Exposure

by Kathy Reichs

  “It does matter!” Lucy’s finger shot toward me. “It’s the reason she’s here.”

  “We needed a ransom video.” Peter was clearly aggravated by his sister’s complaints. “The police wouldn’t take us seriously, otherwise. I’ve watched the clip a dozen times. There’s no way she used it to track us. You can’t tell where it was shot!”

  Keep them talking.

  “How did your stepfather get a copy before the police?” I asked.

  The twins’ eyes met. Then both looked at me.

  “How do you know that?” Peter demanded.

  “We haven’t tipped the police to that yet,” Lucy said on top of him.

  “It’s in his Gmail. Rex Gable had your ransom tape at least twenty-four hours before the cops.”

  “Because I planted it there,” Peter snapped. “Along with dozens of suspicious calls on his cell phone. But we weren’t gonna nudge the authorities toward Rex until after . . . everything.”

  His voice hardened. “How do you know about it, Tory Brennan?”

  “I hacked his email.” Fighting to keep my voice steady. “I told you, I was trying to help.”

  “We had everything mapped out!” Lucy was standing with her arms crossed. “The email. The video. The fake blood puddle.”

  “The stain in your basement was fake?” That got my attention. “But it reacted to Luminol. Bleach was used to clean it, obviously, but the underlying substance triggered as well.”

  I didn’t mention my dog claiming he smelled blood.

  Peter’s eyes became saucers. “We used horseradish sauce, plus a little blood at the edges. Then we cleaned the spot with bleach to confuse the issue. But how in the world could you—”

  I pounced while Peter was thrown. “What did you do with Ella Francis? Why take her?”

  For a moment, both twins simply stared at me.

  “What are you talking about?” Lucy finally managed.

  Peter actually grabbed my arm. “Ella Francis is missing?”

  There was something new in Peter’s eyes. Uneasiness. A touch of panic.

  I opted for a straightforward approach. “Ella Francis disappeared several days after you did.”

  Watching Peter closely, I added, “A zodiac card was left on her bed.”

  Peter immediately shook his head. “Impossible. Ella has zero to do with this.”

  Lucy spoke through clenched teeth. “Screwing with our heads, Brennan? It’s not gonna work. No one else was abducted. We’re not even abducted! You can’t BS your way out if this one.”

  I stared hard. “You really don’t know?”

  Peter was still gripping my shirtsleeve. He thrust his face within inches of mine.

  “Think carefully about continuing to lie, Tory. I’m all out of patience.”

  I ripped my sleeve away. These idiots didn’t know where Ella was.

  Which meant I was done playing along.

  “Someone kidnapped Ella Thursday night.” I rose, causing Peter to shoot up beside me. “She’s been missing more than forty-eight hours. A zodiac card depicting Cetus was left on her bed. I’m not making this up. And I’m through with the two of you. Now tell me who else is involved in this ridiculous plot. I’m all out of patience.”

  Peter’s face twisted in anger. “You don’t tell us what to do! I don’t think you appreciate your situation here, Brennan. We’re in charge, not you. You better watch your—”

  Both hands on his chest. Full shove. With white-hot rage exploding inside me, I didn’t need my flare power to knock this bully down.

  Peter landed on his butt, then scrambled backward. Awkwardly regaining his feet, he stared at me in shock. Lucy covered her mouth.

  My hands found my hips. “I don’t think you appreciate the situation. Your jackass game is over. Ella Francis was kidnapped, whether you planned for it to happen or not. Now you’d better tell me who you’re working with, or I’m going to beat it out of you!” My voice had risen to a shout. “You spoiled, self-centered, psychotic, awful people!”

  Peter’s eyes darted to his sister, then back to me. “You’re crazy!”

  “I’m much worse than that.” Smiling without a trace of warmth. “I suggest you don’t test me on this point.”

  Deep within, I felt the wolf crack an eyelid.

  I didn’t drop the leash. Not yet. But I let my primal essence stir.

  These two morons were going to tell me what I wanted to know.

  One way or another. Consequences be damned.

  Peter took a single step toward me.

  I grasped the invisible veil that held my powers at bay. Prepared to discard it.

  Outside, the padlock rattled. Clicked. Hinges screeched.

  All heads turned as the barn door swung open.

  “It’s true,” the man said. “Unbelievable.”

  I ran to meet the bulky figure slipping through the door.

  Finally, a bit of luck.

  “Detective Hawfield!” My finger shot back toward the disheveled twins. “They faked the whole thing! They don’t know about Ella, but they’re working with someone, and . . .”

  I trailed off.

  So stupid.

  I backpedaled from Hawfield as the pieces slid into place. “You.”

  “What’s she talking about, Fergus?” Peter’s voice had an edge. “If you’ve gone off script, I’m going to be very upset.”

  Detective Hawfield closed the door behind him. Crossed his arms. Sighed.

  “How did she find you?”

  “Who knows?” Lucy spat. “Ask her. We haven’t left this dump since you brought us here.”

  Hawfield stood between me and the door. The twins blocked my path to the window. I tried not to panic, fully aware that the danger level had just risen dramatically. Hawfield’s service revolver—a Heckler & Koch HK45—gleamed from its holster.

  Come on, Virals. Where are you? Time to track ol’ Tory down.

  Edging away from the detective, I cursed myself a fool.

  How did I miss the signs?

  “You’re the leak.” The words slipped out before I could stop them.

  “That I am,” Hawfield replied, absently hitching his belt. “We needed media pressure to move the money along. Rex Gable is one tight son of a gun.”

  “What’s this talk about Ella Francis?” Peter glared at Hawfield with evident distaste.

  “Collateral damage.” Hawfield shrugged. “She knew things that didn’t work for us. I took care of it.”

  My blood turned to ice. Ella!

  “You don’t make decisions like that!” Peter shouted. “You don’t make decisions at all!”

  Hawfield said nothing.

  “You’re our employee, Fergus.” Lucy’s words dripped with scorn. “This is our plan. We call the shots. Leave the thinking to those who are good at it.”

  “You’re only to do as you’re told,” Peter seethed. “Nothing more or less. We’re paying you enough for that.”

  “I did what was necessary.” Hawfield’s voice was light, his face devoid of emotion. “Same as we’ll have to do with this one. Can’t have loose ends running around, telling tales.”

  Peter tensed. His gaze dropped to the floor.

  Another step back.

  Inside, I prepared. The cage around my powers began to weaken.

  No way was I going down easy.

  “What do you mean?” Lucy looked to her brother, confused. “What was necessary?”

  Peter glanced in my direction, eyes full of doubt.

  “Don’t worry yourself.” Hawfield’s hands met behind his back. “I’ll handle the messy stuff. I can take care of both girls at once, as soon as payment is received. We’ll need them until then, however, as insurance policies. I’ll stick this girl in with the other one.”

&nb
sp; My heart leaped. Ella must still be alive!

  Lucy seemed to finally grasp what she was hearing. “You’re talking about killing her. And Ella Francis, too?” Once more, her eyes darted to her brother. “Peter, he’s lost his mind!”

  Peter stared at the floorboards. A single vein was pumping in his neck.

  “They shouldn’t have stuck their noses in this,” he mumbled. “It’s their own fault.”

  “We don’t have a lot of options,” Hawfield said.

  I kept very still, thinking furiously on how to escape.

  Ignoring Hawfield, Lucy hurried over and grabbed her brother’s arm. “Peter, what are you saying? Use your head. No one was supposed to get hurt. You promised. We’d fool Rex and take our own money. But now—” she choked on her words as their enormity sank in, “—you’re talking about . . . murdering . . . two people we know!”

  Peter ripped from his sister’s grasp. He took a few steps, keeping his back to me.

  “What are we supposed to do?” Voice shaking. “Super cop over there already kidnapped Ella. It’s done. We can’t undo it!”

  Peter spun, jabbed an unsteady finger my direction. “Tory’s standing right here! She knows everything. How do we deal with that? You think she’ll agree to forget the whole thing?”

  “I’ll keep your secret,” I lied immediately. “Just let me go.”

  Hawfield snorted.

  “You’re just saying that!” Peter roared at me, before turning on his sister. “Do you want to save our trust fund or not? Because right now, there’s no other way . . . no path around . . .”

  His entire frame shuddered.

  “Things are too far gone,” he finished, practically whispering.

  Hawfield nodded grimly, one hand dropping to the butt of his HK45.

  Lucy stared at Peter in disbelief. “Of course there’s another way! We shove Tory in with Ella, take the ransom, and bolt. We can tell the police where to find them later—that might even buy us more time to escape. Who cares what happens after we blow town? We’re gonna disappear anyway!” Her hands flew up. “We don’t have to kill anyone!”

  “You’re planning to disappear by pretending to be dead,” Hawfield countered. “A ruthless double-cross by the kidnapper, after payment was received. Everything changes if the police know what really happened. They’ll hunt you down as fugitives.”

  Peter shook his head, suddenly unsure. “Maybe Lucy’s right. We could try—”

  “And I think you’re forgetting about me.” Hawfield’s voice grew colder by the word. “I’m not planning some tropical getaway. I have a life here, and a position of respect. I won’t be abandoning them after getting my cut. And both girls know I’m involved.”

  Hawfield gave a tight shake of his head. “No, you’d best leave this part to me. I’ll make sure there’s nothing hanging out there to worry us. We’ll get our money. The plan will proceed without any more speed bumps.”

  Peter waved a dismissive hand. “I don’t remember asking your opinion, Fergus.”

  Hawfield stiffened at the rebuke.

  “Let’s call it off,” Lucy said suddenly. “We can just leave. Stick Tory and Ella on a deserted island somewhere and get out of town. Wait for the whole thing to blow over.”

  Peter’s eyes met the identical pair belonging to his sister. Something passed between them. Then, slowly, he began to nod.

  “Things got too crazy.” His gaze flicked to me. “No one was supposed to get hurt. We just wanted what was ours, that’s all. I think I lost my mind a little.”

  “It’s okay,” I said, trying to make his feel comfortable. “I understand. I’ll tell the police what happened.”

  “You’re not telling the police anything.” Hawfield’s face was granite.

  “Enough, Fergus.” Lucy sneered at the detective. “It’s over. We’re not killing our classmates for money like a bunch of psychopaths. I always knew you were too simple for this scheme. Where is Ella, anyway? Do you have her in that awful cell?”

  For a moment, Hawfield said nothing. But something changed behind his eyes.

  I inched toward the door.

  Abruptly Hawfield laughed, startling everyone. The guffaws lasted for at least ten seconds, before trailing off into breathy chuckles. He wiped his eyes with thick, hairy knuckles.

  The twins rolled their eyes. They didn’t get it.

  But I did.

  Not good.

  Hawfield removed his gun from its holster and addressed the twins. “You two really are impossibly stupid, you know that? I guess it was just a matter of time.”

  Peter strode toward the detective. “Now listen to me, you cretin. I’ve about had it with—”

  Hawfield whipped the gun across Peter’s face, knocking him to the floor.

  Scarlet ropes flew from Peter’s nose. More blood ran between his fingers as he lay on the hardwood, clutching his face in agony.

  Lucy screamed. Dragged her brother away from Hawfield.

  I tensed, preparing to sprint, but Hawfield aimed the HK45 at me.

  Muscles frozen, I stared into the terrible black emptiness of the gun barrel, imagining what the bullets inside could do to my flesh.

  Hawfield spoke calmly. “I’ve let you children think you’re in charge long enough. Since you don’t intend to be sensible, I’m done pretending.” The detective snorted. “Did you think this was some rich kids’ game? That you could just pack up the pieces if things turned ugly?”

  All levity left Hawfield’s voice. “There’s no ‘calling it off.’ I want my money, and I’m going to get it. And I have no intention of spending the rest of my life in prison because you two didn’t have the stomach to finish the job.”

  “We won’t help you,” Lucy hissed. “I’ll tell the police everything.”

  From his knees, Peter nodded, sending blood spatter onto his knees.

  Shut up, you two!

  Hawfield sighed. “That’s what I figured. Which means you’ll have to go as well.”

  “What do you mean?” Then Peter’s voice cracked. “We had a deal, Fergus. Detective Hawfield, I mean. You get a million dollars just for helping!”

  The detective smirked. “You know, I think I knew this would happen from the start. I doubt I ever really planned on splitting the money. From where I’m standing, five million bucks sounds way better than one.”

  Lucy began to sob.

  Peter seemed astonished, at a total loss for words.

  I knew what I had to do.

  “I can dig four holes as easily as two,” Hawfield continued matter-of-factly. “That’s a lot tidier anyway. No loose lips to sink my ship, so to speak.”

  His placid manner was terrifying. Hawfield felt no remorse at the prospect of murdering four teens for ransom money.

  He’ll do it. He’ll kill us all.

  I risked a look at my watch. Astonishingly, I’d only been inside the barn ten minutes.

  Where the hell are the Virals?

  Hawfield noticed my glance.

  “You fools!” He stormed to the window. “This girl didn’t come out here alone. Those boys must be around, too!”

  Whipping the shade aside, Hawfield peered out the window.

  The hand gripping the gun hung at his side.

  No more time. No second chances.

  My eyes slammed shut.

  Please don’t fail me now.

  I called for the wolf.

  For the other Virals.

  For all the power that lay inside me.

  SNAP.

  Power infused me like a river of molten lava.

  My limbs burned with energy.

  I didn’t wait to test my limits. To see if my powers would cooperate.

  Eyes shining with golden light, I fired forward, slamming into Hawfield from behind.
r />   The force of my bull charge propelled him against the wall.

  The gun dropped from his fingers. Skittered across the floor.

  Unfortunately, my blitzkrieg attack had actually shoved the detective halfway through the window, blocking the best route of escape.

  I scurried backward, a growl slipping from my throat.

  At the same time, I tried to contact the Virals.

  “You little hussy!” Hawfield wheeled his bulky frame, eyes darting for the HK45.

  The pistol spun to a stop at Lucy’s feet.

  She picked it up and immediately handed it to Peter, who had risen at her side.

  Peter aimed at Hawfield, a cold smile on his bloody face. “How are things now, you stupid redneck?”

  “Peter.” My golden gaze never left the detective. No one was looking at me. “Be careful. He’s dangerous.”

  Hawfield was eyeing the gun in Peter’s hand, his face blank.

  “He’s a buffoon,” Peter said lightly, enjoying the turn of events. “A pawn in our game, nothing more. I can’t believe we relied on him. Now, toss me those cuffs, then—”

  Hawfield strode directly for Peter.

  “Don’t move!” Peter screeched, backpedaling. “Stop! I swear I’ll shoot!”

  Peter’s finger jerked. Nothing happened.

  Hawfield snatched the HK45, then backhanded Peter to the ground.

  Lucy screamed as she retreated to the desks lining the wall.

  “You have to disengage the safety,” Hawfield explained, demonstrating as he spoke. “Otherwise, the weapon can’t fire.”

  He pointed the barrel at Peter. “You were saying?”

  “Fergus, please!” Peter held up both hands in supplication. “We can work this out. You can have half the ransom! Or you take four million, and we’ll split the one.”

  “The time for deals is past,” Hawfield said. “Make your peace.”

  I shot forward again, but this time, the burly detective was ready.

  Hawfield swung the weapon toward me, stepping back to absorb any body blow.

  But the detective didn’t know what I could do.

  What a flaring Viral can do.

  I ducked past him, racing toward the furniture along the far wall. Hawfield spun awkwardly. Springing atop a desk, I pivoted, ignoring Lucy’s panicked shrieks.