Page 118 of End Game

“Which are?”

“Service sees itself as a warrior against corruption—and, historically, men have been the corruptors, the polluters of society.”

“Let me guess. Victoria worked well with men as well as women to get the job done.”

She nodded. “Sybil and Vicky had been butting heads more and more lately. Sybil became vocal about her opposition to Vicky negotiating deals with the Senate leader and Speaker of the House, both of whom are men.”

“Every negotiation strengthened Victoria’s position, but also the State’s male leadership.”

“Exactly. Service has been working behind the scenes to position two women who could assume those leadership roles.”

“But they won’t get the votes if their male colleagues are bringing in the wins and getting the job done.”

“Why upset the apple cart if all the apples are unblemished?”

“HCVS wasn’t willing to wait out the three years remaining on the governor’s term.”

“Not HCVS,” she said with uncharacteristic roughness. “Despite appearances, Service is responsible for some amazing political, social, and moral transformations around the world.” Grief filled her voice. “If Sybil is responsible for Vicki’s murder and my mother’s disappearance, she’s gone rogue. I guarantee you that her actions have not been sanctioned by Service. We don’t do violence, especially against our own, to accomplish our goals.”

If Service was as big and wide-ranging as Kayla led him to believe, it wouldn’t be unheard of for a small faction to lose faith in the organization’s methods and strike out on their own. Was Sybil acting alone? Or were there others in this region who shared her desire for a more expedient resolution to the Vicky problem?

Could Jillian Krowne’s disappearance be of her own doing?

Kayla shot off her lounge chair. “I can’t sit here and do nothing.” She stormed into her suite, and Ash followed.

“What does that mean?”

“I’m going to see Sybil. Confront her with our findings.”

“If she confesses, then what?”

“I’ll demand she turn herself in.”

“You think she’ll go along with your plan? This is the woman whose son can mobilize an army of trained killers.”

“Sybil used to change my diapers. She’s not going to hurt me.”

“She may have ordered her best friend’s death. If so, what do you think she’ll do when she’s desperate and backed into a corner?”

“I guess you’ll have to come with me.” She pulled a Glock from her handbag, checked the chamber and mag like a pro, and tried for a smile. “Two guns are better than one, I hear.”

59

“Turn into the gravel lot.” Kayla pointed to the right, toward the small three-car space not far from Sybil Barclay’s home. It was one of four trailhead lots in the expansive mountainside subdivision, where residents and their guests could pick up the six-mile loop trail.

Ash killed the engine. “What are you plotting?”

“About three-quarters of a mile down the trail, a footpath leads up the ridge to Sybil’s backyard.”

Many of the homeowners whose land backed up to the trail had created spurs for quick access. Some even went so far as to put signs with their family name inscribed on it at the intersection, demarcating the footpath as private.

“Want to tell me why we’re visiting Sybil through the rear gate?” he asked as they exited the vehicle.

Stepping out of the quiet SUV and into the concert arena of a thousand screaming insects forced Kayla to adjust the volume of her voice. “She has a guesthouse on the property. It’s secluded and easily protected.”

“A place to hold your mom?”

“Maybe. I don’t know. I’m still not convinced Sybil had anything to do with all of this. But I’m pragmatic enough to realize that if she is guilty of murder and kidnapping, one of the most likely places she could stash Mom would be her guesthouse.”

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