Epilogue

West smiled when he heard the voice over the intercom."Prisoner RA-4456, stand and place your hands over your head on the far wall."

West's grin widened as he complied. He expected Faith a little bit later, but he didn't mind savoring his victory early.

The guard patted him down and growled. "Don't get used to this. The only reason you're allowed to have a visitor is because she's the FBI agent who brought you in."

"Actually, I believe it was two of your fine officers who brought me in. Officers… well, I forget their names."

"Me and one billion Red Chinese don't give a shit," the guard said. "Move."

He led West out of the cell and pushed him roughly down the hall. West didn't mind. Let the ape alleviate his insecurities by abusing his prisoner. He was beneath West's notice. The one person who was worthy of his notice was now coming to acknowledge his mastery over her.

Oh, she wouldn't admit it. She'd shout and scream and yell and threaten. She might even try to kill him.

But it didn't matter. He had won. Even if she succeeded in killing him, the hole he had carved out of her heart would never be filled.

He chuckled as he thought of the brilliance of his plan. He had programmed these messages into Faith's, David's and Ellie's phones months in advance. At the time, he wasn't sure he'd need them, but if he did, then he was glad to have them.

And he had needed them. And he was glad to have had them.

The officer led him into the interrogation room. He grinned when Faith walked inside, Turk at her heels.

His grin faded when he saw her smile. It faded further when he saw what she was wearing. It occurred to him that she looked breathtaking in a dress with her hair done up and lipstick on. Had sex mattered to him as anything other than a tool to use when he played with Ellie during their marriage, he might have even found her attractive.

But why was she dressed like that? And damn it, why was she smiling?

"I didn't figure you for the sort of woman to wear a dress," he said. "Did you dress up for me?"

The guard shackled his arms and legs, and Faith continued to stare at him with that damned grin. He jutted his chin out and said, "You can grin all you want. I know you saw what happened. You thought you could outsmart me, but I told you, I know you. Inside, outside, every facet. I know you, and I knew exactly how to break you."

Faith didn't say a word. She just walked close to West and opened her cell phone.

When Faith saw the picture, the color drained from his face. "No."

There was Ellie, dressed just as beautifully as Faith with her cute little smile. Her head rested on Michael's shoulder. Across from them, David sat with his arm around Turk. Faith, presumably, had taken the picture.

"No. No, how… How did…"

Faith leaned close until her lips brushed West's ear. "I win."

She turned around and walked away. Turk gave West a look that was unmistakably a grin of his own. Then he followed her out the door.

No. That couldn't be. Damn it, that wasn't what Faith would do. She wasn't a thinker. She wasn't a detective. She was a soldier. She would want to kill him. She would go to the cabin with murder on her mind, hoping to kill him before he could kill David. He planned it so perfectly. It was so beautiful. How did…

"No… No, no, no, no!"

He leaped from the chair, crying out when the shackles held him back. "No!" he screamed. "Fuck you! Fuck you, you stupid bitch! Fuck you! Fuck you, fuck you, fuck you! I hate you!"

The last West ever heard from Faith Bold was her laughter as the door closed behind her.

***

Faith got into her car and texted David that she was on her way home. Michael and Ellie had offered to let them spend the night, but Faith had done to David's door what David had done to Michael's door, so he needed to go home and take care of that. Faith sent a follow up text that she was prepared to do anything he wanted to make it up to her.

David would reply with something sappy like, I'm just glad you're alive, honey.

That was all right. Faith would make it up to him the way she wanted. She hadn't taken the time to wear this annoyingly cute dress for no reason. She was pretty sure David would be happy with her idea.

Turk barked, and she turned to him and grinned. Then she hugged him fiercely, squeezing until he barked again. She pulled away and ruffled his fur. "We did it, Turk," she said. "We caught the bad guy."

Turk barked again, and Faith hugged him once more, briefly this time. Then she put the car in gear and left the Copycat Donkey Killer where he belonged: locked away and forgotten.