I, Alex Cross

"Nicholson’s obviously one of them, but that’s all he is, Ned. It’s like that old story about the five blind men and all the elephant parts."
    "Which makes Nicholson what —
the asshole?
"
    I had to laugh. Mahoney is never without a quick response, and he’s at his best when the pressure’s on.
    "I think someone came after the same thing we’re looking for, only they got to him first. Which just means they have more puzzle pieces to work with than we do."
    "Or" — Mahoney held up a finger — "he staged his own disappearance. It wouldn’t be hard — drop a few suitcases, bust up some furniture, and he’s halfway over the Atlantic with his little snuff film collection while we’re still dusting the house for prints."
    We batted possibilities around some more, until another call came in. Whatever it was got Mahoney excited — again. He punched an address into his laptop.
    A few seconds later, we were following the GPS onto the Beltway toward Alexandria — but not to Nicholson’s house.
    "Avalon Apartments," Mahoney said. "Nicholson came up on a tenant database. Guess he missed a payment or something."
    "A rental?" I said. "In the same town where he already lives?"
    Mahoney nodded. "Lives with his
wife,
" he said, "who I’m betting is at least fifteen years older than whoever we find behind door number two. What do you say — twenty bucks?"
    "No bet."

Chapter 54

    TONY NICHOLSON LEANED forward from the backseat, as far as the cuffs would allow. He could see that the lights on the second floor were on.
    "We don’t need to be here," he said. "She doesn’t know anything. I promise you."
    The one who had ruined Nicholson’s leg opened the passenger door. "Who knows?" he said. "Maybe you talk in your sleep."
    He got out and went to the front door. Then he used one of Nicholson’s keys to let himself in.
    Nicholson was thinking that he still might be able to save himself, and maybe Mara. He had a surreal image of her beautiful face trapped inside a plastic bag.
    The driver was tall and blond — like him — with pale eyes and a square forehead. He looked more intelligent than the spic. Maybe he was more reasonable too.
    "Listen," Nicholson said in a whisper. "I do know what you’re looking for. I can help you get it, but not without some kind of exit strategy for me."
    The man sat straight and still, staring out the windshield as if Nicholson hadn’t spoken.
    "I’m willing to make a deal, is what I’m saying."
    Still nothing from the front seat.
    "For the disk. Of
Zeus.
Do you hear me? I’ll tell you where it is."
    "Yeah," the blond guy finally said. "You will."
    "So… why won’t you make a deal? Now? Here? Why the hell not?"
    The driver’s fingers drummed lightly on the wheel. "Because we’re going to kill you anyway. You and the girlfriend."
    Nicholson felt a hollow beating in his chest, and he was finally feeling as if nothing mattered anymore. He laughed, a little desperately.
    "Jesus, friend, I don’t mean to tell you your job, but then why the hell would I —"
    All at once, the driver turned, reached down, and squeezed the soft parts of Nicholson’s mangled knee.
    The pain was instant and stunning. His jaw dropped open even as his throat closed up. Nicholson couldn’t breathe, much less scream, and in the strange silence, his tormentor’s low voice was easy to hear.
    "Because at some point, friend, you’re going to stop wanting to live and start wanting to die. Understand? And if you haven’t told us what we want to know by then — believe me, you will."

Chapter 55

    THE CAR DOOR opened and Mara slid in, thin hips first, with the other man’s hand cupping her blond head of hair. Nicholson saw him tuck a .45 into his waistband before he slammed shut the car door behind her.
    His girlfriend looked understandably freaked out. Hell, she was only twenty-three years old. Her arms came together in front, with a sweater draped over them to hide the cuffs. He’d given her that sweater as a present. Cashmere. From the Polo store in Alexandria. Happier days.
    "You okay?"
    "Jesus, Tony, what’s going on? He told me he was the police. Showed me a badge. Is he?"
    "Just don’t say anything," Nicholson told her quietly. His injured leg felt as though it were going to explode. It was nearly impossible to focus, and Mara’s being here only made matters worse. A whole lot worse, actually. Nicholson loved her.
    She was the complete opposite of Charlotte. For one thing, she knew too much. For