Page 140 of Over the Edge

“It has to be found first. We can toss it in the river before we go back to your place. Or we could go with the noose.That would be quieter. And there’s a perfect spot for it.” She motioned upward, to the metal catwalks crisscrossing the building below the rafters.

Dr. Oliver gave them a slow perusal. “No. Hanging is too painful and traumatic. But a fall from up there would be quick—and I wouldn’t have to watch the impact.”

Lindsey stared at the two of them, stomach churning.

They were debating murder options as if this were a discussion about which item to order from a restaurant menu.

What was wrong with these people?

“Fine with me. Why don’t you give me the gun while you take her up?” Heidi crossed to Dr. Oliver, and he handed it over. “I think there’s access to the catwalks over there.” She motioned toward the side of the building and began walking that direction.

Stall, Lindsey! Buy yourself time to collect yourthoughts and come up with a plan.

Letting her instincts guide her, she bent over and began to fake a heaving motion.

“Heidi! Wait!”

At Dr. Oliver’s command, the staccato click of the woman’s heels on the concrete floor stopped ... then drew closer again. “What’s wrong with her?”

“I don’t know. She may be trying to throw up. Trauma can induce nausea. If she aspirates vomit with her mouth covered, she’ll choke to death.”

“Problem solved.”

“Heidi!” His sharp rebuke ricocheted off the walls. “That’s a terrible way to die.”

She shrugged. “No matter how she dies, the end result is the same.”

At the woman’s cavalier response, the roiling in Lindsey’s stomach intensified—making the risk of throwing up very real.

Dr. Oliver didn’t respond, but his grip on her arm tightened. As if he was angry. Then he ripped off her gag, taking layers of skin from her lips with it.

She moaned and sagged against him at the shocking sting.

But the burning pain was worth it to get her voice back.

“Let’s do this.” Dr. Oliver’s tone was resigned.

Heidi started forward again, toward the metal stairs that led to the catwalk.

Though Lindsey tried to resist, Dr. Oliver dragged her along. She continued to writhe in his grasp as they approached the stairway, using the gyrations to hide her struggle to free her hands. Apparently she hadn’t worked the cording quite loose enough.

At the foot of the steps, Heidi turned and waved them up. “I’ll follow you as far as the first landing after you’re up.” She leaned in close, her face inches away as she lifted the pistol, her eyes hard and cold. “Don’t try anything foolish, Lindsey. Anthony may not want to use this gun, but I will if I have to.”

She moved aside, and Dr. Oliver spoke. “Don’t make this any harder than it has to be, Lindsey.” He kept his voice low and close to her ear while he forced her up the steps, as if he didn’t want Heidi to hear. “I’m sorry it came to this. It was all supposed to be so easy. We were going to build a circumstantial case against the carpenter. Enough to put the spotlight of suspicion and law enforcement attention on him, but insufficient for a conviction. You weren’t supposed to be in the kitchen that day.”

Was he seriously trying to apologize as he led her to her death?

This was surreal.

“I don’t understand how you can do this to me. I trusted you.” She continued to tug at the cording.

“I know. And I’m sorry to betray that trust. But when push comes to shove, life is all about number one.”

“Not for everyone.”

“With few exceptions, that describes the vast majority of people.” He stopped at the landing, chest heaving.

“Everything all right, Anthony?” Heidi’s question floated up from below.

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