There could be a reason for both, but the woman looked strangely out of place. As she turned slightly, Gemma noticed how poorly her clothes fit, as if she’d borrowed someone else’s uniform. The blouse gapped across her ample chest, and the pants, worn without a belt, were partway unzipped over the rounded bulge of her belly. To Gemma’s trained eye, she appeared to be … pregnant.
Gemma’s pulse slammed. Turning away from the elevators, she walked back across the lobby, past the gift shop, and down the hall toward the women’s restroom. A furtive glance behind her confirmed that the woman was moving in the same direction, holding her phone to her ear.
Could this really be Simone? Gemma had met her stepbrother’s wife at Frank’s memorial. It was hard to believe the woman slipping along behind her could be the elegant creature she remembered. But there were similarities in size and build, and Gemma knew about Simone’s pregnancy.
Gemma wasn’t afraid of Simone. She was concerned only because Sam Rafferty had warned Lila about Darrin’s alleged plot. The fact that Lila had taken the warning seriously was even more of a cause for Gemma’s worry—especially now, if she was really being shadowed by Simone.
The restroom, with its open entrance, was just ahead. Across the hall, a door that stood ajar was labeledSTAIRS.
Maybe she should stop and confront the woman, Gemma thought. But that could prove dangerous, especially if shehad a weapon. It might be safer to stay ahead and lead her away from Lila.
By now, Gemma had been gone from the hotel room for longer than thirty minutes. If she didn’t check in soon, her mother would be worried. She needed a safe place to make a call. She could go into the restroom—but from there, there would be only one way out.
The woman had yet to enter the hallway. Making a split-second decision, Gemma tossed the bag of snacks into the restroom, then ducked into the stairwell and closed the door behind her.
The stairwell was stark and empty, its bare walls illuminated by bright fluorescent light. A flight of metal stairs led upward to a door on the next floor and continued all the way to the top of the hotel. If she could get higher without being seen, she should be able to exit the stairwell on any random floor and disappear into the maze of rooms.
She began to climb, each footstep echoing in the silent space. With luck, Simone—or whoever the woman might be—would check the restroom first, giving her precious seconds to get ahead.
But she’d calculated wrong. She was a few steps short of the first landing when the door opened and her pursuer stepped inside. Looking back down the stairs, Gemma could see her clearly. She had taken off the visor. It was Simone.
Gemma started to climb again, but Simone had clearly seen her. It was time to turn around and face the enemy.
“What do you want, Simone?” she called, her voice echoing up and down the stairwell. “Why are you following me in that ridiculous disguise?”
“Don’t be afraid, Gemma.” Simone spoke in a coaxing voice. “Come on down. I just want to talk to you.”
“I’ll stay where I am, thank you,” Gemma said. “Justan swer my question. Why are you creeping around like a character in a bad spy movie?”
There was a silent pause, as if Simone was weighing her answer. “It’s my … husband. I don’t want him to see me.” Her voice broke in a dramatic sob. “He’s got this crazy plot against your mother, because of the house. I need to stop him before he breaks the law and ends up in jail.”
“What does that have to do with me?” Gemma demanded. “Just tell me what you want.”
“I have to talk to Lila, in person. She needs to know what Darrin is planning so she can protect herself. Please, he’s mentally ill. He’s capable of anything.”
Gemma shook her head. “I don’t believe a word you’re saying, Simone. You can—”
Gemma’s words ended in a gasp as an arm seized her from behind and yanked her off her feet. Something damp closed over her nose and mouth. She recognized the sweet smell of chloroform.
She struggled, trying not to inhale, but as fumes from the toxic liquid crept into her lungs, she could feel the blackness swirling and growing in her brain until she had to let go and give in. Then there was nothing left of thought or memory.
“You blithering fool!” Simone glared up at her husband, who was standing on the stair, holding the unconscious young woman in his arms. “What in heaven’s name were you thinking?”
“I was thinking that she could ruin everything, and we had to take care of her.”
“Take care of her? How? Should we drag her up the stairs and push her out of a window? Would that help to buy us the house? And what if we got caught? The chargeswould be kidnapping and murder—or attempted murder, at least. We’d spend the rest of our lives in prison.”
“Can’t we take her somewhere and force her to tell us where her mother is?”
“Not legally. I was doing fine until you showed up,” Simone said. “I hadn’t even broken any laws. All I did was follow her around and lie to her when she recognized me. But you—you’ve already committed a felony—felonious assault, I think it’s called. But what do I know? You’re the lawyer. I’m just a woman.”
“What’s this talk about you and me, Simone?” Darrin lugged the slender, long-limbed young woman down the stairs and laid her on the concrete floor. With one latex-gloved hand, he pulled off his black nylon mask. “We’re in this together. You’re as much to blame as I am. If she hadn’t recognized you, you could’ve followed her all the way back to her mother. So, if you’re so damned clever, tell me. What are we going to do with her now?”
“I’ll tell you what we’re going to do,” Simone said. “Give her another dose of chloroform so she won’t open her eyes and see us. Then we’re going to walk out and leave her right here on the floor. With luck, when she wakes up, she won’t remember what happened. Or if she does, nobody will believe her. Then I’m going to ditch these clothes. We’ll drive back to the Excalibur and sneak into the movie theater in the middle of a film. As far as anybody who asks is concerned, we were there all the time. If you’ve got a better idea, speak up now.”
Darrin glared at her. He hated it when Simone showed him up.
“Well?” she demanded.