Chapter 56 Gabi
GABI
Present Day
“It’s all over the news and social media,” I say to Monroe who continues to pace the length of the motel room.
“Maybe we went too far with the spray paint,” she contemplates.
“I mean, Sigma will be on high alert. We practically sent them a public invitation to their own funerals. I wonder if they will cancel the Ceremony?”
“No,” she answers, shaking her head. “Knowing Kieren, he won’t take any precaution. In fact, he’ll double down on his recklessness, daring whoever is behind these incidents to do something brash.”
“I’m positive he thinks it’s me,” she states. “If it were just Barrett, he’d speculate, but after Harrison, the crime scene alone would be enough to be conclusive in his mind. This is good, though. This is what we want,” she says with conviction. “It will work in our favor.”
“How?” I stammer.
“Because we’ll be able to walk right in, through the front door no less,” she insists as if it’s obvious.
“Again, how?” I ask. I see the wheels turning, but I’m worried wheels are the only thing taking up space in Monroe’s brain at the moment.
“He’ll throw a party as bait. He wants me to come get him, and he knows an open party gives us easy access.
Watch. I bet it will be tomorrow. He’ll think it’s the perfect response to the accusations against Barrett and Harrison, playing them off like they’re a hoax from a deranged fanboy.
Sigma as a whole will need to appear unbothered. ”
“You do know him well.” I have to give her that much. “But do you really think he’d be so chauvinistic?”
“Do I think the man who put me in a dog cage to starve while killing women for fun believes he’s invincible and would be stupid enough to let us walk right in? Yes! This is a game to him! He might as well pull out a megaphone and start begging.”
“I still don’t understand why you don’t just kill him. You clearly don’t have an aversion to blood or torture. End him and get this nightmare over with!”
“I didn’t kill Barret or Harrison. Maybe I left them inches away from death, but they’ll pull through.
I’m not a murderer. I’m not like them, even if these guys do deserve to die, I don’t have it in me to take a life.
I’m not God. Besides, death is the easy way out for people like Kieren.
He stole my life, Gabi! If I manage to make it through, I’ll never be able to go back to being who I was.
Monroe as you knew her is dead and buried, she died in that fucking dog cage. ”
She pauses, then admits, “I had my step-cousins help me establish a new identity.”
“What do you mean ‘establish a new identity’? Like steal someone’s identity?”
“Same thing.”
“Monroe! Who are you and when did you become okay with being a criminal? If you’re caught, you’ll go to prison!”
“Umm, news flash Gabi, we just tortured two men and defaced personal property. We’re fucking criminals!”
“I guess you’re right,” I lament, flopping back onto the oversized, stiff chair.
“Let’s go over the order of operations again,” Monroe states. “If things go south tomorrow, I plan to take the fall.”
“Absolutely not,” I protest.
“Gabi! I’ve got nothing to live for! You do!”
“What happens if we’re caught and they put us in one of those dog cages?” I ask, terrified by the high probability of this outcome.
“Survive,” Monroe deadpans. “Survive and play off their insecurities. If Kieren catches me, I’m dead, and I’ve accepted that outcome. If you’re caught, I’d bet Jace will insist on being the one to inflict your punishment, and if that scenario happens, you know what you have to do, right?”
I nod with trepidation I hope Monroe doesn’t see.
In theory, one could argue I’ve been conducting psychological warfare on Jace Carver for over two years, toying with his emotions for my own satisfaction.
But if I’m on his turf and subjected to torture like Monroe, I don’t know if I’ll be able to withstand his wrath.
Trapped in his bedroom, forced into a dog cage and starved?
I can’t let myself think of that outcome. It won’t happen. Our plan tomorrow will work, and then I’ll never have to see Jace Carver’s face again.