked walked to the to chair the chair of hisofown his own volition, volition, as if as heifwelhe welcomed comed whatwhat was about was about to happen. to happen.

“Mom, “Mom, Dad,Dad, Delilah, Delilah, Pete,Pete, and and Joe, Joe, you you knowknow why why I chose I chose old Sparky?” old Sparky?”

Edgerton Edgerton said said over over the intercom. the intercom.

He took He took a seat, a seat, laughed, laughed, thenthen looked looked straight straight at me. at me.

“I’m “I’m not going not going out like out like somesome kid going kid going night-night. night-night.

I want I want CrossCross and and Sampson Sampson and and everyone everyone else who else who helped helped frame frame me tome seetome seecrackle, me crackle, to seetothe see the smoke smoke coming coming out my out head my head and and the skin the skin on my on arms my arms and and legs legs splitting splitting fromfrom the lightning the lightning they’re they’re gonna gonna sendsend through through me — me — me, an me,innocent an innocent man.” man.”

His mother, His mother, olderolder brother, brother, and and sistersister began began to sob. to sob.

OnlyOnly his his father father and his andyounger his younger brother brother remained remained stoic.stoic.

“You“You did it!” did ait!” middle-aged a middle-aged woman woman in jeans in jeans and and a Georgia a Georgia TechTech sweatshirt sweatshirt shouted shouted at him at him fromfrom a seata near seat near us. She us. jumped She jumped to her to feet. her feet.

“You“You did it, didand it, you and deserve you deserve this! this!

I hope I hope whenwhen theythey throw throw the switch, the switch, you disintegrate, you disintegrate, you sick you sick bastard!” bastard!”

6

6

C H ACPHT AE PR T E R

22 M I K E YMED I K GE YERED T OGNERGTOOTNHGI SO TM HA ICSA BMRAEC Alast B R E wish. last wish.

I hadI never had never seenseen a man a man die in diethe inelectric the electric chair,chair, and the andsight the sight of two of thousand two thousand voltsvolts ripping ripping through through him him shook shook bothboth Sampson Sampson and and me so mebadly, so badly, we were we were barely barely able able to stand to stand afterafter Edgerton Edgerton was pronounced was pronounced dead,dead, and the andcurtain the curtain closed closed on his onlife. his life.

We left We left the witness the witness chamber, chamber, trying trying to ignore to ignore Edgerton’s Edgerton’s mother, mother, who who alternated alternated between between emotional emotional collapse collapse and and spit-spitting ting rage.rage.

“I will “I will see you see you bothboth destroyed destroyed for this!” for this!” she screamed she screamed at one at one point. point.

“With “With everyevery last cent last cent I’ve got, I’ve Igot, willI will see you see you bothboth sitting sitting in that in that chairchair for what for what you did youto didmy toson!” my son!”

We had We had to listen to listen to that to that and and the angry the angry responses responses fromfrom the the relatives relatives of Edgerton’s of Edgerton’s victims victims untiluntil the final the final steelsteel gate gate slammed slammed shut shut behind behind us and us we andwalked we walked out of outthe ofpenitentiary the penitentiary into into driz-drizzlingzling rain rain and fog. and fog.

7

7

JAMES PATTERSON

The The Edgerton Edgerton family family camecame out moments out moments laterlater and walked and walked to to a waiting a waiting limousine. limousine.

We went We went in the in opposite the opposite direction, direction, toward toward the squad the squad car we’d car we’d driven driven down. down.

“Dr. “Dr. Cross?

Cross?

Detective Detective Sampson?”

Sampson?”

I turned, I turned, expecting expecting a journalist a journalist to shove to shove a microphone a microphone in my in my face.face.

Instead, Instead, Crystal Crystal Raider, Raider, the woman the woman in the in Georgia the Georgia TechTech sweatshirt, sweatshirt, was standing was standing therethere looking looking at usatwith us with an expression an expression that that was awas rough a rough sea ofsea emotions of emotions and thoughts. and thoughts.

“He “He did that did that to torture to torture us,” she us,” said. she said.

“To “To stickstick the knife the knife in usin us afterafter all that all that he did heto didmy tosister my sister and the andothers.” the others.”

“He “He did,”did,” I said.

I said.

“And“And he succeeded.” he succeeded.”

Crystal Crystal raised raised her head her head defiantly. defiantly.

“Maybe.

“Maybe.

But IBut think I think somesomewhere where my Kissy my Kissy is thinking is thinking it was it awas good a good thing,thing, how how he went. he went.

I I bet the betother the other girlsgirls thinkthink so too.” so too.”

“Go “Go homehome now,”now,” I saidI said softly. softly.

“Find“Find KissyKissy in her in son her and son let and let this all thisbealla be bada memory bad memory that that you rarely you rarely visit.”visit.”

She She criedcried at that at that and and gavegave us both us both a hug. a hug.

“Thank “Thank you you for for standing standing up for upher, for her, Dr. Cross, Dr. Cross, Detective Detective Sampson.

Sampson.

Neither Neither of of you ever you ever judged judged her, and her, I’m and grateful I’m grateful for that.” for that.”

“Pole“Pole dancers dancers are people are people too,”too,” Sampson Sampson said.said.

“Good “Good people. people.

LikeLike youryour sister.” sister.”

She She criedcried through through a weak a weak smile, smile, thenthen she gave she gave us a us weaker a weaker wavewave and and walked walked toward toward a waiting a waiting pickup pickup trucktruck withwith Florida Florida plates. plates.

The The three-hour three-hour drivedrive northnorth was quiet was quiet and uneasy, and uneasy, bothboth of usof us lost in lostour in thoughts. our thoughts.

It wasn’t It wasn’t untiluntil we were we were almost almost to Washington, to Washington, DC, DC, that that the the rain rain stopped. stopped.

Sampson Sampson cleared cleared his throat. his throat.

“I wasn’t “I wasn’t expecting expecting that,that, Alex,” Alex,” he said he said in a hoarse in a hoarse voice. voice.

“None “None of usofwere us were expecting expecting it. Except it. Except Edgerton,” Edgerton,” I said, I said, sup-suppressing pressing a shudder. a shudder.

8

8

CRISS CROSS

My My “Mrs. “Mrs. lifelong Edgerton,” lifelong Edgerton,” friend friend I said glanced I said wearily. glanced wearily. at me.

“That at me.

“Alex, “That was “Alex, your was rightyour right son’s nowson’s now defense I don’t defense I don’t in hisknow know intrial whether his trial whether and during Iand should during I should hisbeappeals.” his satisfied beappeals.” satisfied at justice at justice served served or praying or praying for“His my for“His sins.” appeal, my sins.” appeal, not his notappeals,” his appeals,” Margaret Margaret Edgerton Edgerton hissed. hissed.

“You“You getMy only getstomach My only one stomach appeal one soured, appeal soured, in this but in primitive, this Ibut shook primitive, I shook it eager-to-kill off,itsaid, eager-to-kill off, said, “Mikey state.”

“Mikey Edgerton state.”

Edgerton did“And the did“And the dirty the Supreme the dirty work Supreme work onCourt the onCourt eight the of Virginia eight and of Virginia and maybe upheld maybe upheld more. his more.

There’s conviction his There’s conviction no no doubt and sentence, doubt and about sentence, about itma’am.” in itmy ma’am.” inmind.” my mind.”

There She trembled There Shewas trembled was a with long a with long rage. pause rage.

“I pause don’t as“ISampson don’t asknow Sampson know how took how you took the did youexit the it, did but exit off it,you but 95 offyou 95 onto did, onto did, sure the sure Beltway, as theI’m Beltway, as standing I’m heading standing heading here. toward here.

And toward my And I hope home my I hope to home on God toFifth on God you Fifth Street carry youStreet carry to in to in Southeast yourSoutheast your gravegrave DC. the DC. knowledge the knowledge that that you put you an putinnocent an innocent boy on boythe on the other “No other side “No doubt side ofdoubt that in of mine that curtain, in mine curtain, either,” Dr. either,” Cross.”

Dr. Sampson Cross.”

Sampson said said at last. at last.

“But“But still, still, you “No, know?” you “No, ma’am, know?” ma’am, youryour son put son himself put himself there, there, a long a long timetime ago,”ago,” I I said.

I swallowed said.

I swallowed hard.hard.

Before Before I could I could respond, respond, my phone my phone buzzed buzzed in “He’s my in “He’s pocket. my innocent.” pocket. innocent.”

I pulled I pulled it out, it out, saw saw a familiar a familiar number, number, and and an- answered.

Warden swered.

Warden “This Yates “This isYates Cross,” said, is Cross,” said, “We I said.

“We need I said.

“How need to begin.”

“How to arebegin.” you, are you, ChiefChief ?” ?”

“I “My should “I “My son should is son beinnocent!” asking isbeinnocent!” asking youMrs. you that,” Mrs. Edgerton that,” said Edgerton said Metro shouted.

Metro Police shouted.

Police “You chief “You can’t chief of can’t dedo of dedo tectives this!”tectives this!”

BreeBree Stone, Stone, my wife. my wife.

“But“But I don’t I don’t havehave time,time, and neither and neither do“The you.” do“The you.” law demands law demands this,”this,” YatesYates said.said.

“If you’d “If you’d rather rather not be not be here, I sat here, I Iunderstand.” up satIstraighter, understand.” up straighter, said,said, “What’s “What’s goinggoing on?” on?”

She He left She He gave the left gave me room. thean me room. address an address in Friendship in Friendship Heights Heights and and said said to to goShe there goShe glared there immediately. glared immediately. at me. at me.

“Remember Then “Remember Then she told she thistold me this moment. why, memoment. why, andIt’s the and when It’s sourness thewhen sourness you you that doomed that doomed lingered your lingered your in soul. my in soul.

You stomach myYou will stomach burn will became burn in became hell.” the in hell.” worst the worst kindkind of nausea, of nausea, that Then that terrible Then she terrible taste stormed she taste stormed you get you away atget away the toather back the to her husband’s back of your husband’s of your throat side, throat side, just where before just where she before she you brokesay you broke down goodbye say down sobbing. goodbye sobbing. to everything to everything you’ve you’ve eateneaten all day. all day.

“We’re A few “We’re A states few on our states on inway,” our the inway,” country the I said, country I said, then allow then hung allow thehung up. doomed the up. doomed man man to choose to choose his“What’s method his“What’s method the of matter?” execution; the of matter?” execution; Sampson in Sampson Virginia, in Virginia, said.said. the choice the choice is lethal is lethal injecinjection “John,” tion or “John,” electrocution. orI said electrocution.

I said in a hoarse inThe a hoarse The drapes whisper. drapes whisper. rolled “What rolled back “What inback and God’s inrevealed and God’s name revealed name not haveanot havea we gurney done?” we gurney but done?” abut heavy a heavy oak chair oak chair withwith arm,arm, leg, and leg, chest and chest straps. straps.

TwoTwo corrections corrections officers officers entered entered the death the death chamber. chamber.

Warden Warden YatesYates followed followed themthem and and watched watched his officers his officers openopen the only the only otherother doordoor in the inexecution the execution facility. facility.

A shaved-headed A shaved-headed man man in hisinearly his early forties forties stepped stepped out. He out.was He was 95

95

C H ACPHT AE PR T E R

33 WE DW R OE V ED RTOOV EF RTIOEN FDRSIHEINPD SHHEIIPG HHT ES I, G Hin T S ,the in far the northwest far northwest corner corner of of DC, DC, parked parked on Forty-First on Forty-First Street, Street, and and ran up ranthe up sidewalk the sidewalk to to Harrison Harrison Avenue, Avenue, where where a patrol a patrol car with car with lightslights flashing flashing was in was in frontfront of a barrier. of a barrier.

“Which “Which one is one it?”isSampson it?” Sampson askedasked the patrol the patrol officer. officer.

“Third “Third on the on right, the right, sir. There’s sir. There’s a few a few plainclothes plainclothes therethere already.” already.”

“And“And I imagine I imagine therethere will be willmore,” be more,” I said, I said, moving moving around around the the barrier barrier toward toward a gray a gray Craftsman Craftsman house house withwith a tidy a tidy frontfront yardyard and aand medical a medical examiner’s examiner’s van parked van parked out front. out front.

On the Onscene, the scene, therethere werewere threethree uniformed uniformed officers officers and two and in two in plainclothes plainclothes whom whom I recognized I recognized as junior as junior homicide homicide detectives detectives Owen Owen Shank Shank and Deana and Deana Laurel.

Laurel.

TheyThey werewere talking talking to two to very two very upsetupset women women in their in their late thirlate thirties. ties.

Laurel Laurel spotted spotted us, excused us, excused herself, herself, and came and came over.over.

10

10

CRISS CROSS

She She “Mrs. “Mrs. told Edgerton,” told usEdgerton,” that us that Ithe saidtwo Ithe said wearily. two women—Patsy wearily. women—Patsy “That “That was your was Phelps your Phelps son’s and son’s defense and Anita defense Anita in hisKline—were Kline—were intrial his trial andneighbors during andneighbors during his of appeals.” the his ofNixons, appeals.” the Nixons, who who owned owned the Craftsman. the Craftsman.

Gary “His Gary Nixon, “His appeal, Nixon, appeal, the notfather, the his notfather, appeals,” hiswas appeals,” awas Margaret successful a Margaret successful Edgerton attorney Edgerton attorney on hissed.

Kon hissed.

Street.

“You K Street.

“You Mr. get only Nixon Mr. get only Nixon onehad appeal onetaken had appeal taken inhis this in two his primitive, thisyoung two primitive, young children eager-to-kill children eager-to-kill on a on state.” four-day a state.” four-day trip trip to “And see tohis “And see the ailing hisSupreme the ailing mother Supreme mother Court in San Court inofDiego.

San Virginia ofDiego.

Virginia Katrina, upheld Katrina, upheld hishis wife hisconviction his wife of fifteen conviction of fifteen years, and sentence, years, and had sentence, had a successful ma’am.” a successful ma’am.” speech-pathology speech-pathology practice practice and and couldn’t couldn’t make She make the trembled Shetrip. the trembled trip. withwith rage.rage.

“I don’t “I don’t knowknow how how you did youit, did but it,you but you did, “They did, sure “They sure as said I’m as said the standing I’m Nixons the standing Nixons here. made here.

And made it And aI hope point it aI hope point to to God talk to to God you talk twicecarry you twice a day, carry to a day, to no yourmatter no your grave matter grave where the where knowledge thethey knowledge they were,” that were,” Detective that youDetective put you an put Laurel innocent an Laurel innocent said.boy said.

“Soon boy when “So the on when the Mrs. otherMrs. other Nixon side Nixon side of that didn’t of that curtain, didn’t answer curtain, answer Dr.her Cross.”

Dr.her phone Cross.” phone this this morning morning or this or this evening, “No, evening, “No, ma’am, Mr.ma’am, Mr. Nixon your Nixon your called son put called sonMrs. himself putMrs. Phelps himself there, Phelps and there, a and Mrs. long a Mrs. long time Klinetime Kline ago,” to go ago,” to I goI over said.over said. and check and check on their on their —” —” Detective “He’sDetective “He’s innocent.”

Shank innocent.”

Shank camecame over over and cut and her cut off. her“Ioff.don’t “I don’t meanmean to to be Warden disrespectful, be Warden disrespectful, YatesYates Dr. said,Cross, Dr. said, “We Cross, “We need Detective need Detective to begin.” to Sampson. begin.”

Sampson.

But are Butyou are sure you sure it’s“My okay it’s“My son okay for is son the for innocent!” two isthe innocent!” of twoyou of Mrs. to you Mrs. be Edgerton tohere? be Edgerton here?

I mean, shouted.

I mean, shouted. isn’t “You isn’t this “You can’t kind thiscan’t kind do of do of athis!” conflict athis!” conflict of interest?” of interest?”

“We’re “The“We’re “The law here demands law here ondemands orders,” on orders,” this,” Sampson this,” Yates Sampson Yates said. said.said.

“If said.

“Take you’d “If “Take us you’d rather inside.” usrather inside.” not be not be here, Shank, here, I Shank, understand.”

Ia understand.” tough, a tough, wirywiry guy guy who’d who’d onceonce served served in a inMarine a Marine Force HeForce left He Recon the left Recon room. unit, the room. unit, didn’t didn’t like like it, but it, but he understood he understood orders. orders.

“Straightaway, She “Straightaway, She glared glared at sir.”me. at sir.”me.

“Remember “Remember this this moment. moment.

It’s when It’s when you you doomed Detective doomed Detective youryour Laurel soul.Laurel soul.

You returned You will returned burn willtoburn inthe to hell.” inneighbors. the hell.” neighbors.

We We followed followed Shank Then Shank Then into sheinto the stormed shehouse, the stormed house, away which away which to had her to had been her husband’s been husband’s decorated decorated side,side, by where Pottery by where she Pottery she Barn brokeBarn broke and down Toys and down sobbing.

Toys Rsobbing.

Us.R Us. Shank A few Shank A states told few states us told inthere the usinthere country were the country were no signs allow no signs allow ofthe forced of doomed the forced doomed entry,man entry, andman toalthough and choose toalthough choose the his method house the his method house was of in was execution; of the in execution; disarray the disarray in Virginia, you’d in Virginia, you’d expect the expect choice with the choice with a young, is lethal a young, is lethal affluent injecaffluent injecfamily, tion family, tion or electrocution. weorsaw electrocution. we no sawindications noThe indications The drapes ofdrapes arolled struggle of arolled struggle back asback and weasmoved revealed and we moved revealed down notdown anot a short gurney short gurney hallway buthallway abut heavy to the a heavy totype oak the type chair oak of kitchen chair ofwith kitchen with you arm,see you arm, leg,insee and leg, gourmet inchest and gourmet chest ads. straps. ads. straps.

There TwoThere Two corrections were corrections were kids’kids’ officers drawings officers drawings entered taped entered taped the to the death the to stainless-steel the death chamber. stainless-steel chamber.

Warden fridge Warden fridge along Yatesalong Yates followed withfollowed with a calendar them a calendar them and page and watched page where watched where his theofficers his Nixons theofficers Nixons open keptopen kept the track only the track ofonly of babysitters otherbabysitters other doordoor in and the in and doctors’ execution thedoctors’ execution appointments. facility. appointments. facility. It wasn’t It wasn’t untiluntil we got we got past A past the shaved-headed Astove the shaved-headed stove that that weman saw weman inevidence saw hisinevidence early his early offorties a fight. offorties astepped fight. stepped out. He out.was He was 115

115

JAMES PATTERSON

A kitchen A kitchen chairchair had fallen had fallen over.over.

A glass A glass vase vase lay shattered lay shattered on on the floor the floor by a by breakfast a breakfast nook.nook.

Beyond Beyond it wasit awas family a family room. room.

The The television television was was on, blaring on, blaring the news the news aboutabout the police the police presence presence currently currently building building on Harrison on Harrison Avenue Avenue in Friendship in Friendship Heights.

Heights.

The The bodybody of Katrina of Katrina Nixon, Nixon, who’d who’d beenbeen a pretty a pretty brunette brunette in her in her late late thirties, thirties, was was on the on far the side far side of the of room, the room, naked naked and and slumped slumped in aninoverstuffed an overstuffed chair.chair.

Her Her skin skin was was bluish bluish and and coated coated in a thin in a thin whitewhite film.film.

Her Her mouth mouth was stretched was stretched wide,wide, as if as if she’dshe’d triedtried to scream, to scream, and locked and locked in rigor. in rigor.

Her Her eyes eyes werewere openopen and dull. and dull.

The The air reeked air reeked of bleach. of bleach.

The The instrument instrument of her of death, her death, a reda red and and purple purple Hermès Hermès silk silk scarf,scarf, was was wrapped wrapped impossibly impossibly tighttight around around her neck. her neck.

A piece A piece of plain of plain whitewhite paperpaper lay on layher on lap. her lap.

As I As walked I walked over over to look to look at it,atI felt it, I as feltif as something if something foundafoundational tional was cracking was cracking inside inside me. Ime. read I read the note the note and felt and afelt chunk a chunk of myself of myself breakbreak free free and fall. and fall.

You messed You messed up big-time, up big-time, but don’t but don’t sweatsweat it, Dr.it,Cross, Dr. Cross, it read. it read.

Ultimately, Ultimately, for hisforpast his sins, past Mikey sins, Mikey Edgerton Edgerton got what got what he deserved he deserved whenwhen he rode he old rode old Sparky Sparky right right into the intogreat the great hereafter.—M hereafter.—M

12

12

C H ACPHT AE PR T E R

44 M.

M.

I wasI still was rattled still rattled whenwhen I pulled I pulled up inupfront in front of my of house my house two two hourshours later.later.

The The rain rain had stopped, had stopped, and aand breeze a breeze that that was unnatwas unnaturally urally warmwarm for mid-March for mid-March was blowing. was blowing.

I sawI saw BreeBree sitting sitting on the on porch the porch swing swing withwith a light a light blanket blanket around around her. She her. patted She patted the seat the seat beside beside her, said, her, said, “True?”

“True?”

I nodded I nodded and took and took a seat. a seat.

“He “He signed signed it.” it.”

She She was quiet. was quiet.

Then: Then: “You“You knowknow the Edgertons the Edgertons are going are going to to use this use this as evidence as evidence to prove to prove that that theirtheir son son was was framed framed and and someone someone else was else responsible.” was responsible.”

I sat Iback, sat back, exasperated. exasperated.

“Unless “Unless we tell wethe tellpress the press aboutabout M, and M, and the whole the whole messmess comes comes out.”out.”

“Nothing “Nothing staysstays a secret a secret forever, forever, Alex,” Alex,” she said, she said, stroking stroking my my head.head.

“That’s “That’s whatwhat I’m afraid I’m afraid of,” Iof,” said.

I said.

“Then “Then I become I become the story.” the story.”

13

13

JAMES PATTERSON

“You“You are his arefocus.” his focus.”

“I get“Ithat,” get that,” I said.

I said.

“But“But it’s just it’s. just . .” . . .”

“What?”

“What?”

“Confusing.”

“Confusing.”

“Mikey “Mikey Edgerton Edgerton was guilty.” was guilty.”

“I know “I know that,”that,” I said, I said, spotting spotting something something in our in neighbors’ our neighbors’ darkdark frontfront yard.yard.

“M’s“M’s just playing just playing his games. his games.

What’s What’s goinggoing on on over over there?” there?”

“Scaffolds.

“Scaffolds.

Morse Morse said they said they werewere doingdoing it right, it right, inside inside and out.” and out.”

“More “More banging,” banging,” I said, I said, irritated. irritated.

“They “They moved moved awayaway for the for the year year just so justthey so they wouldn’t wouldn’t havehave to hear to hear it.” it.”

“They’re “They’re bothboth on sabbatical.” on sabbatical.”

“Lucky “Lucky for them,” for them,” I said, I said, getting getting up. “I’m up. “I’m hungry.” hungry.”

“Nana’s “Nana’s getting getting dinner dinner readyready for you. for you.

I’m going I’m going to sleep. to sleep.

I I havehave a feeling a feeling tomorrow tomorrow couldcould be difficult.” be difficult.”

I kissed I kissed her, told her, told her Iher loved I loved her, and her, went and went inside. inside.

The The television television in the inliving the living roomroom was streaming was streaming Terriers, Terriers, cur- currently rently the favorite the favorite showshow of my of seventeen-year-old my seventeen-year-old daughter, daughter, Jannie.

Jannie.

The The air inairthe infront the front hall was hall perfumed was perfumed withwith the scent the scent of of garlic, garlic, onions, onions, and basil and basil wafting wafting fromfrom the kitchen. the kitchen.

The The smells smells and and sounds sounds calmed calmed me. me.

I went I went into into the front the front room, room, where where Jannie Jannie was was on the on couch the couch in her in running her running sweats, sweats, dozing. dozing.

A biology A biology textbook textbook lay open lay open in her in lap, her but lap, she but held she held the the remote remote for the forTV. the TV. “Hi, “Hi, sweetheart,” sweetheart,” I said, I said, giving giving her aher little a little shake. shake.

Jannie Jannie startled startled awake awake and and punched punched the pause the pause button. button.

“Hi, “Hi, Dad,” Dad,” she said she said sleepily. sleepily.

“You“You sleeping, sleeping, studying, studying, or watching?” or watching?”

“All three,” “All three,” she said, she said, smiling smiling through through a yawn. a yawn.

“You“You can’tcan’t do alldothree.” all three.”

“Most “Most menmen can’t,can’t, but most but most women women can.”can.”

14

14

CRISS CROSS

“Run“Run “Mrs. “Mrs. that Edgerton,” that one Edgerton,” by oneme.”

I by saidme.”

I said wearily. wearily.

“That “That was your was your son’sson’s defense defense in “So, hisintrial “So, his like,trial and like, in during and class in during class last his week? last appeals.” his week? appeals.”

We learned We learned that that the latest the latest re- research “His search “His says appeal, says appeal, male notmale minds his notappeals,” minds hisare appeals,” hardwired are Margaret hardwired Margaret for Edgerton single for Edgerton single hissed. tasks. hissed. tasks.

They “YouThey “You learn get only learn get best only one best and appeal one and doappeal best do in this best when in primitive, this when everything primitive, everything eager-to-kill comes eager-to-kill comes at state.” them at state.” them one one at at a time, “And a time, “And you the Supreme you the know, Supreme know, likeCourt like oneCourt one project of Virginia project of Virginia and and upheld thenupheld then thehisnext. the conviction hisnext.

And conviction And it it probably and sentence, probably and sentence, helpshelps ma’am.” if they ma’am.” if they can move can move around. around.

While While they’re they’re studying, studying, I mean.”

She I mean.” trembled She trembled withwith rage.rage.

“I don’t “I don’t knowknow how how you did youit, did but it,you but you did, “Okay. did, sure “Okay. sure as And I’m as And the standing I’m female the standing female here. mind?” here. mind?”

And And I hope I hope to God to God you carry you carry to to your “Women your grave “Women grave the are knowledge amazing!” the are knowledge amazing!” that that you put you an putinnocent an innocent boy on boythe on the other I grinned. other side I grinned. side of “I’ll that ofagree “I’ll that curtain, agree curtain, with Dr. with that Cross.”

Dr.that wholeheartedly.

Cross.” wholeheartedly.

But why?”

But why?”

She “No,She “No, used ma’am, used ma’am, her your index her your index son finger put son finger to himself putdraw to himself draw there, imaginary there, imaginary a long acircles long time circles time around ago,”around ago,” I I her said.head. her said.head.

“The“The female female mindmind can focus can focus on many on many things things at once. at once.

My“He’s teacher My“He’s innocent.” teacher said innocent.” said it’s like it’s juggling. like juggling.

Where Where menmen tunetune out everyout everything Warden thing but Warden the but Yates one the Yates said, thing onesaid, “We thing they’re “We need they’re need working to begin.” working to begin.” on, women on, women can hear can hear it it all,“My smell all,“My son smell it all, is son itinnocent!” and all, is innocent!” see anditsee Mrs. all.itAnd Mrs. all.

Edgerton And get Edgerton itget allshouted. itdone!” allshouted. done!”

“You“You can’tcan’t do do this!”

“Except this!”

“Except whenwhen they’re they’re sleeping.” sleeping.”

She “Thelaughed.

She “The lawlaughed. demands law“Okay, demands “Okay, this,” except this,” except Yates when Yates when said. they’re said.

“If they’re you’d sleeping.”

“If you’d sleeping.” rather rather not be not be here, “I’ll here, I admit, “I’ll understand.”

I admit, understand.” you know you know youryour stuff.stuff.

If you If see youyour see your brother brother trying trying to He multitask, toleft He multitask, the leftplease room. theplease room. tell him tell him aboutabout the male the male brainbrain and stop and stop him.him.

Okay?”

She Okay?”

She glared glared at me. at me.

“Remember “Remember this this moment. moment.

It’s when It’s when you you doomed “You doomed “You think yourthink your he’ll soul.he’ll soul. listen?”

Youlisten?”

You will burn will burn in hell.” in hell.”

“Probably Then“Probably Then she not,” stormed she not,” stormed I said. away I said.

I leaned away to I leaned her to overher husband’s over to hug husband’s to her. hug side, “I her. side, missed where “I missed where you, she you, she baby.” brokebaby.” broke downdown sobbing. sobbing.

“Missed A few “Missed A states fewyou states inyou too, the intoo, Dad,” country theDad,” country sheallow said, sheallow the said, anddoomed the and shedoomed yawned. sheman yawned. man to“Ichoose don’t to“Ichoose don’t know his method know hiswhy method why I of feel execution; I of so feel execution; tired.” so tired.” in Virginia, in Virginia, the choice the choice is lethal is lethal injecinjection “Get tion or “Get electrocution. toorsleep electrocution. to sleep earlyearly The tonight.”

The drapes tonight.” drapes rolled rolled backback and revealed and revealed not anot a gurney She gurney nodded She but nodded abut heavy but a heavy seemed but oakseemed chair oakconcerned chair with concerned with arm,about arm, leg,about and leg, something. chest and something. chest straps. straps.

As Two I As Two was corrections I leaving was corrections leaving the officers room, the officers entered room, sheentered called she thecalled death after the death after me, chamber.

“My me, chamber.

“My first Warden first outWarden outdoor Yatesdoor Yates meet’s followed meet’s followed Tuesday them Tuesday them afternoon.” andafternoon.” and watched watched his officers his officers openopen the only the only other “Already other door “Already door ininthe the ininexecution the the calendar execution calendar facility. of facility. absolutely of absolutely must-dos,” must-dos,” I said, I said, heading A heading shaved-headed Ainto shaved-headed into the kitchen. theman kitchen. man in hisinearly his early forties forties stepped stepped out. He out.was He was 155

155

JAMES PATTERSON

My ninety-something My ninety-something grandmother, grandmother, an avid an avid foodie, foodie, was stirwas stirring ring something something in a deep in a deep pan on panthe onkitchen the kitchen stove.stove.

“I don’t “I don’t knowknow whatwhat it is, itbut is,itbut smells it smells awfulawful goodgood in here.” in here.”

“New “New chicken chicken recipe,” recipe,” she said, she said, tapping tapping the spoon the spoon on the onside the side of the ofpan. the pan.

“Dad!” “Dad!” Ali called Ali called fromfrom the room the room beyond beyond the kitchen. the kitchen.

“Check “Check this out.” this out.”

NanaNana said,said, “He’s“He’s beenbeen dyingdying to show to show you you somesome mountainmountainbike bike video, video, and you and won’t you won’t eat until eat until he does.” he does.”

I held I held up both up both hands hands in understanding. in understanding.

My youngest My youngest child,child, Ali, was Ali, ten, was ten, smartsmart as a as whip, a whip, and and always always into into something something new.new.

And And whenwhen he got heinto got into something something new,new, he was he like was alike terrier a terrier — he— he wouldn’t wouldn’t let go. let go.

Ali’s Ali’s latestlatest interest interest was mountain was mountain biking. biking.

It had It had actually actually be- begun last gun year last year whenwhen a friend a friend had lent had lent him him one, one, and he’d and he’d askedasked for for a bike a bike for Christmas. for Christmas.

We made We made sure sure he got he one got one because, because, unlike unlike his older his older sister,sister, Ali had Ali had nevernever beenbeen known known to exert to exert himself himself physically physically if heif he didn’t didn’t havehave to. But to. something But something aboutabout the bike the bike had had captured captured his his imagination, imagination, and and he rode he rode it allitthe all time the time now,now, eveneven in the in cold the cold and snow. and snow.

Ali was Ali on wasthe onfloor, the floor, stretched stretched out in out front in front of hisoflaptop, his laptop, whenwhen I walked I walked in. in.

“You’re “You’re late,”late,” he said, he said, sounding sounding put out. put out.

I held I held up my uphands. my hands.

“Beyond “Beyond my control. my control.

You You ride ride today?” today?”

He nodded.

He nodded.

“The“The usualusual way way by the byTidal the Tidal Basin.”

Basin.”

BreeBree and Iand often I often ran that ran that route. route.

It was It safe was safe and well and well traveled. traveled.

I’d okayed I’d okayed him him to use to ituse if he it ifwanted he wanted to gotoout go for outafor ride a ride on his on his own own as long as long as heasgot hepermission got permission first first and it and wasn’t it wasn’t too early too early or or too late. too late.

“You“You wanted wanted to show to show me something?” me something?”

He hit Heahit keya on keyhis onlaptop. his laptop.

The The screen screen camecame to life, to life, showing showing 16

16

CRISS CROSS

the“Mrs. helmet-camera the“Mrs. helmet-camera Edgerton,” Edgerton,” feed I said feed Iofsaid wearily. a mountain ofwearily. a mountain “That “That biker wasbiker your poised was your poised son’s high son’s defense high above defense above in a sprawling hisaintrial sprawling his trial and city.during and city.during his appeals.” his appeals.”

“His “Where “Where “His appeal, isappeal, this?” not is this?” his Inot asked. appeals,” his I asked. appeals,” Margaret Margaret Edgerton Edgerton hissed. hissed.

“You“You get“Lima, only get“Lima, only one Peru,” appeal one Peru,” he appeal said. inhethis said. in “You primitive, this “You won’t primitive, won’t believe eager-to-kill believe eager-to-kill it.” it.”state.” state.”

The “AndThe “And guy the riding guy Supreme the riding Supreme the bike Court the bike took Court oftook off Virginia ofand off Virginia immediately and upheld immediately upheld his went conviction his went conviction downdown an andimpossibly sentence, an andimpossibly sentence, ma’am.” steep, ma’am.” steep, covered covered staircase. staircase.

ThenThen he shot he shot out into out into sunlight She sunlight trembled She and trembled and he with was he with on was rage. aon rage. wall “I don’t a wall “I about don’t know about two know how two feet how you feet wide did you wide with it, did but with it, a you but biga you big drop did, drop did, sure on either sure as onI’m either asside. standing I’mside. standing here.here.

And And I hope I hope to God to God you carry you carry to to your Crowds your grave Crowds grave of thepeople knowledge of thepeople knowledge watched watched thatthe that yourider the put yourider an put skim innocent an skim along innocent along the boy wall the on boythe wall to on the to the other end the other side and end side oflaunch and that oflaunch that curtain, into curtain, into the Dr.air. the Cross.”

Dr. He air.

Cross.” dropped He dropped a good a good twenty twenty feet feet and“No, and landed “No, ma’am, landed on ma’am, ayour on dirtayour son dirt pathput son path onhimself put aon hill himself a so hill there, steep, sothere, steep, a Ilong thought a Ilong time thought time he ago,” was he ago,” I wasI going said.going said. to gotoover go over the handlebars the handlebars and tumble and tumble to histodeath. his death.

But he But he punched “He’s punched “He’s innocent.” the innocent.” landing, the landing, cut left, cut left, crossed crossed a narrow a narrow wooden wooden bridge, bridge, hitWarden another hitWarden another Yates bump, Yates bump, said, soared said, “We soared again, “We need again, need and to begin.” landed and to begin.” landed on another on another staircase. staircase.

The “My The insanity “My son insanity is son went innocent!” is went innocent!” on for onMrs. afor good Mrs. Edgerton a good four Edgerton four minutes shouted. minutes shouted. before “You before “You the can’t rider the can’t dorider do pulled this!”pulled this!” over over and started and started laughing. laughing.

The The videovideo stopped. stopped.

“Wasn’t “The“Wasn’t “The law that demands law that amazing?” demands amazing?” this,” Ali this,” Yates asked.

AliYates asked. said.said.

“If you’d “If you’d rather rather not be not be here, “What here, I “What understand.” was I understand.” that?” was that?”

“Urban-downhill He left “Urban-downhill Hethe leftroom. the room. mountain mountain biking!” biking!”

“Wow,” She “Wow,” She glared I glared said. at I said.

“A me. atnew “A me.

“Remember new sport “Remember sport everyevery this day.” this moment. day.” moment.

It’s when It’s when you you doomed “I’m doomed “I’m going your going your to soul. doto soul.

You that do You that will someday,” burn will someday,” burn inhehell.” vowed. inhehell.” vowed.

“Not Then“Not Then ifshe I have ifstormed she I have stormed anything anything awayaway totodoher toto with doher husband’s with it,” husband’s Nana it,” side, Nana said side, where said from where from she the she the kitchen. brokekitchen. broke down “Alex, down sobbing.

“Alex, your sobbing. your dinner’s dinner’s ready.” ready.”

A few A states few states in the incountry the country allowallow the doomed the doomed man man to choose to choose his method his method of execution; of execution; in Virginia, in Virginia, the choice the choice is lethal is lethal injecinjection tion or electrocution. or electrocution.

The The drapes drapes rolled rolled backback and revealed and revealed not anot a gurney gurney but abut heavy a heavy oak chair oak chair withwith arm,arm, leg, and leg, chest and chest straps. straps.

TwoTwo corrections corrections officers officers entered entered the death the death chamber. chamber.

Warden Warden YatesYates followed followed themthem and and watched watched his officers his officers openopen the only the only otherother doordoor in the inexecution the execution facility. facility.

A shaved-headed A shaved-headed man man in hisinearly his early forties forties stepped stepped out. He out.was He was 175

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C H ACPHT AE PR T E R

55 I N S T E AI NDS TOEFA DF OOCFU SFIONCGU SOINN GE DOGNE RETDOGNE’SR T Oexecution, N ’S execution, the strangulation the strangulation of

of Mrs.Mrs. Nixon, Nixon, or the orlatest the latest message message fromfrom M, I M, savored I savored Nana’s Nana’s fan- fantastictastic pestopesto and chicken and chicken on black-bean on black-bean pasta,pasta, a dish a dish that that I toldI told her had her to hadbetoa be multiple a multiple repeat. repeat.

Ali wandered Ali wandered through, through, his laptop his laptop under under his arm. his arm.

“Bed?” “Bed?” I asked.

I asked.

He yawned He yawned and nodded. and nodded.

“Dad, “Dad, do you do have you have Wickr?”

Wickr?”

“Uhh, “Uhh, I don’t I don’t thinkthink so.” so.”

“It’s “It’s this cool this cool messaging messaging app for, applike, for, like, spies.” spies.”

“Okay?”

“Okay?”

“It has “It military-grade has military-grade encryption,” encryption,” he said he said earnestly. earnestly.

“We “We couldcould text each text each otherother and no andone no would one would knowknow because because it hasitthis has this self-destruct self-destruct feature.” feature.”

“The“The phone phone self-destructs?” self-destructs?”

“No,”“No,” he said, he said, his nose his nose wrinkling. wrinkling.

“The“The message. message.

Or telegram, Or telegram, 18

18

CRISS CROSS

they “Mrs. they call “Mrs. Edgerton,” it. call They Edgerton,” it. They vanish I said vanish after I said wearily. after awearily. couple a“That couple of “That was minutes. of your was minutes. your Real son’sReal son’s good defense good defense for for in spying, hisspying, intrial his right?” trial and right?” during and during his appeals.” his appeals.”

“His “If you’re “If “His appeal, you’re appeal, on not your on his notappeals,” your his phone appeals,” phone Margaret when Margaret when you’re Edgerton you’re Edgerton spying, spying, hissed.

Ihissed. would “You I would “You think get only think get so.” only one so.”appeal one appeal in this in primitive, this primitive, eager-to-kill eager-to-kill state.” state.”

“You “And“You “And want the want Supreme the me to Supreme me put toCourt itput onCourt ityour of onVirginia your phone? of Virginia phone?

It’s upheld easy, It’s upheld easy, his andconviction his we andcould, conviction we could, you and sentence, know you and sentence, know — ” ma’am.”

— ” ma’am.”

“Talk She trembled “Talk She liketrembled spies?” likewith spies?” with rage.rage.

“I don’t “I don’t knowknow how how you did youit, did but it,you but you did, Hedid, sure grinned Hesure asgrinned I’m as and standing I’mnodded. and standing nodded. here.here.

And And I hope I hope to God to God you carry you carry to to your “Let your grave “Let megrave think the me knowledge think the about knowledge about it,” Ithat it,” said, Ithat you said, andput you Iand kissed an put I innocent kissed anhim innocent him good boy good night. on boythe night. on the other “Dad? other side “Dad? Ifside of urban-downhill that Ifof urban-downhill that curtain, curtain, Dr. became Cross.”

Dr. became Cross.” an Olympic an Olympic sport,sport, I think I think I’d I’d be “No, good be “No, good ma’am, at it.” ma’am, at it.” youryour son put son himself put himself there, there, a long a long timetime ago,”ago,” I I said.

I smiled said.

I smiled at theatway the way his mind his mind swung swung fromfrom one obsession one obsession to the to the next.

“He’s next.

“I“He’s think innocent.”

“I think innocent.” you’llyou’ll be good be good at whatever at whatever you love you love to do.” to do.”

After Warden After Warden Nana Yates Nana went Yates said, went tosaid, “We bed, to“We need bed, I cleaned need Itocleaned begin.” to upbegin.” and up went and went into into the front the front room.

“My room.

Jannie “My sonJannie is son was innocent!” islong was innocent!” long gone.

Mrs. gone.

IMrs. tried Edgerton I tried Edgerton to watch to shouted. watch shouted. a basketball a“You basketball “You can’t game. can’t do game. do When this!”When this!”

I went I went upstairs, upstairs, it wasit almost was almost midnight. midnight.

Bree “TheBree “The was law was already demands law already demands dead this,” dead asleep this,” Yates asleep Yates when said.when said.

“If I slipped you’d “If I slipped you’d rather between rather between notthe be notthe be sheets. here,sheets. here, I understand.”

Despite I understand.”

Despite everything everything that that had had happened happened that that day, day, sleepsleep came Hecame for left Heme. the for leftme. room. the room.

But She just But She glared as just glared Iatwas asme.

Iatdozing was me.

“Remember dozing “Remember off, Ioff, heard this I heard athis moment. dogamoment. dog barking It’s barking when in It’sanwhen inirriyou an irriyou tating doomed tating doomed pattern: your pattern: your soul. three soul.

You three deep You will deep barks, burn willbarks, burn ainpause, hell.” ainpause, hell.” and and thenthen two two or four or four barks Then barks ofThen higher she of higher stormed shepitch. stormed pitch.

The away The window away to window her towas her husband’s open. was husband’s open.

I got side, Iup, got side, where closed up,where closed she it, she it, and broke latched and broke down latched down it, sobbing. but it, sobbing. that but that onlyonly muffled muffled the barking. the barking.

This A few This Ahad states fewbeen had states inbeen going the incountry going the oncountry for onallow almost for allow almost the a month doomed the a month doomed now, man now, but man toIbut choose hadn’t toIchoose hadn’t had his method the had his method time theoftime toexecution; find oftoexecution; find the owners the in Virginia, owners in and Virginia, complain. and the complain. choice the choice And is lethal And I iswas lethal Iinjecin wasnoinjecin no mood tion mood tion ortoelectrocution. or dotoelectrocution. itdo that it that night The night either.

The drapes either. drapes I put rolled I in put rolled earplugs back in earplugs back and and revealed and turned and revealed turned notonanotona agurney white-noise agurney white-noise but abut heavy app a heavy on app oak my on chair oak phone. mychair with phone. with arm,arm, leg, and leg, chest and chest straps. straps.

ITwo closed ITwo corrections closed my corrections eyes. my officers eyes.

I didn’t officers I entered didn’t want entered want the it to, death the it but to, death chamber. my but chamber. mind my mind Warden swung Warden swung toward Yatestoward Yates followed M and followed M what and them what them I and knew I and knew watched of him, watched of him, all his ofofficers all his it of scanty officers it open scanty and open the contraandonly the contraonly dictory. otherdictory. other doordoor in the inexecution the execution facility. facility.

There A shaved-headed There A shaved-headed was was onlyonly one manone indisputable man in his indisputable inearly his early forties factforties fact about stepped about stepped M,out.

IM, thought He out.

I thought was He was 19 5

19 5

JAMES PATTERSON

as Iasfell I fell asleep asleep — the — the notenote he’d he’d left left withwith the the strangled strangled corpse corpse of Mrs. of Mrs. Nixon Nixon was was not the not first the first timetime he had he had directly directly taunted taunted me. me.

It was It the wasfourth the fourth time.time.

In twelve In twelve years.years.

20

20

C H ACPHT AE PR T E R

66 AL I C RAOL SI SC RSOL SI PSP SE DL I PI NP TEOD HI NI ST Ofather’s H I S father’s bedroom bedroom around around sevenseven the next the next morning, morning, a Saturday. a Saturday.

BreeBree was already was already up and up downstairs. and downstairs.

Ali went Ali went over over to where to where his father his father lay snoring lay snoring and and shook shook his his shoulder shoulder lightly. lightly.

AlexAlex startled startled and sat andup, satconfused. up, confused.

“Want “Want to gotofor go aforrun?” a run?”

Ali asked.

Ali asked.

“I’ll “I’ll ride ride my mountain my mountain bike.”bike.”

His His father father lay back lay back on his on pillow his pillow and and groaned. groaned.

“I hardly “I hardly slept,slept, pal. Ipal. don’t I don’t thinkthink my body’s my body’s goinggoing to betoup befor up that for that this this morning.” morning.”

Ali was Ali disappointed, was disappointed, but he butkissed he kissed his dad his on dadthe oncheek the cheek and and said,said, “Get“Get somesome sleep.sleep.

We’llWe’ll go next go next Saturday.”

Saturday.”

AlexAlex smiled, smiled, and his andeyes his eyes drifted drifted shut.shut.

Ali found Ali found BreeBree downstairs, downstairs, drinking drinking a coffee a coffee and and dressed dressed for work. for work.

“You“You don’tdon’t wantwant to run to either?” run either?” he asked. he asked.

21

21

JAMES PATTERSON

“Not“Not today,” today,” she said. she said.

“I have “I have a desk a desk to clear.” to clear.”

“I’m “I’m goinggoing to ride to ride the usual the usual route, route, okay?okay?

And And I’ll take I’ll take my cell my cell phone.” phone.”

“Did“Did you ask youyour ask your dad?”dad?”

“He’s“He’s in a coma.” in a coma.”

BreeBree smiled smiled in spite in spite of herself. of herself.

“I’ll tell “I’ll Nana tell Nana where where you you are are whenwhen she gets she gets up.” up.”

Ali grinned.

Ali grinned.

He hadn’t He hadn’t expected expected to gettoapproval get approval so easily. so easily.

But then But then again, again, he was he ten, was ten, almost almost eleven, eleven, wasn’t wasn’t he? And he? And in in the sixth the sixth grade, grade, a fulla grade full grade ahead ahead of most of most kids kids his age. his He age.knew He knew how how to take to take care care of himself. of himself.

He got Hehis gotmountain his mountain bike bike fromfrom the shed the shed out back out back and set andoff. set off.

Although Although AlexAlex Cross’s Cross’s younger younger son felt son most felt most at home at home withwith his his headhead in a in book a book or onorthe on internet the internet learning learning something something new,new, he he adored adored his bike, his bike, especially especially whenwhen he could he could launch launch off something. off something.

The The frontfront and rear and rear shocks shocks on the onthing the thing werewere amazing. amazing.

By the Bytime the time Ali was Ali past was past the Martin the Martin Luther Luther KingKing Jr. Memorial, Jr. Memorial, heading heading southsouth alongalong the west the west side side of theofTidal the Tidal Basin, Basin, he’d he’d found found at least at least ten great ten great jumps jumps and had and landed had landed themthem all. He all.had He the hadmain the main pathpath almost almost to himself. to himself.

As Ali Aswas Alipedaling was pedaling hardhard toward toward the Franklin the Franklin Delano Delano Roosevelt Roosevelt Memorial, Memorial, he saw he asaw man a man kneeling kneeling beside beside his bike his bike to the toright the right of of the path. the path.

The The man man spunspun around around and waved and waved his arms, his arms, telling telling him him to stop. to stop.

But But it was it was too late. too late.

WithWith his attention his attention on the on man, the man, Ali had Ali had takentaken his eyes his eyes off the off path. the path.

His front His front tire rolled tire rolled over over the shards the shards of a broken of a broken bottle bottle and blew and blew out. out.

Ali veered Ali veered off the offpath the path and crash-landed and crash-landed hardhard on the onground. the ground.

It dazed It dazed him him and knocked and knocked the wind the wind out of out him. of him.

The The man man who’d who’d waved waved at him at him rushed rushed over.over.

“Are“Are you all youright?” all right?”

“I’ll be “I’llokay.” be okay.”

22

22

CRISS CROSS

“Darn “Mrs. “Mrs. “Darn Edgerton,” it, byEdgerton,” it,the bytime the I said time I Iheard said wearily.

I heard wearily. you“That coming, you“That coming, wasI your was couldn’t I your couldn’t son’swarn son’s defense warn you defense you in his off the intrial off glass,” his thetrial and glass,” the during and man the during man said his appeals.” said in hisanappeals.” ineasy an easy Southern Southern drawl. drawl.

“Got“Got bothboth my“His tires. my“His appeal, tires.

Lucky appeal, Lucky not I didn’t his not I didn’t appeals,” his bend appeals,” bend a Margaret rim.” a Margaret rim.” Edgerton Edgerton hissed. hissed.

“You“You getHe only getwas He only one was tallappeal one and tallappeal and very in this very in fitprimitive, this infitbiking primitive, in biking eager-to-kill shorts eager-to-kill shorts and and astate.” tight astate.” tight jersey jersey that “And that read “And the read u.s.

Supreme thearmed u.s.

Supreme armed Court forces Court forces ofcycling Virginia ofcycling Virginia team. upheld team. upheld Hehiswore He conviction hiswore conviction wrapwraparound and sentence, around and Oakley sentence, Oakley ma’am.” glasses ma’am.” glasses and and a Bell a Bell racing racing helmet helmet over over short,short, sandy-blond She sandy-blond trembled She trembled hair.with hair.with rage.rage.

“I don’t “I don’t knowknow how how you did youit, did but it,you but you did, Hedid, sure helped Hesure ashelped I’m Ali as standing I’m up, Alistanding said, up, here. said, “I’mhere.

“I’m Captain And Captain And I hope Arthur I hope toArthur God Abrahamsen.” to God you Abrahamsen.” carry you carry to to your “Ali your grave Cross.”

“Aligrave Cross.” the knowledge the knowledge that that you put you an putinnocent an innocent boy on boythe on the other “Nice other side “Nice toside ofmeet that toofmeet that curtain, you,curtain, you, AliDr. Cross.

Ali Cross.”

Dr. Cross.

Cross.”

Can Can I check I check the damage the damage to to your “No, your tire?”

“No, ma’am, tire?” ma’am, youryour son put son himself put himself there, there, a long a long timetime ago,”ago,” I I said.

“No, said.

“No, sir, I’ll sir,just I’ll walk just walk it home. it home.

It’s okay.”

It’s okay.”

“You “He’s“You “He’s might innocent.” might innocent.” ride it ride home,” it home,” Captain Captain Abrahamsen Abrahamsen said,said, smiling, smiling, “if “if theWarden tire’s theWarden tire’s fixable.

Yates fixable.

Yates Do said,you Do said, “We mind you “We need mind ifneed to I take begin.” if to I take abegin.” look? a look?

I know I know a bit aabout bit about this.”

“My this.”

“My son is son innocent!” is innocent!”

Mrs.Mrs. Edgerton Edgerton shouted. shouted.

“You“You can’tcan’t do do this!”

Alithis!” hesitated, Ali hesitated, but then but then shrugged shrugged and nodded, and nodded, thinking thinking that that it it would “The would be “The law a be lotdemands law aeasier lotdemands easier to this,” ride to this,” ride home Yates home Yates than said.than walk said.

“If walk you’d the “If three you’d the rather three and rather not aand half be not a half be miles here,miles here, Ipushing understand.”

Ipushing understand.” a bike a bike withwith a flatatire. flat tire.

“Can He left “Can He you the leftyou kick room. thekick room. the glass the glass off the off path the path whilewhile I seeI ifseeit’sif salit’s salvageable?”

She vageable?”

She glared the glared at captain the me. at captain me.

“Remember asked.

“Remember asked.

“We “We don’t this don’t this moment. want moment. want anyIt’s more anywhen It’s more people when you people you getting doomed getting doomed flats your flats oryour soul. we’ll orsoul.

You we’ll haveYou will have a convention.” burn will a convention.” burn in hell.” in hell.”

“Sure,” Then“Sure,” Then she Ali stormed she said.

Ali stormed said. awayaway to her to her husband’s husband’s side,side, where where she she broke Abrahamsen broke down Abrahamsen down sobbing. lifted sobbing. lifted his bike’s his bike’s frontfront fork fork and spun and spun the tire. the tire.

Ali A few kicked Ali A states few kicked the states inbig the inpieces big country thepieces country of allow glass of allow glass into the into doomed the the grass doomed the grass man withman to with the choose to sides the choose sides of hishis method of his sneakers. his method sneakers. of execution; “You of execution; “You in the in inmilitary?” the Virginia, inmilitary?”

Virginia, the choice the choice is lethal is lethal injecinjection “I tion or am, “I electrocution. or the am, electrocution.

U.S. the U.S. Army,” The Army,” Abrahamsen The drapes Abrahamsen drapes rolled rolled said, backsaid, back still and still looking revealed and looking revealed atnot the at anot thea tire. gurney tire. gurney but abut heavy a heavy oak chair oak chair withwith arm,arm, leg, and leg, chest and chest straps. straps.

“Do Two“Do Two you, corrections you, like, corrections like, race officers race forofficers them?” for entered them?” entered the death the death chamber. chamber.

Warden Warden Yates “Sort Yates followed “Sort of,”followed he of,”them said. he them said.

“I’m and“I’m good and watched good watched enough his enough officers to histrain officers to train open withopen with the team the onlyteam only but other not but other door quite not door inquite the good inexecution the good enough execution enough to facility. flyto facility. all flyover all over the world the world to ride to ride for for myAcountry. my shaved-headed Acountry. shaved-headed Yet.”Yet.” man man in hisinearly his early forties forties stepped stepped out. He out.was He was 23 5

23 5

JAMES PATTERSON

He said He said this this withwith suchsuch conviction conviction and and enthusiasm enthusiasm that that Ali Ali couldn’t couldn’t helphelp but smile. but smile.

“That’s “That’s awesome.” awesome.”

“Totally, “Totally, as my asnephew my nephew says,”says,” Abrahamsen Abrahamsen said.said.

“Here’s “Here’s youryour puncture.” puncture.”

He held He held the wheel the wheel in place in place and and showed showed Ali where Ali where the glass the glass had penetrated had penetrated it. it.

“Is it“Is fixable?” it fixable?”

Ali asked.

Ali asked.

“I might “I might be able be able to patch to patch it upitsoupthat so that it’ll get it’llyou get home. you home.

AfterAfter that,that, you’llyou’ll wantwant a new a new tire and tire tube.” and tube.”

Abrahamsen Abrahamsen wentwent over over to histoown his own bike.bike.

“Can“Can you carry you carry youryour bike bike like like this?”this?”

He picked He picked up his up bike his bike and and put his put right his right arm arm through through the frame the frame and got anditgot upitonto up onto his shoulder. his shoulder.

Ali nodded.

Ali nodded.

He’dHe’d seenseen mountain-bike mountain-bike racers racers doing doing that that whenwhen theythey had to hadcross to cross impassable impassable stuff.stuff.

“But“But where where are we aregoing? we going?

Don’tDon’t you you havehave toolstools and and a patch a patch kit with kit with you?”you?”

“Enough “Enough for one for tire,” one tire,” he said. he said.

“Don’t “Don’t worry. worry.

I’ve got I’ve everygot everythingthing we need we need in the in team the team van. van.

It’s parked It’s parked downdown by the by marina. the marina.

You You wantwant a team a team sticker sticker for your for your bike?” bike?”

Ali liked Ali liked that that idea.idea.

“I’ve“I’ve nevernever known known a professional a professional bike bike rider.” rider.”

“And“And you still you don’t. still don’t.

Yet. C’mon, Yet. C’mon, let’s let’s pick pick up the uppace. the pace.

I have I have to betoatbea meeting at a meeting at noon. at noon.

And And I imagine I imagine youryour mother mother will will be be looking looking for you.” for you.”

“Nana “Nana Mama, Mama, my great-grandmother,” my great-grandmother,” Ali said, Ali said, lifting lifting his his smaller smaller bike bike ontoonto his shoulder his shoulder and very and very muchmuch wanting wanting Captain Captain Arthur Arthur Abrahamsen Abrahamsen to think to think he was he strong was strong enough enough to carry to carry it it the whole the whole way way to the tomarina. the marina.

The The captain captain smiled. smiled.

“Great-grandmother?

“Great-grandmother?

Do you Do you wantwant to to give give her aher call? a call?

Tell Tell her where her where you you are and are and who who you’re you’re with?with?

Wouldn’t Wouldn’t wantwant her to hergettoworried.” get worried.”

24

24

CRISS CROSS

Ali frowned, “Mrs. “Mrs. Ali Edgerton,” frowned, Edgerton,” set his set I said bike his I said wearily. bike down, wearily. down, and “That slapped and “That was slapped your was his pockets, your son’s his pockets, son’s defense lookdefense lookin his ing for intrial ing his fortrial phone. and his during phone. and“Iduring know his “I know appeals.”

Ihis had appeals.”

I it had leaving it leaving the house.” the house.”

“His“Here,” “Here,” “His appeal, Captain appeal, not Captain his not Abrahamsen appeals,” hisAbrahamsen appeals,” Margaret said, Margaret said, handing Edgerton handing Edgerton him hissed. him his hissed.

“You own his “You own phone. get only phone. get“Call only one“Call appeal her one and appeal herinI’ll and this look inI’ll primitive, this look around primitive, around back eager-to-kill back eager-to-kill there, there, seestate.” ifsee itstate.” fell if itout fell out when “And when you “And thewent you Supreme thewent down.”

Supreme down.”

Court Court of Virginia of Virginia upheld upheld his conviction his conviction andAlisentence, and took Alisentence, took thema’am.” phone thema’am.” phone and punched and punched in the in number the number whilewhile AbraAbrahamsen She hamsen trembled She went trembled went back with back towith rage. where to rage. where “Ithey’d don’t “Ithey’d don’t know bothknow both crashed. howcrashed. how you did youit, did but it,you but you did, The did, sure The phone sure as phone I’m as rang standing I’m rang and standing Nana and here.

Nana picked here.

Andpicked And Iup. hope I“Hello?” up. hope to“Hello?”

God to God you carry you carry to to your “Nana? your grave “Nana? grave It’s theAli. It’s knowledge theIAli. had knowledge I ahad flat, that a and flat, that youCaptain and put youCaptain an putArthur innocent an Arthur innocent Abrahamsen, boy Abrahamsen, on boythe on the he’s otherahe’s other side bike a side of bike racer that of racer inthat curtain, the incurtain, army, theDr. army, he’s Cross.”

Dr. going he’s Cross.” going to help to help me fix meit.fixI’m it. on I’m on his“No, phone.” his“No, phone.” ma’am, ma’am, youryour son put son himself put himself there, there, a long a long timetime ago,”ago,” I I said.

“Well, said.

“Well, that’sthat’s nice nice of him.” of him.”

“I’ll “He’sbe “I’ll “He’s innocent.” home beinnocent.” home soon,” soon,” Ali said Ali said and hung and hung up. up.

He Warden turned He Warden turned Yates around Yates said, around said, “We to see “We to need Abrahamsen see need toAbrahamsen begin.” to begin.” crouched crouched nearnear somesome deeper “My deeper “My son grass. is son grass. innocent!”

The is innocent!”

The captain captain Mrs. stood Mrs. Edgerton stood and Edgerton and held shouted. held up shouted. aup “You black a “You black can’t phone. can’t do phone. do “This this!”“This this!” it?” it?”

Ali “The breathed Ali “The law breathed demands lawa sigh demands a sigh ofthis,” relief. ofthis,” Yates relief.

HisYates said. father His said. father “Ifwould you’d “Ifwould you’d have rather have had rather not ahad cow be not a cow be if here, he’d if here, Ihe’d lost understand.”

Ihis lost understand.” phone. his phone.

“Yes.“Yes. Thank Thank you.”you.”

They He left They He exchanged the leftexchanged room. the room. phones. phones.

Abrahamsen Abrahamsen said,said, “Did“Did you get youyour get your great-grandmother?”

She great-grandmother?”

She glared glared at me. at me.

“Remember “Remember this this moment. moment.

It’s when It’s when you you doomed “Yes.” doomed “Yes.” youryour soul.soul.

You You will burn will burn in hell.” in hell.”

“It’s Then“It’s Then better shebetter that stormed she that stormed she doesn’t she away doesn’t away to worry, her to worry, her husband’s don’thusband’s don’t you think?” you side,think?” side, where where she she broke Alibroke nodded, down Ali nodded, down sobbing. already sobbing. already getting getting his bike his bike up on uphis onshoulder his shoulder again. again.

“Much A “Much few Abetter, states fewbetter, states sir.” in the sir.” incountry the country allowallow the doomed the doomed man man to choose to choose his method his method of execution; of execution; in Virginia, in Virginia, the choice the choice is lethal is lethal injecinjection tion or electrocution. or electrocution.

The The drapes drapes rolled rolled backback and revealed and revealed not anot a gurney gurney but abut heavy a heavy oak chair oak chair withwith arm,arm, leg, and leg, chest and chest straps. straps.

TwoTwo corrections corrections officers officers entered entered the death the death chamber. chamber.

Warden Warden YatesYates followed followed themthem and and watched watched his officers his officers openopen the only the only otherother doordoor in the inexecution the execution facility. facility.

A shaved-headed A shaved-headed man man in hisinearly his early forties forties stepped stepped out. He out.was He was 25 5

25 5

C H ACPHT AE PR T E R

77 I F I N AI LLY F I N WA LLY O K E WUOPK EA RUOPUNADR Onine U N D nine on Saturday on Saturday morning. morning.

AfterAfter showshoweringering and and dressing, dressing, I went I went downstairs downstairs and and out onto out onto the porch, the porch, looking looking for the for morning the morning paper. paper.

A van A emblazoned van emblazoned withwith decals decals of men of men and women and women bicycling bicycling and the andinsignia the insignia of the ofU.S. the U.S. Armed Armed Forces Forces pulled pulled up inupfront in front of the ofhouse. the house.

To my Tosurprise, my surprise, Ali jumped Ali jumped out. “Dad!” out. “Dad!” A man A man in hisinearly his early thirties thirties climbed climbed out the out driver’s the driver’s side.side.

He He was wearing was wearing a sweatshirt a sweatshirt that that said said u.s. army u.s. army over over bike bike pants. pants.

He and He and Ali climbed Ali climbed up the up front the front stepssteps as Ali as said, Ali said, “Captain “Captain Abrahamsen Abrahamsen is almost is almost on the on U.S. the U.S. Armed Armed Forces Forces bicycle-racing bicycle-racing team!team!

I got Iagot flat.aWe flat.couldn’t We couldn’t fix it,fix soit, heso offered he offered to drive to drive me home.” me home.”

The The captain captain smiled smiled and stuck and stuck out his outhand. his hand.

“Arthur “Arthur AbrahamAbrahamsen, sir. sen,You’ve sir. You’ve got quite got quite a boya there.” boy there.”

I shook I shook his hand his hand and smiled. and smiled.

“He “He is that. is that.

Thanks Thanks for helping for helping him him out.”out.”

26

26

CRISS CROSS

“My“My “Mrs. “Mrs. pleasure,” Edgerton,” pleasure,” Edgerton,” Abrahamsen I said Abrahamsen I said wearily. said, wearily.

“That said, and“That he and was chuckled. he your was chuckled. your son’s “He son’s defense “He taught defense taught in his me ame inlot trial his aabout lot trial and about aduring and lot aof during lot different his ofappeals.” different his appeals.” subjects.” subjects.”

“His “I hope “His “I appeal, hope heappeal, didn’t not he didn’t his not talk appeals,” his your talk appeals,” your ear Margaret off.” ear Margaret off.”Edgerton Edgerton hissed. hissed.

“You“You get“No, only get“No, sir,” only oneAbrahamsen sir,” appeal oneAbrahamsen appeal in this in said. primitive, thissaid.

“Both primitive, “Both ears eager-to-kill ears intact. eager-to-kill intact.

Well, state.”

Well, letstate.” me letget me get his“And bike his“And bike out. the Supreme He’s out. the Supreme He’s goinggoing Court to need Court toofneed aVirginia new of aVirginia new tireupheld and tireupheld tube, and histube, I’m conviction hisafraid.”

I’m conviction afraid.” and“We sentence, and“We both sentence, both hitma’am.” broken hitma’am.” broken glassglass and got andflats,” got flats,” Ali said Ali said as Abrahamas AbrahamsenShe went sentrembled She went over trembled over and with opened and with rage. opened rage. up “I don’t the up “I don’t rear the know rear ofknow how the ofvan. how the youvan. did youit, did but it,you but you did, The did, sure The van sure as was van I’m as standing was filled I’m standing filled with here. with wheels, here.

And wheels, And Itires, hope Itires, and hope to God and other to God other you equipment carry you equipment carry to to hanging yourhanging your grave off grave the the offknowledge walls. the the knowledge walls. that that you put you an putinnocent an innocent boy on boythe on the other “So, other side “So, do you side ofdothat race you of that curtain, race full-time curtain, full-time Dr.for Cross.”

Dr. the for Cross.” military?” the military?”

I asked I asked as heastook he took out“No, the out“No, bike. ma’am, the bike. ma’am, youryour son put son himself put himself there, there, a long a long timetime ago,”ago,” I I said.

“He said.

“He trainstrains withwith the team,” the team,” Ali said.

Ali said.

“And “He’s“And “He’s even innocent.” even innocent.” that’sthat’s hardly hardly full-time,” full-time,” Abrahamsen Abrahamsen said,said, closing closing theWarden van theWarden doors. vanYates doors.

Yates “I’m said, “I’m busy said, “Webusy “We over needover need at to the begin.” at toPentagon the begin.”

Pentagon and and up on upthe on the Hill, “My Hill, so“My son I so tryis son I to innocent!” tryissqueeze to innocent!” squeeze Mrs. in my Mrs. in Edgerton training myEdgerton training shouted. ridesshouted. rides when “You when I “You can.” can’t I can.” can’t He do He do brought this!”brought this!”the bike the bike over.over.

“Well, “The“Well, “The law thank demands law thank you demands you again,” this,” again,” this,” Yates I said, Yates I said. said, andsaid.

“If and weyou’d “If shook weyou’d shook rather hands rather hands not once be not once be more. here,more. here, I understand.”

I understand.”

The He left The He captain the left captain room. the smiled room. smiled at Ali. at “It’s Ali. “It’s always always goodgood to meet to meet a fellow a fellow cavalryman.”

She cavalryman.”

She glared glared at me. at me.

“Remember “Remember this this moment. moment.

It’s when It’s when you you doomed Alidoomed looked Aliyour looked your atsoul. him, atsoul.

You him, puzzled.

You will puzzled. burn will burn in hell.” in hell.”

“I Then used “I Then she used to be stormed she toinbe stormed the in U.S. away the U.S. Army away to Army her to Fourth her husband’s Fourth husband’s Cavalry,” Cavalry,” side,Abrahamsen side, where Abrahamsen where she she explained. brokeexplained. broke downdown “Tanks. sobbing.

“Tanks. sobbing.

But I’ve But always I’ve always thought thought that that in this in day this and day and age, A age, cavalrymen few A cavalrymen states few states inshould the inshould country the becountry onbebikes allow on bikes allow instead.” the doomed instead.” the doomed man man to choose to choose his“Mountain method his“Mountain method ofbikes,” execution; ofbikes,” execution; Ali said, Ali in Virginia, said, smiling. in Virginia, smiling. the choice the choice is lethal is lethal injecinjection “Exactly! tion or “Exactly! electrocution. or electrocution.

They’re They’re more Themore The like drapes horses,” like drapes rolled horses,” rolled Abrahamsen backAbrahamsen back and revealed andsaid, revealed said, pointnotpointanot a ing gurney ating gurney him but at him and abut heavy winking. and a heavy winking. oak chair “Take oak chair “Take with care,with arm, care, now.arm, leg, now.

Nice and leg, Nice meeting chest andmeeting chest straps. you,straps. you, Mr. Mr. Cross.”

Two Cross.”

Two corrections corrections officers officers entered entered the death the death chamber. chamber.

Warden Warden Yates “You Yates followed “You too,followed Captain,” too,them Captain,” them and I said. and Iwatched said.watched his officers his officers openopen the only the only other Abrahamsen other door Abrahamsen door in the got inexecution the into gotexecution into his van, facility. his van, facility. waved, waved, and pulled and pulled out into out into the the street.

A street. shaved-headed A shaved-headed man man in hisinearly his early forties forties stepped stepped out. He out.was He was 27 5

27 5

JAMES PATTERSON

“He’s“He’s a really a really nice nice guy,”guy,” Ali said.

Ali said.

“Seems “Seems like it,” likeIit,” said, I said, lifting lifting his bike his bike up. up.

“Do “Do you think you think I could I could be inbethe incavalry the cavalry someday?” someday?”

Ali said.

Ali said.

“In a“In tank a tank or onora on bike?” a bike?”

“Bike.”

“Bike.”

I paused I paused and and thenthen said,said, “You“You can have can have anything anything youryour heartheart desires desires if you if work you work for it.” for it.”

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88 F O R T HF OR REET HD RAYEES , DI AY I GSN, OI RIEGDN Othe R E Dmedia’s the media’s reports reports aboutabout Edgerton’s Edgerton’s exe- execution cution and the andaccusations the accusations fromfrom his family his family that that Katrina Katrina Nixon’s Nixon’s murder murder was proof was proof of Mikey’s of Mikey’s innocence. innocence.

On Tuesday On Tuesday morning, morning, I checked I checked into into the federal the federal detention detention center center on Mill on Mill Street Street in in Alexandria, Alexandria, Virginia, Virginia, not far notfrom far from the Courthouse. the Courthouse.

The The sheriff’s sheriff’s deputy deputy returned returned my ID, mysaid, ID, said, “Dirty “Dirty Marty Marty knowknow you’re you’re coming?” coming?”

“Mr.“Mr. Forbes Forbes mademade the request the request for counseling for counseling himself,” himself,” I said.

I said.

The The deputy, deputy, a stout a stout woman woman named named Estella Estella Maines, Maines, sniffed sniffed and and said,said, “We’ll “We’ll bringbring him him out to outyou, to you, Dr. Cross, Dr. Cross, but Ibut don’t I don’t knowknow why why you bother.” you bother.”

“The“The hopeless hopeless idealist idealist in me, in Deputy.” me, Deputy.”

Maines Maines almost almost smiled smiled as she asbuzzed she buzzed me through. me through.

I went I went to the to booth, the booth, reminding reminding myself myself that that thesethese kindskinds of of visitsvisits werewere important important for me. for me.

Despite Despite the fact the fact that that I hadI had a a

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JAMES PATTERSON

busybusy life as lifea contract as a contract consultant consultant to DC to Metro DC Metro and the andFederal the Federal Bureau Bureau of Investigation, of Investigation, I found I found deeper deeper fulfillment fulfillment in my in role my role as a therapist. as a therapist.

Martin Martin Forbes Forbes shuffled shuffled out aout steel a steel doordoor and and tooktook a seat a seat on on the other the other side side of a of bulletproof-glass a bulletproof-glass divider. divider.

In his Inmid-forties, his mid-forties, balding, balding, Forbes Forbes was an wasunremarkable-looking an unremarkable-looking man man except except for afor a squiggly squiggly whitewhite line line that that ran underneath ran underneath his jaw. his That jaw. That scar scar was was the only the only reason reason I’d agreed I’d agreed to see tohim. see him.

OnceOnce uponupon a time, a time, I’d worked I’d worked withwith Forbes Forbes at theatFBI the when FBI when he he was briefly was briefly assigned assigned to the to Behavioral the Behavioral Analysis Analysis Unit.Unit.

He was He awas a junior junior agentagent thenthen and as and eager as eager to catch to catch bad guys bad guys as I was. as I was.

ThatThat eagerness eagerness had had almost almost gotten gotten Forbes Forbes killed, killed, but itbuthad it had savedsaved the the life life of Ned of Ned Mahoney, Mahoney, my former my former partner partner at the at the Bureau.

Bureau.

We’dWe’d all been all been investigating investigating several several violent violent murders murders in in Arizona, Arizona, NewNew Mexico, Mexico, and and Texas Texas that that had had smelled smelled of a of serial a serial killerkiller but turned but turned out to outbetoa be crime a crime syndicate syndicate covering covering its tracks. its tracks.

Mahoney Mahoney had had gotten gotten too close too close to a to cella of cellthe of Sinaloa the Sinaloa drugdrug cartel cartel and and was was snatched snatched off the off street the street one one nightnight in Tucson. in Tucson.

Forbes Forbes witnessed witnessed the grab, the grab, followed, followed, and fought and fought successfully successfully to to free free Ned.Ned. Before Before he managed he managed that,that, a cartel a cartel thugthug triedtried to slit to slit his throat. his throat.

Forbes Forbes picked picked up the upphone the phone on his onside his side of the ofglass. the glass.

“I appre“I appreciateciate you coming, you coming, Alex.”

Alex.”

“It’s “It’s the least the least I could I could do.” do.”

“I’m “I’m innocent.” innocent.”

“I saw “I that saw that you pleaded you pleaded not guilty.” not guilty.”

“I did,” “I did,” he said. he said.

“This“This is noislegal no legal bullshit bullshit move, move, Alex.Alex.

I’ve been I’ve been framed.” framed.”

I sighed.

I sighed.

“You“You said said you you wanted wanted counseling, counseling, Marty.

Marty.

It’s why It’s why I came.”

I came.”

“I knew “I knew you wouldn’t you wouldn’t comecome otherwise. otherwise.

I didInot diddo notthis.” do this.”

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CRISS CROSS

“You’ve “Mrs. “Mrs. “You’ve Edgerton,” gotEdgerton,” history, got history, I said Marty.

I said wearily.

Marty.

Your wearily.

Your “That rep “That caught rep wascaught your was up with your son’s up with you.” son’s defense you.” defense in Forbes hisintrial Forbes hisflushed, trial andflushed, during andbut during he but hiscalmed appeals.” he hiscalmed appeals.” himself. himself.

“I was “I cleared was cleared on those on those shoots.

“His shoots.

“His Didn’t appeal, Didn’t appeal, not you his not you tellappeals,” his me tellappeals,” that meMargaret that if you Margaret if you want Edgerton want toEdgerton put to hissed. out put hissed. the out“You fire, the“You fire, you’ve get only you’ve getgot only one to got appeal one gettoclose appeal getinclose this enough in primitive, this enough to primitive, burn?” toeager-to-kill burn?” eager-to-kill state.” state.”

“That “And“That “And the wasSupreme the Mahoney.” wasSupreme Mahoney.”

Court Court of Virginia of Virginia upheld upheld his conviction his conviction and“Well, sentence, and“Well, sentence, I amIma’am.” no amvigilante. ma’am.” no vigilante.

I don’t I don’t knowknow who who pulled pulled the trigger the trigger onShe those ontrembled She those scum trembled scum on with the on with rage. yacht, therage.

“I yacht, don’t but “I as don’t but know much asknow much how as how they you as they did you deserved it, did deserved but it,you it, butI you it, I sure did, sure did, as hell sure as wasn’t hell I’m as standing wasn’t I’m thestanding one thehere. who onehere.

And who did it.”

And did I hope it.”

I hope to God to God you carry you carry to to your I didn’t your grave I didn’t grave reply the reply knowledge the for several knowledge for several that moments, that you moments, put you letting an put letting innocent an myinnocent mind my boy mind tickon boy back tick the onback the through otherthrough other side the side ofcase the that ofcase as that curtain, laid as curtain, out laid Dr. in out Cross.” the Dr. innews Cross.” the news articles articles that that had dubbed had dubbed the“No, former the“No, ma’am, former FBI ma’am, your FBI agentyour agent son Dirty put son Dirty Marty, himself putMarty, himself a riff there, aon riff there, aDirty on long aDirty long Harry, timeHarry, time ago,” a cop ago,” aI copI gone said.gone said. rogue, rogue, taking taking justice justice into into his own his own hands. hands.

Though “He’sThough “He’s innocent.”

Forbes innocent.”

Forbes had been had been cleared cleared in those in those shooting shooting incidents, incidents, theWarden Bureau theWarden Bureau Yates was concerned Yates was said, concerned said, “Weenough “We needenough need totobegin.” rein totobegin.” him rein in; himhe’d in; he’d beenbeen transtransferred “My ferred from “My sonfrom is son a senior innocent!” isa senior innocent!” investigatory Mrs. investigatory Mrs. Edgerton position Edgerton position shouted. in shouted.

Chicago in “You Chicago “You tocan’t a to desk can’t do a desk do job this!” injob this!” crime in crime analysis analysis at Quantico. at Quantico.

At the At time, the time, Forbes Forbes had been had been leading “The leading “The alaw probe ademands law probe into demands into a sexual-slavery this,” a sexual-slavery this,” YatesYates said. ring, said.

“If ring, a group you’d “Ifa group you’d of rather people of rather people notwho be notwho be brought here,brought here, I understand.” women I understand.” women and young and young girls girls and boys and boys fromfrom underdeveloped underdeveloped countries Hecountries left Heinto the leftroom. into the the United room. the United States States through through Canada Canada or Mexico. or Mexico.

The She The She twenty-four-month glared twenty-four-month glared at me. at me.

“Remember “Remember probe probe had thispenetrated had this moment. penetrated moment. the It’s ring when the It’s ring at when you low at you low levels, doomed levels, doomed enough your enough your soul. to free soul.

You to free more You willmore burn will thanburn than fifty in hell.” fifty in women hell.” women enslaved enslaved as prosas prostitutes Then titutes Then traveling shetraveling stormed shethe stormed country, the away country, away toguarded her toguarded her husband’s byhusband’s violent by violent side, pimps. side, where pimps.

Those where she Those she freed brokefreed broke women down women down sobbing. hadsobbing. identified had identified two men two men and aand woman a woman as the aslikely the likely masterminds A masterminds few A states few states ofinthe the ofin ring. the country thering. country allowallow the doomed the doomed man man to choose to choose hisCarlos method hisCarlos method Octavio, of Octavio, execution; of execution; a Panamanian a in Panamanian Virginia, in Virginia, national the national choice the fluent choice fluent isinlethal eight isinlethal injeceight laninjeclanguages, tion guages, tion or electrocution. was or electrocution. said was said to work to The work in The drapes tandem in drapes tandem rolled with rolled back with Ji Su back and JiRhee, Su revealed andRhee, revealed a Korean not a Korean anot a woman gurney woman gurney but whoabut who heavy spoke a heavy spoke oak ninechair oak nine languages. chair with languages. with arm, Octavio arm, leg, Octavio and leg, andchest and and Rhee chest straps.

Rhee bought straps. bought girls, Two girls, boys, Two corrections boys, and corrections young and young officers women officers women entered in lawless, entered inthe lawless, death impoverished the death impoverished chamber. chamber. countries.

Warden countries.

Warden Gor YatesGor Yates Bedrossian, followed Bedrossian, followed them an Armenian them anand Armenian and watched with watched with ties histo ties officers his U.S. toofficers and U.S.open Russian andopen Russian thecrime only thecrime only syndicates, othersyndicates, other doordoor was in the believed was inexecution the believed execution to befacility. tothe befacility. one the who one who put the putsmuggling the smuggling and and distribution A distribution shaved-headed A shaved-headed system system together mantogether man in his and inearly his enforced andearly forties enforced forties it stepped allitwith stepped all with an out.iron an He out.iron fist. was Hefist. was 315

315

JAMES PATTERSON

The The problem problem for Forbes for Forbes had had beenbeen twofold. twofold.

First,First, therethere had had beenbeen no concrete no concrete evidence evidence tyingtying any of anythe of three the three alleged alleged mas-masterminds terminds to the to enslaved the enslaved women women who’d who’d beenbeen freedfreed in various in various raidsraids around around the country. the country.

And And second, second, the trio the trio rarely, rarely, if ever, if ever, stepped stepped foot foot on U.S. on U.S. soil. soil.

Before Before his transfer his transfer out out of the of the field,field, Forbes Forbes had had followed followed money money trails,trails, attempting, attempting, unsuccessfully, unsuccessfully, to trace to trace themthem backback to to the ringleaders. the ringleaders.

A year A year afterafter his transfer, his transfer, Forbes Forbes tooktook a twoa twomonth month leaveleave of absence of absence to write to write a book a book aboutabout sexual sexual slavery slavery in in the twenty-first the twenty-first century. century.

Prosecutors Prosecutors believed believed the real the real reason reason he took he took the leave the leave of abof absencesence was to wasmurder to murder the suspects. the suspects.

Six weeks Six weeks afterafter Forbes Forbes left to leftwrite to write his book, his book, the U.S. the U.S. Coast Coast Guard Guard boarded boarded an adrift an adrift yachtyacht called called the Harén the Harén— — Spanish Spanish for for “harem” “harem” — off—the offcoast the coast of Florida. of Florida.

The The bloated, bloated, headless headless bodies bodies of sixof people, six people, including including Bedrossian, Bedrossian, Octavio, Octavio, and and Rhee, Rhee, werewere found found aboard, aboard, all ofall them of them shot shot dead.dead.

In compartments In compartments belowdecks, belowdecks, Coast Coast Guard Guard officers officers found found sixteen sixteen teenage teenage girlsgirls fromfrom Brazil, Brazil, Cambodia, Cambodia, and and India.India.

TheyThey werewere all starving all starving and dehydrated. and dehydrated.

The The girlsgirls laterlater said said the shootings the shootings had had occurred occurred four four nights nights before. before.

They’d They’d heardheard a boat a boat comecome alongside alongside the yacht, the yacht, which which was was not an notuncommon an uncommon occurrence. occurrence.

Usually Usually that that meant meant therethere was awas buyer a buyer or a seller or a seller coming coming aboard. aboard.

ThenThen the shooting the shooting started, started, at first at first slowslow and methodical, and methodical, thenthen moremore frenzied. frenzied.

TheyThey heardheard the other the other boat boat leave,leave, and then and then therethere was was nothing nothing but silence but silence for days. for days.

Because Because the yacht the yacht had had beenbeen found found adriftadrift closeclose to international to international waters, waters, the FBI the had FBI been had been called called in. The in. The condition condition of the of bodies the bodies had hampered had hampered the investigation the investigation but not butthwarted not thwarted it. it.

EachEach of the of six the victims six victims had had beenbeen shot shot at point-blank at point-blank rangerange 32

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CRISS CROSS

from “Mrs. from behind, “Mrs. Edgerton,” behind, Edgerton,” rightright between I saidbetween I said wearily. the wearily. shoulder the “That shoulder “That wasblades. your wasblades. your son’s Their son’s Their defense heads defense heads in hadhisbeen had intrial hisbeen removed trial andremoved during and with during his with surgical appeals.” hissurgical appeals.” precision. precision.

“His The The “His bullets appeal, bullets appeal, not were his not were later appeals,” hislater appeals,” matched Margaret matched Margaret to a to Edgerton gun a Edgerton gun Forbes Forbes hissed. had hissed. had “You used“You used when get only when get he’d only one he’d been appeal one been a appeal field in a field agent. this in agent. primitive, this The primitive, The .40-caliber eager-to-kill .40-caliber eager-to-kill pistolpistol state.” was state.” found was found in in a closet “And a closet “And at thethe Supreme at the West the Supreme West Virginia Court Virginia Court cabin of Virginia cabin ofwhere Virginia where upheld he’dupheld he’d gone hisgone toconviction his write toconviction write his his book. and sentence, book. and The sentence, The FBIma’am.” also FBIma’am.” also found found DNADNA evidence evidence putting putting Forbes Forbes on the on the yacht.

She yacht. trembled She trembled withwith rage.rage.

“I don’t “I don’t knowknow how how you did youit, did but it,you but you did, “Alex?” did, sure “Alex?” sure asForbes I’m asForbes standing I’m saidstanding said now, here. now, pressing here.

And pressing And Ihis hope hand Ihis hope tohand against God to against God you thecarry you bulletthecarry bulletto to proof yourproof your grave window. grave window. the knowledge “Please, the knowledge “Please, you’ve that you’ve that you got to put you gotlisten an to putlisten innocent an to innocent me. to me.

Iboy didn’t Ion boy didn’t the do on the do this. otherthis. other I side wasI framed.” side of wasthat framed.” of that curtain, curtain, Dr. Cross.”

Dr. Cross.”

“By “No,who?”

“By “No, ma’am, who?” ma’am, youryour son put son himself put himself there, there, a long a long timetime ago,”ago,” I I said.

Hesaid. hesitated.

He hesitated.

“I . . . don’t “I . . . don’t knowknow . . . I can’t . . . I can’t say for saysure. for sure.

He calls He calls himself “He’s himself “He’s M.” innocent.”

M.” innocent.”

Warden Warden YatesYates said,said, “We “We needneed to begin.” to begin.”

“My“My son is son innocent!” is innocent!”

Mrs.Mrs. Edgerton Edgerton shouted. shouted.

“You“You can’tcan’t do do this!”this!”

“The“The law demands law demands this,”this,” YatesYates said.said.

“If you’d “If you’d rather rather not be not be here,here, I understand.”

I understand.”

He left Hethe leftroom. the room.

She She glared glared at me. at me.

“Remember “Remember this this moment. moment.

It’s when It’s when you you doomed doomed youryour soul.soul.

You You will burn will burn in hell.” in hell.”

ThenThen she stormed she stormed awayaway to her to her husband’s husband’s side,side, where where she she brokebroke downdown sobbing. sobbing.

A few A states few states in the incountry the country allowallow the doomed the doomed man man to choose to choose his method his method of execution; of execution; in Virginia, in Virginia, the choice the choice is lethal is lethal injecinjection tion or electrocution. or electrocution.

The The drapes drapes rolled rolled backback and revealed and revealed not anot a gurney gurney but abut heavy a heavy oak chair oak chair withwith arm,arm, leg, and leg, chest and chest straps. straps.

TwoTwo corrections corrections officers officers entered entered the death the death chamber. chamber.

Warden Warden YatesYates followed followed themthem and and watched watched his officers his officers openopen the only the only otherother doordoor in the inexecution the execution facility. facility.

A shaved-headed A shaved-headed man man in hisinearly his early forties forties stepped stepped out. He out.was He was 33 5

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C H ACPHT AE PR T E R

99 AT T H AT R E ET HT RH EATE TA HF TATE RANFOTOENR,N OI Oclimbed N , I climbed up into up into the grandstands the grandstands above above

the track the track at Coolidge at Coolidge HighHigh School, School, still feeling still feeling like I’d likeentered I’d entered somesome kindkind of twilight of twilight zonezone during during my discussion my discussion withwith Martin Martin Forbes.

Forbes.

M? M? Again?

Again?

How How is thatis even that even possible? possible?

But those But those six bodies six bodies were .were . . just. . .like just. .like . ...

“Alex?”

“Alex?”

I glanced I glanced over over to see to Nana see Nana Mama Mama waving waving at me. at My me. grandMy grandmother mother worewore a wool a wool hat and hat and jacket jacket and and had had a heavy a heavy blanket blanket across across her lap. her The lap. The drizzle drizzle had had stopped, stopped, but the but air the was air was still still chillchill and dank. and dank.

Ali, next Ali, next to her, to her, was engrossed was engrossed withwith something something on his onphone. his phone.

“How’s “How’s our girl our looking?” girl looking?”

I said, I said, sitting sitting downdown next next to them. to them.

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