Karen Rose - Die for Me

Vito flicked a glance at Nick. “How did you prove it to him, Stacy?” Vito asked.

“I sent him a picture of Simon. The one I took for Pfeiffer.”

“It was a candid photo,” Vito remembered. “He didn’t pose for it.”

“Of course not. He wouldn’t let me take his picture, so I snapped one when he wasn’t looking. I thought I might need it someday.”

“Okay,” Nick said quietly, “now we’re going to want your help.”

Saturday, January 20, 5:00

P.M.

“You see the skinny bald guy?” Ted the Third whispered as he and Sophie stood waving good-bye to the final tour group of the day. “He’s runs a philanthropy group.”

Sophie smiled and waved. “I know. He told me. Three times.”

“He is a bit of a blowhard,” Ted admitted. “But he represents lots of rich people who want to use their money to further ‘education and the arts.’ He liked you. A lot.”

“I know. It was the only time I was glad to be in this armor. He tried to pinch my ass, Ted.” She scowled, but Ted just grinned.

“You had a sword, Sophie. Look at the bright side. Next time you might have the battle-ax.” He loosened his tie. “I think I’m going to splurge and take Darla out tonight.”

“Moshulu’s or the Charthouse?” she asked, and Ted choked on a shocked laugh.

“Our idea of a splurge is Chinese takeout.” He walked away, shaking his head.

“They never go out. They don’t have the money.”

Once again Sophie spun, the armor making her movement awkward. She glared up, more angry than startled this time. “ Theo. ”

“I can’t remember the last time we had an evening out.” Theo tilted his head. “Oh, wait. Yes, I can. It was just before Dad hired you.”

“Theo, if you have something to say, then for God’s sake, just say it.”

“Fine. Your salary is more than what my parents bring home together.”

Stunned, Sophie stared for a moment. “What?”

“They were so excited to hire you,” Theo said coldly. “My mom gave up her salary. They figured a ‘real historian’ would help them increase revenue. ‘Short-term sacrifice.’”

He turned on his heel to walk away, but Sophie grabbed his arm. “Theo. Wait.”

He stopped, but didn’t look at her.

“I had no idea my salary was a hardship for them.” And in turn, for him. She wondered what the financial hardship meant for Theo, for his future.

“Well, now you do.”

“You graduated from high school last year. What about college?”

He stiffened. “No money.”

Guilt swelled up within her and she pushed it back. Ted the Third had made sacrifices to keep this place going. But ultimately sacrifices were choices. “Theo, believe it or not, what your parents pay me is less than I’d make managing a McDonald’s. I could tell you I’d give the money back, but every penny I make pays for my gran’s nursing home.”

He turned and she saw she’d scored a small point. “McDonald’s? Really?”

“Really. You know, rather than being angry, why don’t we try to find some ways to bring more business in? More tours, new exhibits.”

His jaw tightened. “I hate the tours. They’re so… embarrassing. I mean, Patty Ann’s into all that theater stuff, but…”

“I thought it was embarrassing, too. But it reaches people, Theo. The other day when we talked, you seemed interested in building the interactive exhibit. Are you still?”

He nodded again. “I’m good with my hands.”

“I know. You did an awesome job on the paneling in the Great Hall.” Sophie thought of Michael and his blocks and the trebuchet he’d made. “Give me some time to think of a way for you to use your hands and help your-”

Her cell, which she’d tucked inside her bra, vibrated, making her jump. Quickly she loosened the strips that held on the breastplate. “Help me get this off, Theo.”

One look at the caller ID drove every thought from her mind. “It’s my Gran’s nursing home.” She answered, her heart thumping. “Hello?”

“It’s Fran.” Fran was the head nurse and her tone was urgent.

Sophie’s thumping heart stopped. “What’s wrong?”

“Anna went into cardiac arrest and we’ve called an ambulance. Sophie, you need to hurry. It’s bad, honey.”

Sophie’s knees buckled and were it not for Theo’s steadying hand she might have fallen. “I’m on my way.” Sophie closed her phone, her hands shaking. Think.

Simon. Maybe it was a lie. A trap. Conscious of Theo’s watchful eye, she dialed the nursing home, calling the main switchboard. “Hello, it’s Sophie Johannsen. I just got a call and wanted to confirm my grandmother was-”

“Sophie? This is Linda.” Another nurse. Sophie doubted even Simon Vartanian could get two nurses to lie. “Didn’t Fran call you? Get to the hospital. Now.”

“Thank you.” Sophie hung up, feeling sick. “I have to go to the hospital.”

“I’ll drive you,” Theo said.

“No. That’s okay. I’ll go with Officer Lyons.“ She looked around, panic mounting with every wild beat of her heart. “Where is he?”

“Sophie, why are cops following you around?” Theo asked, following her as she moved toward the lobby door as fast as her armored legs would allow.

“Later. Where is Lyons? Dammit.” She stopped at the door and looked out. It was dark outside. The minutes were ticking and Anna was dying. She’d been too late for Elle. She wouldn’t allow Anna to die alone. She ripped at the Velcro that held her greaves on her shins. “Help me get these things off. Please.”

Theo dropped to a crouch and removed the greaves. He grabbed her foot. “Lift.”

She obeyed, balancing one hand on the cold window as he removed her boot. She squinted out the window and saw a cop, his face half turned from view. The red glow of a cigarette hovered a few inches from his mouth. Not Lyons. She looked at her watch. It was after five. Shift change. Theo pulled off the other boot and she raced out the door, waving behind her. “Thanks, Theo. I’ll call later.”

“Sophie, wait. You don’t have any shoes on.”

“I can’t go back for them. No time.”

“I’ll get your shoes,” Theo said. “It’ll just take a second. Wait here.”

But there was no time. She ran toward the new officer, ignoring the shock of the cold sidewalk on her feet. It was only until she got to his cruiser. She’d get slippers at the hospital. “Officer, I need to go to the hospital. Now. ” She headed for the curb where his cruiser was parked, hearing his footsteps behind her.

“Dr. Johannsen, stop. I’m under orders to wait with you until one of the detectives arrives.”

“I don’t have time to wait. I have to get to the hospital.”

“Fine.” He caught up to her, took her arm. “Slow down or you’ll slip on the ice. You’re no good to your grandmother if you’re knocked unconscious.”

She opened her mouth to tell him to hurry, then froze. She hadn’t mentioned Anna. Simon. She jerked her arm away. “No.” She’d taken two steps when his arm came around her throat and he covered her mouth with a cloth. She fought like an animal, but he was big, strong, and she heard Susannah Vartanian’s voice, hauntingly quiet. Simon was bigger. “No.” But the word was muffled by the cloth and her vision began to blur.

Fight. Scream. But her body was no longer obeying her command. Her scream was shrill and loud and totally inside her own head. No one could hear her.

He was dragging her. She fought to turn her head. To see where he was taking her, but she couldn’t. She heard a door sliding open and suddenly pain was radiating up her spine. She could feel, but she could move nothing more than her eyes as she lay on her back looking out the side door of a van.