Bec grabbed the lab coat next to the door and slipped it on. It was miles too long for her, but she had to play the part. She stuck her hand in the pocket and pulled out a key.
“You mean the key was in the coat the whole time?”
“I assume so,” she said, walking to the closed door at the end of the room.
He blocked her way with his gun, holding her back from the door as she put her hands up. “How did you know it was there?”
“I didn’t,” she said, her words wobbling slightly. “But it made sense. The first thing a scientist does is put on his lab coat, so I knew he’d have one here. Logic told me putting the key in the pocket meant he’d never lose it.”
Still somewhat skeptical, he motioned at the door with his gun, so she stuck the key in and turned it, pushing the heavy door open to reveal the lab Cal had shown them. She was relieved when there were no windows in the lab. Instead, the vent of the biosafety cabinet went out the side of the house in what used to be the window. Walter really had her snowed. He cared so little about people that he endangered his neighbors with this setup. Sure, the cabinet had a filter, but filters fail, and then what? Obviously, Walter didn’t care.
A small desk lamp sat on a table, and she snapped it on, taking in the room. She didn’t need PPE since the viruses she’d be working with were already dead, butthe meathead behind her didn’t know that, so she had to make an effort.
There was a loud crash above their heads, and he turned to the door. Bec saw her chance.
“What was that?” she asked, feigning fear as she came up behind him.
“I don’t know, but don’t move,” he said.
Too bad he didn’t know she already had. There was one shot at this and one shot only, so she sent up a prayer and then grabbed the door and threw her body weight behind it, shoving him out of the room and locking herself in. She stumbled backward with a sigh and awaited rescue.
Chapter Twenty-Three
“Bec!” Iris screamed as Cal brought her out of the house. She was wearing a lab coat that made her look like she was wearing her daddy’s clothes, but she’d never been more beautiful.
“Iris!” she cried, grabbing her in a hug the moment she was within reach. “Thank God you’re okay. They wouldn’t let me check on you after you fell. I wasn’t sure if you were hit by the bullet or had just passed out from fear.”
“Definitely the latter,” Iris promised without releasing her. “I’ve been so worried but knew you could handle yourself. I’m so proud of you for playing these guys!”
Bec’s laughter filtered into the ragged edges of Iris’s heart and smoothed them out. They were both okay, and once they got this sorted out, they could be together. “Who are these guys? Did you find anything on Walter’s computer?”
“You won’t believe this,” Iris said, leaning back to peck her lips with a kiss. She had to keep it short as there were too many cops around for PDA. “According to what we found on Walter’s computer, there are at least three different—”
“Rebecca Roth?” someone behind her asked. Iris turned and came face-to-face with another cop.
“I’m Rebecca Roth,” Bec said, stepping forward. “I suppose you have questions for me.”
“You could say that,” the cop said. “Turn around and put your hands behind your back.” He took out handcuffs and opened them. “You’re under arrest.”
“For what?” Bec asked, following orders as she put her hands behind her back.
“Suspicion of murder and being an accomplice to a terrorist.”
“What?” Iris asked, her voice an octave higher than normal. “You can’t arrest her! She didn’t do anything! This is all Walter’s fault!” Strong arms grabbed hers as she was about to wade in and grab Bec away from the cop. “Let me go!” She tried to free her arms, but Cal’s grip was too strong.
“Relax, Iris,” he whispered in her ear. “You can’t stop this from happening by assaulting a cop. That’s going to land you in the cell next to Bec.”
“But we can’t let them arrest her! She didn’t do anything, Cal!”
“We know that, but the cops know nothing right now. We need to get back to the research center and find all the information we can to prove Walter’s guilt and her innocence. Without proof, they can hold her for as long as they want.”
“No!” Her cry was plaintive as the cop led Bec away, sticking her into the back of a cop car. Bec pressed her forehead to the window and met Iris’s gaze, fear filling her eyes. “You can’t let them take her.”
Cal flipped her around to face him. “Iris, listen to me.I have no control over what the police do. I’m lucky we aren’t the ones in the back of the cop car. Until we have evidence to show the police that Bec had nothing to do with this, she’s at their mercy. That said, if she’s in a jail cell, she’s safer than at the center. We still don’t know who all the players are in this game, and until we do, it’s better if she’s tucked away under the watchful eye of an entire police precinct. Let’s stop wasting time here and return to the center. We have less than an hour before the board president shows up. That’s not much time to find something to prove her innocence.”
“If anyone can do it, you can, Iris,” Delilah said, approaching them. “But is it safe to go back there, Cal?”
“I can’t answer that,” he admitted. “We still don’t know who their employer is, nor do we know if there’s anyone else out there looking for a virus they were promised. I want you to get that laptop and our equipment out of there before Mr. McCarthy shows up. I’m sending Lucas, Selina, Zac and Declan with you two. I have to stay here until this mess is cleaned up. Mack and Efren will stay with me. The guys who took Bec are long gone, but thankfully, we have them on our surveillance to prove to the cops Bec wasn’t here willingly.”
