Page 32 of Speak No Evil

Shock hit her like a sledgehammer. How did Evan Winston know about those?

“You could pay them off and have enough to buy a nice house or apartment in Manhattan like your lover boy.”

Winston had followed Will from the coffee shop, or already knew she was upstairs in Will’s apartment. Because of that blasted air tag. If she hadn’t been in such a rush to pick up the book and catch her train, she might have realized something had to be behind the way he kept reappearing. Too late for that now.

She gulped. How had he found her here, anyway? Was she carrying around another tag somewhere?

Evan raised an eyebrow. “So how about it?”

“Nothing you can pay me would be enough.” If the virus left the lab, it could spread and wipe out many people—within days. She couldn’t allow that to happen. “I could even go to jail.”

“I doubt that.” He braced his free hand on the back of the chair with her tote. “Come on, we’re leaving now.”

No way was she going anywhere with this guy. She needed to get away from him without getting shot. Would that really happen? Would Winston discharge his gun in the hotel? He was an ex-soldier. He’d been in war zones. He wouldn’t let his surroundings deter him from violence.

Her hands started shaking, and she hugged herself quickly to hide her fear. Don’t let him get to you. Keep stalling him. “I have to have a reason to open the lab doors.”

“Invent one. Think of the money. You would never have to take another commuter train home.”

He had been at the train station! No, Will would have seen him.

But maybe the driver of the mysterious black SUV outside her apartment was part of the ‘us’ Winston mentioned. Maybe they both knew where she lived. “That’s not the issue. I’m not go?—"

Voices neared outside in the hall. He slapped his hand over her mouth. “Shut up. We’re wasting time.” He raised his brows. “Are you going to be quiet?”

At least until she could escape. She nodded.

“Now, we’re going downstairs. A car is waiting to take us to your lab.” Winston jabbed the gun into her side, impatient. “Unless you want to be shot, you’re going to stay quiet, walk in front of me, go down the escalator and out to the curb. Get in the open car door.”

“Or else?” She stalled one more time. She had no idea how long they’d been talking, but Will should be worried by now. He wouldn’t see her, though. They could reach the escalators without passing the café.

“Don’t tempt me because you’ll be sorry.”

In one way or the other. She had no doubt that once he got the virus, he’d kill her. There’d be no reason to let her live. She reached for her tote, but he yanked the bag up first. “I’ll take this.”

Guests filled the main corridor outside. Winston kept a hand clamped to her arm and the gun at her back. Maybe when they passed the restrooms, she could duck inside?

The hand on her arm tightened and a harsh whisper close to her ear said, “Don’t even think about it.”

Tourists flowed past them, and Evan led her toward the escalators that would take them downstairs. A swarm of teens flooded off the up escalator and smacked into him, knocking him off balance.

The escalator would take her down, but he’d come running after her if she didn’t incapacitate him somehow. Now.

Her kick went awry. She slipped and went tumbling down the moving stairs.

Shouts and yelling came from above but she could only lie at the bottom, stunned.

When she regained her breath, Will was crouching over her. His fingers lifting her chin. “You’re bleeding.”

He handed over the white handkerchief from his hip pocket. She grabbed his arm. “Evan Winston’s still here. He’s got a gun.”

10

Will kept watch over Gwen and pulled his phone. Head wounds bled a lot, and his handkerchief pressed to her forehead fast became red. He should have met Clay alone. His chest pinched. Now, Gwen had paid the price.

“Hotel security, how may I help you?” a woman answered his call.

Will explained the situation and where he was. “The gunman may still be in the hotel. Have someone bring a first-aid kit. The woman he was holding hostage is hurt.” He covered his phone and looked at Gwen. “Do you need an ambulance?”

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