Almost Dead (Lizzy Gardner #5)(12)

“Hey you.”

Kitally looked up, surprised to see Mr. Chalkor standing right in front of her. He was a stocky man—five-ten and well over 250 pounds.

“Yeah you,” he said.

“Can I help you?”

He lifted a stubby finger. “I’m going to give you a warning, but only one. Stay away from me.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Next time I see you sitting in your car taking pictures of me and my family, I’m going to make you wish you had minded your own business.”

“Are you threatening me?”

“Damn right I am.”





CHAPTER 10

Jenny parked her car a few blocks away from the apartment building. The clothes she had on were recently purchased from Goodwill: a tight-fitting beige V-neck sweater, pleated skirt, and two-inch heels. She was going for the librarian look. She would need to find out where to get more wigs like the red one she was wearing today. It was fine, but the selection at Goodwill had been too sparse for her needs.

She’d also bought a used computer from a guy on Craigslist because she planned on researching the people on her kill list—find out where they lived and what they were up to. If they lived out of state, she put them aside for now.

After everyone on her list was exterminated, she would destroy the computer. Although she sort of liked being a redhead and looked forward to being a blonde, she’d have to get rid of all the wigs and accessories, too.

In the center of the plate she carried was a chocolate cake. She’d made it herself using unbleached all-purpose flour, eggs, sugar, the best-quality dark chocolate she could find, rich European butter, and a healthy dose of cyanide.

Her shoes clacked against the cement stairs as she made her way to the third floor of the apartment building. She had checked out the place a few days ago. There were two cameras: one outside the main office and another one on the front of the building facing the main parking lot.

Standing outside Apartment 32B, she drew a deep breath, then rapped her knuckles against the door. As she waited, her heart pounded against her chest, a little bit harder with each passing second.

She’d been sitting in her car a block away, waiting and watching, when she saw Terri Kramer pull into the parking lot.

She knew Terri was home.

Jenny was about to knock again when the door opened. Terri Kramer in the flesh. She’d gained a few pounds since college, but overall she still looked young and confident. Her hair was darker than Jenny remembered and was cut short. She had big eyes and red, kissy lips stolen right off a Betty Boop comic strip.

Terri still looked the same, but Jenny didn’t. There was no possible way Terri would recognize her. She didn’t look anything like the Jenny Pickett from their college days.

“Hi! My name is Kasey Trumble, and I just moved into the apartment building last week. When I heard that a famous chemist lived in the building, I decided to bake a cake and take a minute to introduce myself.”

“I’m sorry,” Terri said. “I really don’t have time to talk right now. I’m rushing off for a business trip. Another day maybe?”

She’s not falling for it. I told you it was a dumb idea. You better get your ass inside that apartment before someone sees you.

“Oh, I see,” Jenny said. “I just thought since we’re both research chemists and being that you are everything I aspire to be, well . . . gosh, never mind.”

“You’re a chemist?”

Jenny nodded.

Terri bit down on her bottom lip. “I really am in a hurry. How about next week?”

“Does the trip you’re going on have to do with the antiaging serum you developed? If so, you better get your people to make sure your patent is airtight.”

The corners of Terri’s red bow lips turned downward. “Why do you say that?”

“Like I said, I’m a chemist. A woman I work with showed me a write-up on you in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. She swears on the Bible that she knew you in college and then worked with you at Pfizer, and that she came up with the formula first.”

Terri’s face turned a shade of green. “What’s her name?”

“Jenny Pickett.”

Jenny gave the news a minute to settle into Terri’s brain waves. Then she said, “Don’t tell me you really know Jenny Pickett?”

“I do,” Terri said. “Why don’t you come in and tell me what else she said.”

“Are you sure? I know you’re busy.”

“I’m sure, and, besides, that cake looks delicious.”

“Great,” Jenny said, making quick work of getting inside the apartment, relieved when Terri shut the door behind her. “I’ll just give you the details,” Jenny told her, “and then skedaddle out of here.”

Terri Kramer seemed to be in a daze, which was understandable, considering the news Jenny had just dumped on her.

Get this show on the road! Get some plates.

The apartment was small. The kitchen, dining, and living areas were all lumped together. Jenny pointed to the kitchen. “Where do you keep your dishes?”

Terri pulled two plates from a cupboard. “Would you like hot tea or milk?”

“Milk would be great,” Jenny said as she took a seat at one of four chairs surrounding the dining room table. There was no time for awkward silence. “Wait until you get a taste of this chocolate miracle. My grandmother passed the recipe on to me. It’s to die for.”