Chance glared. Then smirked. "Your stolen laptop story fooled me, you know. I didn't guess what you were up to until I saw the report." He waggled a finger. "Very clever."
"This isn't a joke!" I shouted. "You tried to kill me that night on Loggerhead."
"Kill you? Hardly. I shot way over your head."
"Yeah. Right."
"It's true. My father ordered me to recover the skeleton. Nothing more. You happened to be there, so we had to scare you off." The nervous foot was pumping again. "I couldn't believe you'd already found the bones. Good thing we didn't wait another night. Thanks, by the way." The famous Chance wink. "You saved us hours of digging."
"Screw you," I said. "The only reason I'm standing here is because you're a lousy shot."
"Don't be so dramatic." He smiled. "Did you like the monkey bones? That was my idea. Hollis told me where to find them. He knows people at LIRI."
Spies on Loggerhead?
"Who?"
Chance ignored my question. "The bones were packed in a box by the dock." He laughed. "I wish I could've been there when you showed the police."
"You think this is funny? You murdered Dr. Karsten in cold blood!"
The taunting smile faded. "What?"
"Enough games, Chance! I know you're a murderer. I was there."
"I didn't murder anyone. I told you. I shot over your heads. You're lucky it was me out there. My father was furious I let you escape."
"Not Loggerhead. I'm talking about when you attacked us at the bunker."
"What bunker?" Chance frowned. "Wait. Are you're saying someone was killed?"
Now I was confused.
"Thursday night. You and your goons shot professor Karsten on Morris Island."
"I've never set foot on Morris Island."
This wasn't making sense.
"Did you chase Hi and Shelton through the market earlier that night?"
"The market?" Chance rose and moved to the foot of the staircase. "Is this a joke? What are you talking about?"
His tone? His expression? Somehow, I believed he really was clueless about Karsten's death.
Not sure why, but I did.
"Thursday night we were meeting with ... a friend on Morris Island. An adult." I watched Chance closely. "Men came. They were armed, and dressed exactly as you were on Loggerhead."
"I wasn't there, I swear." Chance looked genuinely shocked. "What happened?"
"We escaped. Our friend stayed behind." My fingers tightened on the railing. "The bastards shot him."
For a long moment, Chance stared into space. A tremor shook his right hand.
"I know nothing about that," he said flatly. "Nothing."
Then Chance looked up, eyes hard with resolve.
"Give me your bag," he demanded.
"What?"
"Your bag." Stepping back so he could see me more clearly. "You found Heaton's notebook. I'm betting you have it now. I want it. And my fingerprint report. And everything you just stole from that cabinet. Game over."
Stupid, stupid, stupid. Why did I bring the notebook with me?
"Hollis murdered Katherine," I said. "And probably ordered the hit on Karsten. People will notice he's missing. The police will investigate. Eventually his body will be found. The truth will come out, no matter what you do."
Chance shook his head. "Not true. Once I destroy the evidence, including the skeleton, the past will stay buried. You just need to let this go."
"You father is trying to kill me and my friends!"
"I'll stop that." Chance's voice expressed a confidence his face lacked. "But I won't sacrifice my family's good name over a four-decade-old murder. And I won't put my father in jail."
It was futile. Chance would never help me.
My eyes sought an escape route. Found none. The staircase was the only way down.
Fight back.
I closed my eyes. Concentrated every fiber of my being on bringing out my powers.
And failed. I couldn't trigger a second flare.
"Tory."
My eyes opened. Chance watched me closely.
"The bag. Now!" He smiled darkly. "Let's not make this unpleasant."
Just survive. Regroup.
I wound down the stairs. Chance held out a hand. I passed him my backpack and the dog tags. What else could I do?
"Good." Chance nodded. "Now get out of my house and keep your mouth shut. This will be our little secret."
I'd been dismissed. Chance wasn't even worried enough to escort me off the premises. He knew he'd won.
I walked to the door.
Looked back.
Chance gave a smirky five-finger wave.
I fled as fast as I could.
CHAPTER 65
The Brennan girl walked right past the Bentley.
Hollis Claybourne nearly swallowed his cigar. He cracked his knuckles. Veins pulsed in his oversized nose.
The little bitch had been inside his house!
His mind raced. Should he chase her down? The girl was only a half block away. He could finish this problem himself.
No. Too dangerous. He couldn't risk grabbing her in broad daylight.
The kid will have to take care of it.
And I can't be here, Hollis thought. I need an alibi.
Hollis pounded his fist against the screen seperating the driver's compartment.
"Change of plans," he said. "Back to the capitol."
"You wanna go back, sir?" the driver asked. "We just got here."