Page 9 of Alex Cross Must Die

Holmes let out a small sigh. “I’m not sure you can prove that, Mr. Mayor.” He paused and let the silence sink in. “But your assistant can.” He turned toward Kristin. “Am I right, Ms. Rove?” Kristin stiffened. Her composure faded.

Holmes flicked a glance at Marple and Poe. Both were wide-eyed with surprise, as he knew they would be. He felt Grey’s hand on his arm. “Holmes! What are you doing?”

“Revealing the truth,” said Holmes. “Painful as it may be.”

Kristin turned toward the doorway behind her. “Security!”

In two seconds, a plainclothes officer stepped through the doorway. Kristin moved quickly to his side. “I need these people removed,” she said.“Now!”

“Kristin, calm down,” said the mayor. “What are you worried about?”

Kristin whipped her hand inside the officer’s jacket and pulled out his handgun.

She took two quick steps back and pointed the weapon at his chest. “On the ground!”

The officer dropped to his knees.

Holmes stepped back to shield his partners. He’d been expecting a reaction, but not this one. As he watched, Kristin whipped the gun toward Detective Grey, who was reaching behind her back. “Go ahead,” said Kristin. “Pull it out slowly. And then put it on the floor.”

“Hold on,” said Grey, moving her hands out to her sides. “Let’s talk.”

“Do it!”shouted Kristin. Grey slipped her gun out of her holster and laid it gently on the carpet. Kristin walked over and kicked the butt of the gun, sending it spinning into a corner. Rollins took a step toward Kristin and grabbed her arm. “What the hell are you doing?”

Kristin twisted away and pressed the gun against the mayor’s forehead. “Don’t fucking touch me!” she said. “Ever again.”

Rollins rocked backward. “Kristin, have you gone crazy?”

“She’s not crazy, Mr. Mayor,” Holmes said calmly. “She’s cold and crafty. One of the best I’ve ever seen. She killed Sloane Stone and almost managed to pin it on you.”

Rollins stared at his assistant with a stunned expression.

“Do you want to hear the evidence now, Ms. Rove?” said Holmes. “I can lay it out right here. Or should we wait for your written statement?” He paused. “Or do you plan to kill us all too?”

“Back off!” Kristin shouted. “Everybody just—back off!” She swiveled the pistol back and forth, arm extended, and started moving toward the door. The instant she cleared the opening, she turned and dashed out a rear exit and down a set of stairs.

Out of the corner of his eye, Holmes saw a figure bolt after her.

It was Marple.

CHAPTER 10

MARPLE LEAPED DOWNthe stone steps three at a time and kicked off her shoes at the bottom. She took off at a sprint, heading across the property and down toward the curved walkway that bordered the East River. She could see Kristin in the distance, about twenty yards ahead, near the far edge of the mansion grounds.

It was obvious that Kristin had shed her shoes too. Nobody could move that fast in heels. But Marple was closing in on her. She was glad she’d chosen wide-legged trousers that morning. Kristin was younger, and had longer legs, but Marple could tell that her tight skirt was cramping her stride. The gun was still in her hand.

In seconds, Marple was on the paved pathway, with the river on her right.

She saw Kristin turn to look over her shoulder. Marple gained a few steps. Now she was just ten yards back. When Kristin turned forward again, a kid on a bike almost knocked into her. She tipped to the left, rocking on one foot. Marple closed the gap. She wrapped her arms around Kristin’s shoulders and drove her to the pavement as the gun clattered away.

“Get the hell off me!”shrieked Kristin.“I’ll sue your ass!”

As the furious woman squirmed and twisted beneath her, Marple heard footsteps coming up from behind.

“Freeze!”Grey’s voice.

Marple saw Grey’s gun barrel pressing against Kristin’s scalp. The plainclothes officer was pinning her legs.

“Okay, Kristin,” Grey said between breaths, “let’s talk about Sloane Stone.”

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