Virals(90)

Now I was confused.

"Thursday night. You and your goons shot professor Karsten on Morris Island."

"I've never set foot on Morris Island."

This wasn't making sense.

"Did you chase Hi and Shelton through the market earlier that night?"

"The market?" Chance rose and moved to the foot of the staircase. "Is this a joke? What are you talking about?"

His tone? His expression? Somehow, I believed he really was clueless about Karsten's death.

Not sure why, but I did.

"Thursday night we were meeting with ... a friend on Morris Island. An adult." I watched Chance closely. "Men came. They were armed, and dressed exactly as you were on Loggerhead."

"I wasn't there, I swear." Chance looked genuinely shocked. "What happened?"

"We escaped. Our friend stayed behind." My fingers tightened on the railing. "The bastards shot him."

For a long moment, Chance stared into space. A tremor shook his right hand.

"I know nothing about that," he said flatly. "Nothing."

Then Chance looked up, eyes hard with resolve.

"Give me your bag," he demanded.

"What?"

"Your bag." Stepping back so he could see me more clearly. "You found Heaton's notebook. I'm betting you have it now. I want it. And my fingerprint report. And everything you just stole from that cabinet. Game over."

Stupid, stupid, stupid. Why did I bring the notebook with me?

"Hollis murdered Katherine," I said. "And probably ordered the hit on Karsten. People will notice he's missing. The police will investigate. Eventually his body will be found. The truth will come out, no matter what you do."

Chance shook his head. "Not true. Once I destroy the evidence, including the skeleton, the past will stay buried. You just need to let this go."

"You father is trying to kill me and my friends!"

"I'll stop that." Chance's voice expressed a confidence his face lacked. "But I won't sacrifice my family's good name over a four-decade-old murder. And I won't put my father in jail."

It was futile. Chance would never help me.

My eyes sought an escape route. Found none. The staircase was the only way down.

Fight back.

I closed my eyes. Concentrated every fiber of my being on bringing out my powers.

And failed. I couldn't trigger a second flare.

"Tory."

My eyes opened. Chance watched me closely.

"The bag. Now!" He smiled darkly. "Let's not make this unpleasant."

Just survive. Regroup.

I wound down the stairs. Chance held out a hand. I passed him my backpack and the dog tags. What else could I do?

"Good." Chance nodded. "Now get out of my house and keep your mouth shut. This will be our little secret."

I'd been dismissed. Chance wasn't even worried enough to escort me off the premises. He knew he'd won.

I walked to the door.

Looked back.

Chance gave a smirky five-finger wave.

I fled as fast as I could.





CHAPTER 65


The Brennan girl walked right past the Bentley.

Hollis Claybourne nearly swallowed his cigar. He cracked his knuckles. Veins pulsed in his oversized nose.

The little bitch had been inside his house!

His mind raced. Should he chase her down? The girl was only a half block away. He could finish this problem himself.

No. Too dangerous. He couldn't risk grabbing her in broad daylight.

The kid will have to take care of it.

And I can't be here, Hollis thought. I need an alibi.

Hollis pounded his fist against the screen seperating the driver's compartment.

"Change of plans," he said. "Back to the capitol."

"You wanna go back, sir?" the driver asked. "We just got here."

"Now, you imbecile!"

Hollis regretted hiring Baravetto's moron nephew, but he needed people he could trust. His entire career was in jeopardy.

As the Bentley reversed down the driveway, Hollis yanked his cell phone from his suit jacket and punched the speed dial.

Two rings, then, "Yes."

"The Brennan girl," Hollis barked. "She and her friends must be dealt with immediately. I'll be in Columbia."

He heard an intake of breath. Cut off the response.

"And no more mistakes!"





CHAPTER 66


"He's lying," Shelton said. "He has to be."

Ben nodded in agreement.

Hi shifted in his seat, uneasy.

The four of us sat aboard Sewee back at the Morris Island dock. No one had any idea what to do next.

An hour before, I'd slunk from Claybourne Manor, humiliated.

The walk across town had seemed endless.

The other Virals had been relieved to see me at the marina. Then I told them about my crash and burn. No one spoke during our ride across the harbor.

"I think Chance told the truth," I said softly. "I believe him."

"But he admitted that his father killed Heaton," Shelton said. "Then he admitted stealing Heaton's bones. Chance even admitted shooting at us!" He threw up his hands. "Who else would've killed Dr. K?"