The second book in the Blood Trilogy series

Boston

October

SENATOR ABE LEMOTT turned from the window and looked at the man in his visitor's chair. "So that's it?"

Bishop said, "The monster who killed your daughter will spend the remainder of his pathetic life screaming at the walls. Whatever was left of his mind got broken there at the end. Or maybe a long time before the end."

"And the monster who pulled his strings? The cold, calculating mind behind him?"

"We never saw him," Bishop answered. "Even though we believe he was close enough to watch. Close enough to affect some of us. Close enough to hunt and capture the prey for his pet killer."

LaMott's mouth twisted. "Like feeding a spider."

"Yes."

"So who spun the web?"

"So far we haven't found so much as a trace of evidence that he even exists. Except, of course, that we know he does."

"What else do you know?"

"I believe I know where to start looking for him."

Senator LeMott smiled. "That's good, Bishop. That's very good indeed."

North Carolina

January

SARAH KEPT to what little shadows the winter-bare trees provided as she worked her way through the forest that separated the Compound from the road. The full moon made this night an uneasy one for stealth, but she hadn't been given much choice in the matter. Waiting even another day was potentially far more dangerous than acting, soShe sensed more than heard a sound and froze, her arms tightening around the sleeping child.