I seized the one point I could use. "Take her to the hospital. One examination and the truth comes out."
Crack.
Another slap, harder than the first. My vision blurred.
"She's already been mutilated because of you, and now you want to drag her to a hospital?" His voice was low and dangerous. "What's your plan? Rip open her scars and pour salt in them?"
Geraldine sobbed, clutching her bleeding arm. "Thaddeus, it's okay. Listen to her. Take me to the hospital. Let them examine me. Let them see whether I'm lying." Her voice broke on a hiccup. "I swear I would never deceive you the way Libby did."
Thaddeus pulled her close. "I believe you. I won't let this viper hurt you ever again. Not even a scratch."
He didn't give me another chance to speak. He bound me again, tighter this time, and sealed my mouth shut with tape. Then he draped a white cloth over me.
Within minutes, the temperature around me began to climb.
The incinerator. I was being wheeled toward the incinerator again.
"Libby Fletcher." His voice came from above, flat and final. "I'm going to burn you to ash."