Page 63 of Counter Attack

Somehow he had to think of a way to salvage this. He turned toward the window and took a deep breath as Alexis told whoever was beating down the door to come in. She no sooner said the words when Marge burst into the room.

A flash of sunlight reflected on metal, jerking Nathan’s attention to the wooded area on the other side of the walking trail. For a hundredth of a second he didn’t breathe. Then he sprang into action.

“Get down!”

Alexis half turned toward him. “What—?”

Marge screamed when Nathan dove for Alexis. They crashed to the floor just as a bullet pierced the window and splintered a board on the bookcase.

Alexis shifted, trying to get up.

“Wait.” Seconds passed, and when there were no more shots, he rolled away from her. “You okay?”

She sat up and craned her neck.

“I think so. At least I’m not bleeding.” She shuddered. “I guess you saved my life. Again.”

Alexis allowed him to help her to her feet, and they both stared at the hole. It was head-high. If she’d been standing ... He shoved that thought out of his mind.Marge.Was she okay? She’d dropped to the floor when they did. He whirled around, looking for the secretary.

Marge sat on the floor, her eyes wide open.

“Are you all right?”

She pushed her glasses up on her nose and then, using the desk for support, pulled to her feet. “Yeah, but what happened?”

“Somebody took a shot at Alexis.”

“Or you,” Alexis said. “Marge, get Harvey and Dylan and Taylor back in here, and Mark and Gem as well. Have them search for the shooter’s position.”

“I can’t.”

Alexis stared at her secretary. “What do you mean?”

“That’s what I was coming to tell you. There’s been another murder.”

“Where?” Alexis asked.

“Who is it?” He’d spoken at the same time as Alexis.

Marge shook her head. “I’m not sure.”

“I don’t understand,” Alexis said.

Marge took a breath. “Ethan Kennedy called in the death—he and a couple boys found a man at the gravel pit. Pretty sure the other two will be Cole McNeil and Mason Garrett.”

The same three boys at the school last night. Nathan dismissed them as the killer. Drug dealers, maybe, killers, no. Besides, if they’d shot the man, the boys would’ve run instead of calling it in.

“Did they see what happened?”

“Ethan claims they just found him and that he’d been shot in the chest. He said something else—something about himhaving a chess piece in his hand.” Marge stopped and took a deep breath. “You think it’s the same person who killed that Norman girl yesterday?”

“Won’t know until we get there.” Alexis grabbed her body armor. “Is everyone on their way to the scene?”

“They are. Except for Harvey. After your meeting, he took the rest of the day off. Said he had a migraine.”

“A migraine? He didn’t say anything about a headache during the meeting.” When Marge shrugged, Alexis said, “See who else is available.”

Her secretary nodded and returned to the outer office, closing the door behind her.

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