Page 137 of Deception

Vivian leveled the gun at Dani. “You answer it, and I’ll kill your sister.”

She hesitated, fearing if she pulled the phone from her pocket, Vivian would shoot.

“Give me your phone. And your watch. Both of you.”

Dani’s eyes widened. “You’re the one who came into my hospital room! Did you follow me to Coles Creek?”

“Gee, your sister is almost as bright as you are.”

Vivian’s sarcasm ratcheted Madison’s pulse. Somehow she had to get Dani out of here.

“I really thought you were Madison at Coles Creek.” She waved the gun. “Now hand them over.”

Dani complied, but as Madison pulled her phone from her pocket, it rang again. Clayton. Somehow she had to let him know what was going on. She unfastened her watch, pressing the answer button as she did. “If you shoot one of us, they’ll know our death was no accident,” she said before Clayton had a chance to say anything.

Someone pounded the outside door. “Police. Open up!”

“It’s over,” Madison said.

“No.” Vivian took a lighter from her pocket as a thud sounded at the front door. “It’s just beginning.”

She stepped to the door leading to the front. “You come in here and they’re dead,” she yelled.

The thudding stopped.

She backed up to the corner of the room and kept the pistol pointed at them as she leaned down and picked up a can. After switching the gun to her other hand, she splashed liquid on one of the wooden desks before she placed the paper towels she’d grabbed earlier on the corner.

Madison’s heart jumped into her throat. Vivian planned to burn the building down.

Using one hand, she flicked the lighter. A flame immediately appeared. “Move toward the cellblock.” Vivian motioned with the gun.

Madison palmed her hands up, waiting for an opportunity to make a move. “Let’s talk about this.”

“Shut up.” The flame went out, and she flicked the lighter again. When it flamed up, she glanced down at the paper towels and lit them.

Madison lunged for the gun, grabbing Vivian’s wrist.

75

Clayton careened around the corner of State Street and floored the gas pedal again. A block later, he slammed on the brakes in front of the police car barricading the street. He turned toward Jake. “Stay here!”

He jumped out of his SUV and ran to the front of the Old Jail, where a police officer leaned a battering ram against the house. “Where are they?” he asked another officer.

Chief Nelson turned. “Inside. Hawkins is threatening to shoot them if we don’t back off.”

Suddenly a gunshot rang out from within the house. The officers grabbed the battering ram and knocked the door open. Clayton rushed through the door. The front room was empty, then Dani stumbled through the doorway. “Hurry! She’s on fire!”

“Where?” They could be in any number of rooms.

“Next to the cellblock.”

Clayton raced to the back of the jail.

76

Drop and roll!” Madison screamed.

Vivian must have gotten kerosene on her clothes. When Madison attacked her, she’d dropped the flaming paper towels and her shirt had ignited.

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