Дэвид Балдаччи - Mercy

“Then it’s Lee’s?”

“No, she can’t afford it, either. It... it belongs to a man named Jack Lineberry. He’s very wealthy, and he let us use it.”

“And what’s his connection to all this? Why did he let you borrow his wheels?”

Blum put the key in the ignition and started the engine. “I suppose you have to know this, and now is as good a time as any.”

“Know what?”

“Jack Lineberry is your biological father.”

Mercy took this calmly. She nodded and glanced out the window. “So our mom was quite the guy magnet?”

“I don’t think it was like that at all. He was her handler when she was working undercover to bring down some Mafia families. They... they had feelings for each other. Or something like that, and your mother became pregnant with you and your sister.”

“So how did she end up with this Tim guy?”

“They fell in love. Jack is quite a bit older than your mother, and their... relationship might have had more to do with the work they were doing, at least for your mother. I have to say that Jack Lineberry was very much in love with your mother, and probably still is.”

“And where is our mother?”

“With Tim, presumably.”

“And Lee? Where is she in all this?”

“When your sister was in college, your mother left her without any real explanation. She doesn’t know where your mother is.” Blum studied her closely. “You’re taking all this quite calmly.”

“Well, it’s no more earth-shattering than anything else you’ve already told me in the last ten minutes.”

This blunt statement made Blum smile. “You are more like your sister than you know.”

“Am I?” Mercy said dubiously. “My life has been very different from hers, apparently.”

“I know some of what you went through with Desiree.”

“I dreamed of killing her a thousand times.”

“I’m sure you have.”

“I came here to kill her.”

“Yes, Agent Pine assumed that.”

“Agent Pine, huh? FBI and everything? Didn’t know they had many gals doing that.”

“She’s an excellent agent, one of the very best.” Blum pulled out of the parking lot and headed toward the street.

“Good for her,” said Mercy, but the voiced compliment rang hollow. “And you’ve been looking for me for a while now?”

“Yes. It’s been quite the journey, with a lot of twists and turns.”

“Yeah, I bet.”

Blum glanced at her.

“What have you been doing all this time, Mercy?”

“Just surviving. Like everybody else.”

“It will be difficult for you to see Desiree, won’t it?”

“It may be more difficult for her than me.”

Blum said sharply. “You didn’t escape from that awful woman just so she could put you back in prison, did you?”

“I feel like I have every right to kill her.”

“But if you do, she wins. And I know you’re smart enough to know that. But if you can’t promise me you won’t attack her, then we’re not going to see Desiree.”

“She may be the only lead to find your boss.”

“And your sister . So unless you’re prepared to hold back your natural anger, we’re not going to be able to find Agent Pine, which means she’ll probably die.”

“I should have more feelings for her,” said Mercy, perhaps with a degree of honesty that startled even her. “But it’s been a long time. And a lot of shit happened in between. And she got to stay home. I lost the rhyme. I got pitched into the nightmare.”

Blum pursed her lips. “Ito Vincenzo, the man who kidnapped you, also cracked your sister’s skull that night. She lay there all night with her brain bleeding. It was only a miracle that she lived after a long time in the hospital. That night destroyed your family. Your sister later thought Tim killed himself, but your mother lied about that. Then she left to join Tim, as I said, leaving your sister all alone. It seems that Vincenzo apparently thought he was taking you to a good situation, where you would be taken care of. He knew nothing about Desiree. So I think, at least in his mind, that you were the winner of the rhyme and your sister was the loser.”

Blum looked over at Mercy to find her glowering at her.

“I wasn’t a winner in any way, shape, or form.”

Blum said hastily, “Of course you weren’t. I’m only saying that Vincenzo meant to kill your sister, not you.”

Mercy settled back in her seat and glanced out the window.

Blum said, “And, unlike you, Agent Pine has very firm memories of you. She’s lived with that loss for the last thirty years.”

Mercy said in a far calmer tone, “Desiree managed to beat those memories out of me. I remember snatches here and there. The name Lee. The fact that somebody else was there, you know?”

“Yes, I can understand that.”

“But it’s not the same as having memories. It’s just shit in your head you can’t make sense of. Like somebody gave you a book to read but first smeared all the words so badly that you can only make a couple out. It’s... a hard thing to live with, knowing it’s there somewhere, but never being able to find it.” She looked over at Blum. “Sorry if how I talk doesn’t measure up. You said your boss went to college and everything. I may sound dumb, but I’m mostly not. I read a lot. Books got me through a bunch’a shit.”

“You sound just fine to me. And I think given what happened to you, it’s a miracle you’re even alive.”

“I don’t give up. I never have. You hurt me, I just try harder.”

“That is exactly who your sister is.”

Mercy nodded but didn’t comment.

“And Desiree?” asked Blum nervously.

Mercy didn’t answer right away. “I won’t lay a hand on her.”

“And why is that?”

“Because you’re right. I don’t want to lose, especially to that bitch.” A moment of quiet passed and then she added, “And maybe I’d like a shot at meeting my sister. Alive.”

Mercy followed Blum, who was trailing Deputy Tate Callum down the hall toward the cell holding Desiree Atkins. And she was sweating. For two reasons. First, she was in a jail surrounded by cops; that was bad enough. She’d been in jail on the other side of the bars, and this was bringing back all those memories. Second, she was about to see the woman who had tortured and then very nearly killed her a long time ago. She knew which was worse: the flesh-and-blood woman easily won over the steel bars.

Callum glanced at Blum. “And where is Agent Pine today?”

“Tied up. She just wanted me to follow up on a few questions. Agent Cain here is assisting us.”

They had come up with that story on the way over.

Callum eyed Mercy. “So, you work undercover, Agent Cain?”

Mercy smiled, ran a hand over her scalp, and touched her stained sweatshirt. “What was your first clue? Other than the fact that I don’t have my badge with me?”

He laughed. “Right. Boy, they grow the ladies tall at the Bureau, don’t they?”

They reached the cell door and Callum opened it and ushered them through. “Just let the jailer know when you’re done.” He closed the door behind them and headed back down the hall.

Desiree turned and saw Mercy. “Holy shit!”

Mercy said nothing. She just stared down at the woman.

Desiree backed up against the wall. “Don’t you dare come near me.” She glared at Blum. “What the hell do you think you’re doing bringing this psycho here?”

“I thought it was high time you two were finally reunited.” Blum failed to hide a smile.

Mercy looked around and then sat down on the lower bunk. “Nice, clean digs, Desiree. You should be able to make do in a place like this for, what, the rest of your shitty life?”