Chapter 18
Edward Kenney was back in the bosom of his wife and two lovely children, and Roger Teal was in the company of his soon-to-be ex-wife—the clock had been ticking on the marriage for a while—and the teenage daughter he wouldn’t miss after the divorce came through, though he supposed he’d have to put up a fuss about visitation rights for appearances’ sake.
But if Edward Kenney was right about the Saint’s plans, and a fourth player was to be introduced, too many years might pass before Teal was permitted to play the Game again.
In that case, a divorce would be for the best, because what Teal hadn’t told Kenney—was reluctant to admit even to himself—was that as he slowly finished off Nola Maddick in Detroit, savoring the moment, he had briefly visualized both his wife and his daughter, Maddick’s face transforming first into one, then the other; and rather than giving Teal pause, it only made him want to hurt Maddick more.
If he was to retain his freedom, and thus continue playing the Game, it was important that these XX chromosome sources of domestic aggravation should be distanced as quickly as possible.
As for what he’d do if forced to delay playing, he might have to look into some form of medication.
He could ask his physician to prescribe a pill for anxiety, preferably with the additional benefit of temporarily curbing his libido.
Yet should he have to go to all that trouble because the Saint wanted to increase the number of players from three to four?
They were getting along fine as they were.
They had a system. They looked out for one another, one for all and all for one, because if one fell, so might three.
A new player would only complicate matters and put them at risk.
Teal still hoped Kenney was wrong about the Saint, but his experience was that Kenney—chubby, hail-fellow-well-met, wouldn’t-hurt-a-fly Ed—was rarely wrong about much, not when it came to the Game.
If so, it meant the Saint was not only on the verge of introducing a fourth player, but might have embarked on a separate Game of his own. That would be selfish and dangerous.
Teal visualized killing the Saint. It turned out to be easier than expected. Easier, and surprisingly pleasurable.