"I'm giving you five seconds to come out."
She counted off in her mind but didn't make a sound. Exactly on the count of five, Tom popped the spent ammunition clip from his rifle and attached a new one. "Have it your way, baby," he said loudly, then started across the kitchen.
They were in the large dressing area of the closet. Beth's clothing was on shelves and hangers all around them. Gus lay flat on his stomach on the floor, as Carla had directed. She stood over him with the gun aimed at his back. She was tugging at a robe, trying to remove the belt so she could tie his hands.
Gus looked up at her. "You're the one who got Beth into the cult, aren't you?"
"Brilliant, Gus. How many years did it take you to figure that one out?"
"You and your buddy Meredith . She's dead. Doyou know that?"
She smiled thinly, as if her brother were stupid. "Of course I know. Meredith hasn't been my buddy. since she turned against us and pulled her daughter off the farm."
"Is that why Shirley tried to kill her?"
"It wasn't Shirley by her lonesome. She. just took the fall, and like a good kid she didn't name names. She was loyal to the group. Until you waved a quarter million dollars under her nose."
"You're the one who got Shirley killed. You told Blechman she was talking to me."
"Careful. Don't go figuring it all out. You were much safer as the workaholic attorney married to his job."
"That was my ticket to safety, huh? Just stay busy and happily oblivious while you indoctrinate my wife into some cult."
"If it makes you feel better, she never really joined. Our teacher has been working on her since the day I brought her by the farm. He's still working on her. He likes her look."
"If this teacher," he said angrily, "so much as lays a hand on her---"
A scream broke the tension. It had come from somewhere in the house. In that same instant Gus vaulted toward Carla and knocked her backward into the hanging clothes, legs and arms flailing. She tried to gouge his eyes with her nails as they wrestled for the gun. When the tumbling stopped, Gus was on top with the gun in her face.
"What was that scream?" He spoke sharply but quietly.
"I don't know."
"Where's Morgan?"
"She's okay, I swear. I locked her in the basement until . . ."
"Until you got rid of me?" he said with disbelief.
There was another scream. It seemed to have come from the basement. With the gun to her head he lifted her up and pushed her toward the door. "Come on. You're going with me."
Andie barely breathed as she waited beneath the stairs. The darkness was her only real shield. It wasn't totally black but dark enough to conceal her. Tom crossed cautiously. One step. Stop. Another step. Stop. Each step a little closer, a little louder than the next. Finally, she could see him in the shadows, his image slowly gaining definition. The entire house seemed to be brightening, and it wasn't just her eyes adjusting to the darkness. The fire outside was intensifying, blazing more light through the kitchen window. She heard a rumble outside, like the barn collapsing. The sudden burst of flames was like a flare in the hallway.
Their eyes met, and she knew she was toast.
She made a dash for the living room. Tom fired and missed. Andie fired back. A hit to his right hand sent his gun flying. Andie vaulted toward him and knocked him to his back. She tried to pin him. He squirmed beneath her.
"Freeze!" she shouted.
He swung wildly in defense, but his shattered hand was useless. She brought a knee to his groin and shoved her pistol in his face. "I said, freeze!"
Tom groaned and went limp.
"Take me to Beth Wheatley."
"Who?" he said, breathless.
She cocked the hammer and pressed the barrel into his eye socket. "Take me to Beth Wheatley or I'll blow your eyeball out the back of your head."
Andie wasn't sure Beth was there. She wasn't even sure if Beth had been taken against her will. She hoped the bluff would work.
"She's in the attic."
It had worked. She rose slowly and kept the gun on him. "You make just one move I don't like, you're dead. Now let's go," she said as she directed him toward the stairs.
They climbed the main staircase to the second floor, then a smaller staircase to the third floor. At the top of the stairs was a semiprivate sitting area that led to an . Outdoor widow's walk. The rear half of the sitting area had been enclosed in an ugly fashion. It was clearly built for security, not aesthetics. The door had a deadbolt that locked with a key from the outside.
"She's in there," said Tom.
If she really was in there, it was clear she was a prisoner. "Unlock it."
"I don't have a key."
"Lie down on the floor, facedown."
He got down. Andie called out, "Beth Wheatley, are you in there?" No one answered. "If you're in there, stand away from the door."
With one quick shot Andie blew the lock off. A woman screamed inside. "Beth, you're safe. It's the FBI!"
Tom shouted, "It's a trap, Flora!"
Andie turned the gun on him. "Shut up!"