Kathy Reichs - Virals

“What are you talking about?” Chance said. “Be careful! You don’t know how to handle a gun.”

“I know more than you think. A lot more, actually.”

“It was you,” I breathed. The pieces were clicking into place. “You led the gunmen to our bunker. You shot Karsten!”

“Don’t be ridiculous!” Hannah giggled. “ I didn’t shoot anyone. Baravetto shot the silly scientist. I just watched.”

“Baravetto shot someone?” Chance looked as though he’d been punched. “What were you doing with my driver?”

“Chance, Chance.” Hannah shook her head. “Sometimes you’re like a child. Someone had to clean up your father’s mess. And, sweetheart, you just don’t have the stomach for this sort of thing.”

“How did you find us?” Ben’s rage was barely controlled. “How did you locate our bunker?”

Hannah’s eyes flicked to me. A tell.

“iFollow,” I guessed. “Hannah and I are both in Jason’s group. We joined in order to share info for our biology presentation. I never logged out, so the GPS tracked me wherever I took my phone. Even the bunker.”

“Nicely done. But, sadly, too late.” Hannah gestured with the Sig. “Put your bag on the table. Now.”

I took the pack from my shoulder and set it down.

“Back up,” she ordered. “All of you.”

We retreated several paces. Hannah strode forward, grabbed the pack, then retreated to the foot of the stairs.

“Tracking you was hard,” Hannah said. “There’s no reception out on Morris, so you constantly flickered on-and-off. But we managed.” Another smile. “iFollow is how I knew you were here tonight, too.”

Chance took a step toward Hannah. She swung the Sig his way, stopping him cold.

“I don’t understand.” His eyes locked onto the barrel. “How do you know about my father’s business?”

“I overheard Hollis telling you about Cole Island and Katherine Heaton.” Hannah frowned. “I also heard him tell you what had to be done. Not that you listened.” Hannah waggled a finger. “ Someone has to make sure you don’t ruin our future.”

“I had things under control!” Chance yelled.

Hannah glanced at me. “Honestly, Chance. Flirting with this poor girl? Did you really think you could charm your way out of this mess?”

“You shouldn’t have gotten involved in Claybourne business.” A vein was bulging on Chance’s forehead.

“What? Leave it up to you? You don’t have the guts to do what’s necessary. To act like your father did, all those years ago.” Hannah jabbed the gun at his face. “You’re weak. I’m not.”

“You can’t talk to me like this!” The vein was pumping a gusher. “This is over your head.”

“Silly goose. I’m more capable than you’ll ever be. Ask your daddy.”

Chance went rock still. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

The couple locked eyes, neither looking our way. Unnoticed, I scanned the cellar for anything useful. Spotted the crowbar beside the cask of bones.

Ever so carefully, I edged toward it.

“Do you think I could order your father’s men without his permission?” Contempt tinged Hannah’s voice. “God, you can be so dense.”

Hannah crossed her arms. “I went to Hollis myself, sweetheart. I told him you weren’t able to handle this ... situation. He agreed.”

“How dare you!” Chance exploded. “You had no right!”

“We couldn’t let your weakness of character jeopardize the Claybourne fortune. Or my place in the family.”

Hannah’s eyes slid to us.

“These meddlers have seen and heard things they shouldn’t have.” She smiled sideways. “But don’t worry, Chancey. I’ll take care of the hard part.”

My mind raced.

Stall!

“Baravetto killed Dr. Karsten,” I said. “Why? You could’ve let him go.”

Hannah shrugged. Why not answer? We’d soon be dead.

“We couldn’t have a credible adult talking to the police. And Karsten knew too much about other things. Catching him with you at your hidey-hole was very lucky.”

Other things?

“The parvovirus experiment,” I guessed.

Hannah’s eyes became saucers. “Who told you about that? Even Chance doesn’t know.”

“Check my bag,” I said. “I found the deposit slips. Candela Pharmaceuticals was paying Karsten to perform illegal research. We know all about it.”

Hannah shrugged again. “True. Hollis was paying Karsten to find a cure for canine parvovirus. Candela’s next big score.”

She turned to Chance. “Your father truly is a heartless bastard. If Karsten couldn’t produce a cure, Hollis wanted him to make a designer virus. Doesn’t that sound elegant? A designer virus.”

“What do you mean?” I said.

“Hollis would’ve settled for a new disease, one that only a Candela product could cure. He wanted a virus that would infect dogs, so that he could sell new drugs to their owners. The man is a business genius.”

“That’s despicable. Karsten would never have agreed to that.”

“Who knows?” Hannah shooed the topic like a bothersome fly. “Karsten failed and paid the price. Just like you will.”

I turned to Chance. “Don’t let her do this.”

“He’s not going to help you.” Hannah’s eyes narrowed. “And keep your distance, Tory. I saw how freakishly strong you were at the dance. You knocked Jason flat.”

“Hannah, give me the gun.” Chance spoke firmly. “I don’t know how my father brainwashed you, but I’ll make him pay for it. I’m going to the police.”

“Brainwashed?” Hannah shrilled. “Do you think I’m stupid? That meek, pretty Hannah could never have done this by herself?”

Again, she jabbed the pistol in Chance’s face. “I’m not stupid, Chance. No one tricked me into anything. I’m simply taking what is mine.”

“And what is that?” Chance’s tone was pure ice. “You’re nothing now. It’s over between us. You’ll never set foot in this house again.”

Hannah laughed. “It’s so cute that you think such decisions are up to you!”

Caught off guard, Chance just stared.

I inched closer to the crowbar.

“Your father and I have an understanding, sweetheart. He trusts me to handle his affairs, not you. He thinks I’m more a Claybourne than you are.”

“You’ve lost your mind,” Chance said. “You are not a Claybourne.”

“But I will be,” Hannah replied. “Your father promised. I will marry into this family and be your wife. Just like we’ve always dreamed.”

Her face hardened.

“It’s no longer your decision.”

CHAPTER 70

“You’re crazy.” Chance’s voice trembled with rage. “I’ll never marry you. Not after this. I don’t care what my father said.”

“You’ll do exactly as you’re told!”

Chance recoiled from the shriek.

Hannah was losing control. She could shoot us any second.

I reached the barrel. My fingers brushed the crowbar.

“Don’t worry, baby.” Hannah’s face softened. “We’ll get through this, I promise. Once these nosey-faces are gone, we can put this whole ugly business behind us.” Hannah beamed her most fetching smile. “I’ll be the perfect wife. You’ll see.”

Hannah’s eyes locked onto Chance. For a moment, we no longer existed. Time to act.

Find your power.

I closed my eyes and pictured myself.

Tory Brennan, fourteen. Tall. Skinny. Freckled skin. Red hair. Emerald eyes.

The image crisped.

I added personality traits. Headstrong. Intelligent. Reckless. Loyal.

My mind plugged in memories. Movies and popcorn with Mom. My first awkward meeting with Kit. Reading Aunt Tempe’s books on the beach.