Page 90 of Now Until Forever
Eliana motioned to the chair across from her. “At least sit down. That way when she looks in, she’ll see you cooperating.” She tipped her head to the little window in the door.
Keri glanced at it. She huffed and pulled the chair out. “Funny how they have these interrogation rooms down here, isn’t it? And a whole wing of jail cells. Why would a museum need jail cells?”
“Despite what they’re being used for currently, that may not have been their original purpose. This place was a library. They could’ve been private rooms for viewing sensitive documents.”
Keri popped the top on the soda and took a sip, huffing out a laugh as if she didn’t believe a word of that.
“So who hired you to try and get in the vault?”
Keri tore open the paper bag and unwrapped the sandwich. She flipped the bread open, then fished out a tomato and ate it. She nudged the sandwich across the table. “Want some?”
Eliana didn’t want to admit she was actually super hungry, but it could help if she broke bread with this woman. If nothing else, it would solidify that this wasn’t a typical interrogation.
“Sure.” She flipped the sandwich closed again and tore off the end, giving herself about a quarter of it but ending up with nearer to a third. “Thanks.”
Eliana could imagine Tony and Sylvia in the room next door, objecting to her actions. But she wasn’t going to worry about that.
She chewed for a while, both of them eating in silence. Eventually, she was done enough to say, “Is it helping you to keep silent? Talking will get you out of this.”
“If I’m going to sue them for wrongful imprisonment, it can’t be a cakewalk. It needs to be long and painful, so I can tell everyone how they really put the screws to me. After I talk about their security in the vault thatvaporizedmy friend.” Keri slurped more of the soda, then used the napkin to wipeher fingers. “It’s gotta be good if I’m gonna get a big payout. Probably even a book deal.”
“What about the others?”
Keri shrugged one shoulder. “Why do I care about them?”
“You’re in this together, aren’t you?”
Keri rolled her eyes. “I met them all online. What do I care about them? Miles is an idiot.”
“Then you have to know, none of the others have talked yet. That means if you do, then you’ll be the first. And the first person to talk always gets the best deal.”
Keri huffed a laugh. “Sure.”
“So…why does the Mother want me dead?”
“Who?” Keri frowned.
“The Mother. Isn’t she the one who sent you to break into the vault?” Eliana had no idea, but it sounded right.
“No idea who you’re talking about.”
“Huh. I’m pretty sure Director Caughton was telling the detectives that you guys are part of the Reverence Sisters. They had one of the doctors who works here killed just a few days ago, nailed him to a table and cut out his tongue.” She remembered the scene all too clearly and how the table had been set with a tea service for two.
What that had to do with anything was a mystery. Unless Splitfield was into that sort of thing. And where was Carolena?
Eliana continued, “I think they believe it’s all connected.”
Keri shook her head. “Connected to what?”
“The canisters with the compound that made everyone on the streets go crazy. Everything that happened the day you guys broke into the vault—or tried to.” Eliana shrugged. “You used it as a smoke screen, right? The distraction was a cover for breaking in.” She needed Keri to correct her because people loved correcting others, and it would get her talking at least.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“How am I supposed to believe that?” Eliana paused. “You guys picked a seriously coincidental day to break in if you don’t even know what was going on up at street level. Or were you just following orders? Someone else knew what was happening, and you guys just had your orders, and you didn’t ask any questions, you blindly follow. Is that how it works?”
“I know how to think for myself. I’m not part of some crazy cult.”
“So you do know who the Reverence Sisters are.”
