Page 85 of Holmes Is Missing
“You can’t put a price on family,” said Matts. “And I was never cut out for motherhood.” She pulled Marple back against the wall, clearing a path to the doorway.
“Time to go, Helene,” said Paul. He jerked her by the arm and pulled her toward the door, pistol firmly against her head. He glanced at Matts. “Where’s the car?”
Matts slipped a key fob into Paul’s pocket. “Two spaces to the right of the door.”
“Hold on,” said Paul. He paused for a moment and placed two fingers at the edge of the tape across Grey’s mouth. “We need to be presentable for the drive.” He ripped off the tape. Grey flinched in pain. The tape left an angry red stripe. Marple could see Poe’s body tensing, ready to lunge.
Grey gave a small shake of her head. “No,” she said softly. “Don’t.”
“Listen to your girlfriend,” said Paul, moving toward the door. “Sorry.Ex-girlfriend.”
Paul backed out of the room using Helene’s body as a shield. Once they were through the doorway, he jerked her around and hustled her ahead of him. Marple listened to the sound of their footsteps receding down the staircase.
Matts glared at Holmes and Poe. “Step back against the wall.” She leaned in, her lips brushing Marple’s ear. “You know, I wish I could have more respect for you, Margaret. But you can’t even keep your own firm pure.”
She pulled Marple around to face Holmes squarely. “If you want, we can eliminate your half-blood partner Holmes right now.” She flicked her pistol. “Say the word. One bullet and it’s over. He said he’s done with you anyway. Why not be done with him?”
Marple could feel her whole body trembling. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and held it for a moment. Then she let out a piercing cry and drove her elbow straight back into flesh and bone. The pistol fired, punching a hole in the floor. Marple whipped around and knocked the gun free. She grabbed Matts by the wrist and twisted. Something snapped. Matts screamed and dropped to the floor. Marple dropped right on top of her,knee on her spine. She grabbed the gun and jammed the barrel against the base of Agnes’s skull. It all happened in less than five seconds.
Holmes and Poe jumped to retrieve their guns.
“I’ve got her,” Marple shouted. “Go!”
CHAPTER91
POE GOT TOthe top of the staircase first. His heart was pounding and his throat was tight. He pointed his pistol through a gap in the banister and looked down toward the tile floor in the entryway. No movement. He started down the staircase, hugging the railing. Holmes followed, his back pressed against the opposite wall.
There was no sound from below. No footsteps. No breathing.
Then, a heavy thud.
Poe raced the rest of the way down and took the last four steps in a single leap. At the bottom of the staircase, he stopped cold.
On the right side of the foyer, a figure lay crumpled on the floor.
“Helene!”
Poe holstered his gun and dropped to his knees. He rolled Grey over gently by the shoulders. Her hands were still tied behind her back. She looked stunned and groggy. “Helene! What happened?”
“I think he got me in the head with his pistol butt,” said Grey. She blinked and shook her head. “I’m okay. Just a little blurry.”
Poe looked up. Holmes flipped him a penknife. Poe sliced through the ties around Grey’s wrists and ran his hand gently over her scalp. When he looked back, Holmes was moving toward a half-open service hatch behind the stairs. Barely large enough for a child. Or a very small man.
“He must’ve taken off through there,” said Grey.
Poe turned toward the front of the foyer. He heard a flurry of footsteps outside—then a loud bang.
The front door flew open.
“Police! Nobody move!”
Poe pulled Grey tight against him. He saw Graham Duff step through the entryway, gun raised, with a half dozen heavily armed cops behind him. Duff looked over. His eyebrows shot up.
“Grey?”
“She’s hurt!” shouted Poe. “Call an ambulance!”
“I’m fine, Captain,” Grey mumbled. “Only a bump.”