Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 99132 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 496(@200wpm)___ 397(@250wpm)___ 330(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99132 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 496(@200wpm)___ 397(@250wpm)___ 330(@300wpm)
Abigail chuckled. “Me. It’s always good to have backup information in one’s pocket just in case. For leverage or blackmail.”
Laurel breathed out. “Obviously the compound can be weaponized and has been.”
“Apparently,” Abigail agreed. “I didn’t have anything to do with that. Financially, I make out if they go public with their dementia treatment, or if the government purchases it as a weapon. But the lab going rogue does not help me financially.”
“No, but you’re planning to use your knowledge to get an immunity agreement, right?”
Abigail chuckled. “Wayne mentioned a possible attack coming soon, which means I need that agreement tonight, and right now, we’re headed to our deaths. So this might not have worked out the way I planned.”
Laurel couldn’t help but figure out the entire situation. “Your case is a state one, not federal. A possible biomedical attack would be federal. The feds can’t give you immunity for a state homicide charge.”
“True, but they can sure pressure the county prosecutor to do so. It’s my understanding that she holds strong political ambitions. I believe she can be brought around to look like a hero in all of this. I mean, if we get out of this alive. There’s a good chance both of our brains will end up with lesions on them. How sad is that? We do have the best brains.”
Laurel flashed back to Walter whispering to her: That chick is batshit crazy. Man, he was right. Dangerous, too. “Since we’re about to die, how about you tell me why you really killed our father. I mean, Zeke.” Her voice trembled on the last. They hit a pothole and Laurel rolled against Abigail before trying to move back.
“I truly was upset about losing the baby. But for any other reason, like I said, you’ll have to wait until double jeopardy becomes applicable.”
“Will you really tell me?” The rain beat harder against the metal hood.
Abigail remained silent for a bit. “Most likely, no.”
So Zeke had had proof of one of Abigail’s crimes. If she confessed, Laurel could pursue that case, so she’d never tell the truth. “I will get you.”
“Perhaps. For now, tell me why we’re in this stupid trunk. Kate has three girls. Is it such a bad thing if she loses one? She’ll still have two left.” Abigail shifted her weight, elbowing Laurel in the ribs.
Bile rose in Laurel’s throat. “Stop talking now.”
The road pitched again, going upward. Steeper. Wind slithered through gaps in the trunk seal, sharp and cold, carrying the scent of pine, wet stone, and altitude. They were deep in the mountains now. No city noise, no other cars. Just the crunch of gravel, the whine of tires on dirt, and the low, steady rumble of a plan Laurel wasn’t in on.
Finally, she had to ask another question. “Where is the attack? Is there one?”
Abigail was quiet long enough that Laurel thought she wouldn’t answer. “I can only guess. But it sounds like there might be an attack as an example? It’d be a small one, nothing huge like Seattle. But that’s all I can surmise, and it’s really more of a guess.”
They finally rolled to a stop. A door opened and shut, and then the trunk popped open. Rain slashed down at them, and Laurel naturally ducked.
“Out,” Vexler said, gun trained on them.
Abigail held out a hand and allowed him to assist her out. “I’m quite irritated I missed this part of you, Henry. Most people don’t fool me.”
Laurel climbed out without assistance.
Vexler jerked the gun toward a steel building set into the hillside. They had to be, what? Maybe twenty or so miles from the church? Far away from the yew stands, damn it. Laurel walked across muddy ground and into the structure, noting the sleek lines with wooden accents.
“This is interesting,” Abigail said. “My guess is misappropriated governmental defense funds?”
Vexler opened a door and pointed down the stairs.
“No elevator?” Abigail asked. “I do hate half-assed projects.”
Vexler swung the gun on her.
“Shut up,” Laurel said. Where was Viv? She began to climb down, found a wide hallway, and followed it past a clean room and then a lab. Apparently the place was well equipped, but most of the research must’ve been performed at the main lab. They just hadn’t found the right requisition records yet.
“Open the door,” Vexler muttered.
Laurel did so and walked inside another lab, this one humming with machinery. Viv sat on the floor against the far wall, her hands tied and a bruise on her jaw. Her eyes lit. “Laurel.”
Next to her sat a dazed-looking Tim Kohnex, blood down the side of his face. He swayed and then focused on her. “The wind told me you were coming. Did you see my dog?”
Chapter 36
Rain battered the roof of the Fish and Wildlife building, drowning out the sound of anything human. Huck leaned over the table with a dozen maps spread out, water-stained and marked with routes in red and black ink. Elevation lines, forest roads, decommissioned firebreaks—every inch mattered. Viv was still missing, and they were almost out of reasonable guesses.