“Get back,” Kathleen ground out and hit the kitchen light switch. “Step away from him,” she yelled, arms trembling but steady enough to aim.
Marise froze. “Kathleen,” she said, raising her hands. “It’s me.”
For a second, neither of them said a word.
Kathleen’s eyes flicked from the unconscious man on the floor to Marise, then back again.
“What the hell is going on, Veronica?” she snapped.
“I can explain,” Marise said, slowly raising her hands. “But you need to put the gun down.”
“Who is this man?” Her voice cracked. “Whoareyou?”
“He was here to kill you. I stopped him.”
“You’re supposed to be an escort not …GI Jane,” Kathleen said, her voice thin.
“Listen Kathleen. You have to come to terms with this. These men were sent to eliminate you,” Marise said quietly.
“Men?”Kathleen said, her voice raised a notch.
“The other one is tied up in the corridor.”
Kathleen looked shocked. “Why do they want me dead?”
“Because it’s a common belief that what you engineered in that lab of yours will replace fossil fuels.”
“No one knows what my experiment entails.”
“Oh, for God’s sake, Kathleen. Get your head out of the sand. People have been speculating about it for months. So much so, that all the big oil conglomerates are interested. Some are shit scared that the rumours are true.”
Kathleen narrowed her eyes. “What has that got to do with you? You’re an escort for hire.”
Marise flushed. “That was a front. I was paid to find out what you were doing and if you were nearly finished.”
“You joined so you could get close to me?”.
“I did.”
“And I fell for it, hook line and sinker,” said Kathleen bitterly. “Was everything you did a lie? So you could find out what I did?”
“At first, but not now.” Marise sat wearily down on a kitchen stool. “My contract was terminated. I should be gone.”
Kathleen’s voice began to tremble. “Why did you stay?”
“Because I got to know you,” Marise said. “I didn’t want them to hurt you. That’s why I’m here.”
Kathleen shook her head once, sharply. “No. No, you don’t get to say that.”
“I guess I don’t,” said Marise. “But this isn’t the time for recriminations. We have to plan the next move.”
Kathleen exhaled shakily and lowered the gun the rest of the way. Her arms dropped to her sides. “I should call the police.”
“They won’t help. Whoever sent them has enough muscle to bury the report before morning.”
“So, what now?” she said, looking not angry, but exhausted. “What do we do?”
“We get you out,” Marise said. “Now. Pack light. Only what you need.”
