Part 29 (2/2)

”Fine. Turn the light off and get out of my room and just maybe I will.”

What kind of people had skeletons in their bas.e.m.e.nt? Who had killed the four people, and when? Greg and Cynthia wanted to leave those questions for the police.

Greg eased the door open just a crack and listened.

Silence.

He opened the door enough to slip out and tiptoed down the short hallway. He saw the four women, still out cold. He couldn't tell for sure whether they were breathing, but they still had color in their faces-except the skinny one. But then he remembered she had been that color when they first came into the room.

Greg peeked around the corner, hoping the woman was gone and the man had fallen back to sleep. But they were both gone.

He motioned for Cynthia to come out and make a run for it. She took a glance at her mother, and then they bolted down the long corridor. He knew he couldn't keep up with her, but he would try.

Then Greg heard voices behind him. And he knew he could still be seen from the hospital ward.

”I don't care if you dohave to pee. You should have waited until I got back. My grandmother's coming and-”

Carnie saw someone racing down the corridor. All four women were still in their beds. But whoever it was, she couldn't let them get away.

”Give me that.” She s.n.a.t.c.hed the pistol from Jake's hand and ran. And she was a fast runner-maybe even faster than Cynthia. Definitelyfaster than Greg.

Cynthia made it to the stairs and took them two at a time. When she reached the top, she opened the door and turned around to wait for Greg.

Greg was running as hard as he could-or least he thoughthe was, until he heard somebody chasing him. Then he got a second wind. But his pursuer continued to gain on him. And when he reached the stairs, he heard a voice from behind.

”Stop or I'll shoot.”

He didn't need to be told a second time.

”And you, up there-come back down here or I'll shoot him right now.”

When that didn't get a quick reaction, Carnie said, ”Or maybe you'd likeme to blow his brains out.”

”No, stop,” said Cynthia. She came down the stairs slowly.

”Let me guess. One of those women in there is your mother,” she said to Greg. ”Or yours.” She nodded to Cynthia. ”Right?”

”Yes,” said Cynthia.

”Well, you two have just gotten yourselves into a heap of trouble. ”She followed them back to the Hideaway Hospital. She had done it again-made somebody do what she wanted by threatening them with an empty gun. The secret, she thought, is att.i.tude. That's what fools them every time.

”Looks like we snagged a couple of fish without even trying, Jake,” said Carnie as she threw him the pistol. ”One of our volunteers was the bait.”

Jake studied Greg and Cynthia and wondered whether they would live through the night.

”So, this lovely couple was willing to give their lives for one of these women,” said Carnie. ”Wonder which one?”

She reached behind her back to the scabbard and pulled out her knife-the one she had nearly stabbed Jake with earlier. She had strapped it on when she went up to her bedroom.

She went to Betsy Holsom and held the knife at her throat.

”Please don't,” said Cynthia.

Then she tried Ellen Pinkly.

Greg said, ”Why are you doing this?”

Next was Marcia Cleggmore. ”Is it this one? If so, you must be rich.”

No reaction.

Then Carnie went to Beverly's bed.

Cynthia gasped.

”Bingo,” said Carnie. She clasped the knife in both hands and raised it above her head and said, ”Say goodbye to Mommy.”

Greg ran at Carnie with surprising speed, catching her off guard.

Carnie took the knife in her right hand and tried to stab him.

But he managed to grab both of her wrists.

She couldn't break free from Greg's grip, so she pushed and pulled and spun him around the room. They looked like a dance couple at an amateur compet.i.tion-except for the big, sharp knife in her hand.

Jake just stood there watching, gun in hand.

Cynthia didn't think she could help Greg without getting shot.

Finally, Greg lost his balance and tripped backward, cracking his head on the edge of the table as he went down. He still had a grip on her arms. But he was feeling weaker and dizzier by the second.

Carnie used her body weight to push the knife down closer and closer to Greg's chest.

”No! Don't hurt him!” said Cynthia. She looked at Jake. ”Do something!”

But Carnie was determined. The knife was only two inches from his chest. Now she knew she would win. She pushed down even harder. The tip of the blade was touching his s.h.i.+rt. Just one more good push, she thought, and he's a goner.

”Carnie! Stop!” The voice of authority echoed from the corridor.

Carnie pulled the knife away and stood up. ”Hi, Grandma.”

Chapter33.

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