Chapter 10
832 Words
The old agency building is a skeleton on the edge of town. Windows boarded up. Sign faded and hanging crooked. Parking lot cracked and completely empty.
I park behind the building like Margaret told me to. Out of sight from the main road.
Julian sits beside me in the passenger seat. He insisted on coming after I finally told him about the midnight meeting.
"She said to come alone."
"She doesn't get to set the rules anymore."
We get out of the car.
The night air is cold against my skin. My breath fogs in front of my face.
I walk to the back door. It's unlocked.
"Margaret?"
No answer.
I step inside cautiously.
The building smells like mildew and abandonment. Filing cabinets overturned everywhere. Papers scattered across the dusty floor.
Someone got here first.
"Margaret?"
A light flickers deeper in the building.
I walk toward it carefully.
And I see her.
Margaret Webb sits in a wooden chair. Her hands are tied behind her back with rope. Her mouth is gagged with cloth.
She's alive. Barely breathing.
"Margaret!"
I run to her. Start undoing the ropes as fast as my fingers can move.
She's shaking violently.
"He knows," she whispers through the gag.
"Who knows?"
"He knows I talked to you earlier today."
"Who, Margaret? Who knows?"
Before she can answer, I hear footsteps behind me.
Julian comes up behind us.
"She's been here the whole time. Waiting for us to arrive."
"Someone else was here too."
We look around the dark building.
It's empty now.
But someone was definitely here before us.
Someone tied her up.
Someone set a trap.
Margaret coughs. Tries to speak through the gag.
I pull it off her mouth.
"I'm sorry," she whispers. "I'm so sorry."
"For what?"
"I lied to you earlier."
"About what?"
"About everything. About not knowing."
"Margaret, just tell me who killed Elena. That's all I need."
"I can't."
"You have to."
"If I do, he'll kill me."
"He's already tried to kill you tonight by leaving you here."
She cries. Tears stream down her face.
"Elena was trying to protect Julian. That much was true."
"From what?"
"From his father at first. From Marcus. From the truth about everything."
"What truth?"
"That Arthur Blackwood didn't just steal the baby from Sarah. He threatened to hurt the child if Elena ever told Julian."
"She knew all of that?"
"Elena found out after she married Julian. She wanted to tell him so badly. But Arthur threatened Lily's life directly."
"That's why she kept the secret all those years."
"Yes."
"And that's why she died in the end."
Margaret nods slowly. Her eyes are closing.
"Stay with me, Margaret. Who killed Elena?"
She looks at me with fading eyes.
"It was..."
The lights go out.
Complete darkness.
I hear a scuffle. A terrible gasp.
"Julian?"
"I'm here beside you."
"Margaret?"
Nothing.
A heavy thud on the floor.
Then footsteps running away.
I pull out my phone. Turn on the flashlight.
Margaret is on the floor.
There's a knife handle sticking out of her chest.
She's still breathing. Barely.
"No. No, no, no."
I press my hands on the wound. Blood soaks through my fingers.
"Call an ambulance!"
Julian's already dialing.
"Margaret. Stay with me. Stay with me."
Her eyes flutter open.
"She was right..."
"Who?"
"Elena... the killer..."
"Yes? Who is it? Tell me."
"It's..."
A gurgle. Blood on her lips.
"Who, Margaret? Who killed Elena?"
She tries to speak.
One word.
I almost catch it.
Then she goes completely still.
"No. Margaret. Margaret!"
Julian pulls me back from the body.
"She's gone."
"Someone was here the whole time. Someone was in this building with us."
"We didn't see anyone."
"They were waiting in the dark for the right moment."
We look around frantically.
There's a back door. Slightly open.
Whoever did this is long gone.
I kneel beside Margaret's body one more time.
"Did you catch what she said at the end?"
"Almost. Just the beginning of a name."
"What did it sound like to you?"
"Ha."
"Harlow?"
"Maybe. Could be."
"Mrs. Harlow?"
"She's been with the family for forty years."
"She's always been loyal to Arthur."
"Or to Alex."
"Or to herself."
We leave the building quickly.
The sirens are coming in the distance.
Morrison will be here soon.
And we'll have to explain another dead body.
"Julian."
"What?"
"Margaret said Elena was trying to protect you."
"From my father."
"From something bigger."
What?
We get in the car.
The sirens get closer.
"Mrs. Harlow followed us yesterday."
"She's been watching us all along."
"Maybe she's been watching for years."
"For who?"
"Maybe for herself."
Julian starts the engine.
"Then we need to face her directly."
"Tonight."
"Before she runs away."
We drive back to the estate.
The lights are on.
Mrs. Harlow's car is in the driveway.
She's waiting for us.
I know it in my gut.
And I know she has answers.
Or a knife.
Maybe both are waiting.
- Writer
