Page 96 of Accidental Murder

But it was.Eve.

She touched her friend’s arm. “Eve. It’s me, Kayla. Can you hear me?”

Eve’s eyelids fluttered but didn’t open all the way.

Kayla removed the tape from Eve’s mouth and undid the Velcro straps holding her wrists in place. When she disconnected the wires from the monitors, a shrill tone sounded. At the same time, the interior doors whooshed open.

Taylor Simmons bolted into the room, a .44 Magnum aimed at her head. He dismissed the female janitor lurking over his shoulder and approached Kayla. “Well, well,” he said. in a smarmy tone. “It appears you’re too clever for your own good, Kayla.”

She blinked.

“Yes, I guessed who you are,” Simmons sniggered. “Your narcissistic sister never would’ve been as dogged as you, nor would she have gone to your uncle’s place and tried to save the fool.”

Ashley wasn’t narcissistic, Kayla thought acidly, but didn’t correct him.

With one hand, Simmons reattached Eve’s wiring and Velcro straps. Then he placed the gun under Kayla’s chin and patted her down with one hand. “How did you find us?”

“The odor of your cheap cigars.”

He smirked.

“Sara realized you were involved, didn’t she?” Kayla asked.

“Not until it was too late. Last week at dinner, my darling wife told me about her discovery. I was surprised she hadn’t seen my comings and goings, but most of her forays into Bledsoe had taken place when I was at the office. Timing is everything.” A bemused expression crossed his face. “Naively, she told me she planned to tell the authorities, but she needed more proof, so she came the next night armed with her cell phone.”

Kayla moaned. If only she’d taken Sara’s call. “You killed my sister because you thought she was me, and you thought Sara revealed your secret to me.”

“Wrong. Your sister died because your uncle was sloppy.”

“His files on his desk,” Kayla said. “He realized I’d seen them.”

“Yes.”

“Why did you kill him? He was a loyalist.”

“Because after you died, he wanted to confess to the police.” Simmons wagged the gun in the direction of the door. “Let’s go.”

Kayla didn’t budge.

“Don’t worry. You’re not going to die yet, my dear. I have a much better plan for you. Ongoing research requires willing volunteers.”

“I’m not willing.”

“You will be.”

“Your younger brother,” Kayla blurted. “Sara said he died from a rare genetic disease. Huntington’s. Was he the reason you started all this? To find a cure? Or did you kill him by experimenting on him?”

“Don’t you dare besmirch his name,” Simmons snapped. “He dedicated his life to genetics. To finding answers.”

“Would he approve of making people guinea pigs?”

“Our discovery will benefit mankind.”

“How? Explain Brain Freeze to me. I assume it’s the name of this project.”

“Why should I explain it? So you can stall for time?” Simmons mouth pulled down in a frown. “We’re beyond theatrics, aren’t we? I don’t need to hear myself talk.”

Purposely, Kayla glanced to her left. The movement made Simmons look, as well. In a flash she swung her arm and batted the gun, but Simmons didn’t lose his grip.