A BAD MISTAKE

“S he’s dead, she’s dead!” Pam shrieked. “You killed her! You killed Reva!”

Tears blurred her eyes. Sobbing, she reached out to touch Reva’s shoulder.

With a wild cry, the guy knocked Pam’s hand away. Then he grabbed her shoulders and hauled her roughly to her feet, shoving her away from her cousin’s body.

“Why?” Pam cried, staggering backward. “Why?”

“You shouldn’t have come in here!” he shouted. “You shouldn’t have seen!” His eyes burned with fury. “Now I have to kill you, too!”

Pam backed away, her heart pounding. Terrified, she twisted her green scarf around her sweaty hands. “Why did you kill Reva?” she repeated in a shaky whisper.

“Because...” The guy clenched his fists and glared down at the still figure on the stage floor. “Because she...”

Pam’s eyes darted around the dimly lit showroom. She had to get out of here and get help. “Because she what?” she asked, taking another step backward.

The guy stared at her.

Pam froze.

He turned back to Reva. “Because...” He stopped again.

Pam saw his expression change. The anger faded, and a look of total horror swept over his face.

What’s going on? she wondered.

“Oh, nooo!” Uttering a long wail, the guy sank to his knees beside Reva’s body. He took hold of her shoulder and turned her onto her back.

As Reva’s red hair fell away from her face, Pam gasped in shock.

It’s not Reva! she realized.

It’s Ellie!

As Pam stared down at the lifeless form of Reva’s look-alike model, the guy uttered another horrified wail.

“Nooo! What have I done? What have I done?” he cried. “I killed the wrong one!”

• • •

Running a little late, Reva hurried down the hall toward the side door of the showroom. She was eager to check the place out and make sure Ellie had everything ready.

As she entered the door, she stopped, surprised and annoyed.

Why was the room so dark? Did Ellie forget to come early and get everything set up?

With a scowl, Reva edged along the wall, searching for the big switch that turned on the stage lights. As her fingers touched it, she heard a sound from the stage.

A horrible moaning sound.

Reva froze.

The sound came again, full of anger and panic. “The wrong one!” a voice choked out. “The wrong one!”

Slowly, Reva dropped her hand. Moving quietly, she edged her way farther along the wall.

When she was able to see onto the stage, Reva stopped again, horrified.

Ellie lay sprawled on her back near the revolving doors, a long, cherry-red scarf wrapped tightly around her neck.

Pam stood nearby. Nervously twisting a green scarf around her hands as if it were a dish towel, Pam stared at the guy kneeling next to Ellie.

Grant Nichols.

As Reva watched, Grant ran a hand through his curly hair. “It shouldn’t be her!” he muttered. “It shouldn’t be!”

“What are you talking about?” Pam whispered. “You killed Ellie, but you meant to kill Reva?”

A chill ran up Reva’s spine. That could be me! she thought, staring at Ellie. But why?

Why would Grant want to kill me?

“Why?” Pam asked, echoing Reva’s thought.

Grant shuddered and sighed. “I—I felt so guilty... about Liza.”

“What do you mean?” Pam cried. “You mean you killed Liza? But...”

“No, I didn’t kill her. Reva did!” Grant snapped.

Huh? Reva couldn’t believe this.

“Reva did,” Grant repeated. “Oh, I know she didn’t actually strangle her. But she might as well have! It was Reva’s fault that Liza died. All Reva’s fault!”

No! Reva thought. He’s wrong! He’s crazy!

“I knew it was Reva’s fault,” Grant continued, sounding hopeless. “And where was I? I couldn’t help Liza—because I was out with Reva. Sneaking out with Reva, behind Liza’s back!”

“But that doesn’t make it Reva’s fault,” Pam protested.

“It does,” Grant cried furiously. “I really cared about Liza—and Reva knew it. I told Reva. But Reva made me think she cared about me! That she needed me.”

Grant shook his head, raking his fingers through his hair again.

“But it was a trick,” he groaned. “Reva didn’t care. She didn’t need me. Liza did, and I wasn’t there!”

Reva closed her eyes for a second, thinking about Grant’s words.

Were they true?

Grace had accused her of using people, especially the guys. Using them and then throwing them away when she didn’t need them anymore.

Now Grant was saying practically the same thing. Saying she tricked him into sneaking out on Liza by pretending to need him.

But I didn’t force him to sneak around with me! Reva thought. And I did need him, didn’t I?

Not really, Reva had to admit to herself. I just wanted somebody around during the holidays. I didn’t care about him the way he cared about Liza.

“After Liza died, I—I just snapped, I guess.” Grant’s voice from the stage broke into Reva’s thoughts. “I had to pay Reva back. That’s all I could think about—paying Reva back. And I decided that she had to die.”

With a shudder, Reva glanced down at Ellie.

“I knew exactly how to do it, too,” Grant went on. “Strangle Reva just the way Liza and Traci were strangled. Then whoever killed them would be blamed for Reva’s murder, too. And I’d get away with it.”

Pam shook her head silently, a look of horror in her eyes.

Grant gazed up at her. “But then you came in and...” He turned his head and stared at Ellie again. “It isn’t Reva. I killed the wrong one. It isn’t Reva.”

No kidding, Reva thought. She forgot about feeling guilty and started feeling angry. Maybe Grant had snapped. But no way would he get away with murder!

Furious, Reva strode toward the revolving doors, her shoes clicking loudly on the stage floor.

Pam gasped.

Grant raised his head. When he saw Reva, his eyes narrowed. “You!” he muttered.

“Yes, it’s me. And I heard everything, Grant,” Reva told him icily. “But guess what? Your plan was no good from the start. The police already have Traci’s and Liza’s murderer.”

“No!” Grant shook his head. “You’re wrong, Reva. They don’t have Liza’s killer. Or Traci’s either.”

“Sorry, but they do,” Reva declared. “She’s at the police station, right now. And you’ll be joining her, Grant. You’ll be arrested for Ellie’s murder.”

“No! You’re the real killer, Reva!”

Reva shook her head. “Come on, Pam. Let’s get out of here and call the police.”

“No!” Grant shrieked again, his face turning dark red with fury. “You’re the killer, Reva! It’s all your fault those girls are dead! All your fault!”

“Stop it!” Pam cried, nervously twisting the scarf around and around. “Stop saying that!”

Grant ignored her. He stared at Reva, his eyes flaming with hatred.

Reva froze for a second.

“Your fault,” Grant repeated. “And now—you have to die, too!”

Pam screamed.

Before Reva could react, Grant leaped to his feet. “You have to die!” he bellowed furiously as he dove across the stage. “You have to die, Reva!”

Дата добавления: 2015-07-20