“Oh, my God,” Patreaux murmured with a shudder of revulsion.
“Before the victim dies, he or she goes blind and suffers considerable agony. There’s no drug powerful enough to kill the parasite without killing the patient, so it can be said there’s no cure. It would be interesting to see how somebody like VanderKlaven and the others who knowingly profit from what he does would like being inoculated with a culture containing a strain of that parasite. After all, it would make their situation somewhat analogous to the men, women, and children with things like diphtheria or cholera who didn’t respond to the watered-down medicine administered to them.”
“Oh, Jesus,” Patreaux said in a cracked voice as he realized that this was precisely what Chant had done—or would do. As had happened so many times in the past, the Swiss found himself at once horrified and thrilled by the acts Chant was capable of. John Sinclair, he thought, might strike terror in the hearts of countless people, but it could never be said that he wasn’t extremely selective when it came to choosing his victims.
Chant rose, extended his hand across the desk. “Now I have to go back to finish up my business with VanderKlaven, Gerard. You know how much I appreciate your letting me know about Harry.”
Patreaux rose, gripped Chant’s hand firmly with both of his. “Thanks for coming, my friend; it’s made me feel better just talking to you. I hope we’ll see each other soon—under better circumstances.”
“Yes,” Chant replied evenly, staring hard into the other man’s face. “In the meantime, there’s something I’d like you to do for me.”
“Chant, you know I’d do anything you ask—assuming it’s in my power.”
“I’m glad you feel that way, Gerard,” Chant said with just the faintest trace of a smile, “because you’re not going to like this at all.”
Buy The Silent Killer Now!
All rights reserved, including without limitation the right to reproduce this ebook or any portion thereof in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © by George C. Chesbro
Cover design by Ian Koviak
ISBN: 978-1-4976-9692-1
This edition published in 2017 by MysteriousPress.com/Open Road Integrated Media, Inc.
180 Maiden Lane
New York, NY 10038
www.openroadmedia.com
THE CHANT MYSTERIES
FROM MYSTERIOUSPRESS.COM
AND OPEN ROAD MEDIA
MYSTERIOUSPRESS.COM
MYSTERIOUSPRESS.COM
Otto Penzler, owner of the Mysterious Bookshop in Manhattan, founded the Mysterious Press in 1975. Penzler quickly became known for his outstanding selection of mystery, crime, and suspense books, both from his imprint and in his store. The imprint was devoted to printing the best books in these genres, using fine paper and top dust-jacket artists, as well as offering many limited, signed editions.
Now the Mysterious Press has gone digital, publishing ebooks through MysteriousPress.com.
MysteriousPress.com. offers readers essential noir and suspense fiction, hard-boiled crime novels, and the latest thrillers from both debut authors and mystery masters. Discover classics and new voices, all from one legendary source.
FIND OUT MORE AT
WWW.MYSTERIOUSPRESS.COM
FOLLOW US:
@emysteries and Facebook.com/MysteriousPressCom
MysteriousPress.com is one of a select group of publishing partners of Open Road Integrated Media, Inc.
The Mysterious Bookshop, founded in 1979, is located in Manhattan’s Tribeca neighborhood. It is the oldest and largest mystery-specialty bookstore in America.
The shop stocks the finest selection of new mystery hardcovers, paperbacks, and periodicals. It also features a superb collection of signed modern first editions, rare and collectable works, and Sherlock Holmes titles. The bookshop issues a free monthly newsletter highlighting its book clubs, new releases, events, and recently acquired books.
58 Warren Street
[email protected]
(212) 587-1011
Monday through Saturday
11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
FIND OUT MORE AT:
www.mysteriousbookshop.com
FOLLOW US:
@TheMysterious and Facebook.com/MysteriousBookshop
SUBSCRIBE:
The Mysterious Newsletter
Find a full list of our authors and
titles at www.openroadmedia.com
FOLLOW US
@OpenRoadMedia
Code of Blood Page 22