Page 104 of Necessary Evil

“Where’s your purse?” Bobby asked Lucy.

“It’s in my car.”

He took her elbow and walked her outside the building.

“Who was that?”

“Just a friend.”

Lucy dug in her heels. “I’m not going a step further until you tell me what’s going on.”

“I can’t be out in the open like this. I’m a wanted man.”

“Wanted for what?” She let him drag her toward the car.

“I didn’t kill any of them.”

“I believe you,” Lucy forced the words out of her mouth. “That’s why you should come with me and turn yourself in.”

“I’m not going back to jail.”

“We can get you bail.” Even though the thought of it made her sick to her stomach. She’d just watched a woman lose her life savings because of her daughter’s selfish act. Could Lucy honestly think that Bobby wouldn’t do the same?

Bobby seemed to consider it and then shook his head. “I just need time for them to find the real killers.”

“Why do you have Richard’s passport?”

She saw that she’d shocked him with the question.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean the airport security cameras have you getting on a flight to California.”

“Shit.” Bobby looked around. “Did you set me up? Are the police here?”

“No, of course not.”

He lunged for her and got her into a choke hold. Suddenly she could feel the prick of a knife as he held it to her throat. “You’re my ticket out of here. Let’s go.”

He began to pull her back to the apartment, but she struggled. “Bobby, what the hell are you doing?”

If anyone in the neighborhood noticed, they didn’t seem overly concerned. She took a deep breath to scream, but gasped instead as the knife cut her slightly.

“Don’t. If you come quietly, I’ll make it quick. I swear it. You won’t feel any pain, and I’ll even make it look like a car accident so your boyfriend won’t get blamed.”

“You can’t kill me. Bobby, I’m your sister!”

This wasn’t real. This wasn’t happening. She let herself go limp, and he cut her again. She cried out and tried to struggle, but the knife was always there. She was bleeding freely, and she wondered if he’d cut a vital artery or vein.

He backed them toward the building, still swiveling his head looking for the nonexistent police.

“You should have just given me the money and walked away,” he said.

She took a deep breath. “I can still do it. Just let me get my purse.”

“I don’t know if I can trust you,” he said.

“When have I ever let you down?” Lucy sobbed. “When have I ever not been there for you?”