Too Late, Mr. Johnston: She Is Gone

Kara was still on her knees on the wet pavement, her hands deep in the thorny bushes, when the patio door opened again.

She expected Davin. Instead, she saw red-soled heels.

Alyse stood under a large umbrella, perfectly dry, perfectly groomed. She was holding the silver locket in her hand. She must have seen where it landed from the upstairs window.

"Looking for this?" Alyse asked.

Kara scrambled to her feet. She wiped the rain from her eyes. "Give it to me."

Alyse dangled the necklace. "Tsk, tsk. Look at you. The heiress of the Higgins fortune, digging in the mud like a rat."

She walked over to the ornamental koi pond that lined the garden path. She held the necklace over the water.

"Oops."

She let go. The silver locket splashed into the murky water and sank.

Kara lunged for the pond. Alyse stepped in her path, grabbing Kara's wrist. Her grip was surprisingly strong.

Alyse leaned in close. She pulled the collar of her blouse down slightly to reveal a purple mark on her neck.

"See this?" Alyse whispered. "Davin gave it to me last night. While you were crying in the hospital."

It was a lie. Kara knew it was a lie-Davin had been at the office-but the image still made her stomach turn.

"You're disgusting," Kara said."Scavenging is your hobby, I don't care."

Alyse laughed. "And you are stupid. Do you know why that stage light fell on you six months ago? The one that broke your ribs?"

Kara went still.

"I paid the technician to loosen the bolt," Alyse hissed. "And all I had to do was cry a little, and Davin believed you rigged it yourself for attention."

Rage, hot and blinding, exploded in Kara's chest. She raised her hand to slap Alyse.

Alyse caught her wrist easily. "You're too weak, Kara. Look at you. You're dying, aren't you?"

Alyse shoved her. Hard.

Kara stumbled back. Her hip slammed into the sharp stone corner of the planter. Pain shot through her body, radiating from her surgery site. She collapsed onto the wet stones, gasping for air.

"Davin!" Alyse screamed.

Davin appeared at the door instantly.

Alyse threw herself onto the ground, sobbing. "She pushed me! She tried to drown me in the pond!"

Davin ran to Alyse. He helped her up, checking her for injuries. He turned his furious gaze on Kara, who was curled in a fetal position, clutching her side.

"You are sick," Davin shouted. "You need to be locked up."

Kara couldn't speak. The pain was too intense. She pointed a shaking finger at the pond.

Davin didn't look. He scooped Alyse up in his arms.

"Charles!" he yelled. "Get the car. We're taking Alyse to the clinic."

He looked at the head of security. "Put my wife in the basement. She can think about what she did in the dark. No food until I get back."

They dragged Kara away. She watched Davin carry Alyse into the house, shielding her from the rain, while Kara was left to bleed.

The heavy door of the basement slammed shut. The lock clicked. Total darkness.

Kara lay on the cold concrete floor. She reached into her pocket. She had managed to palm the tiny backup phone she kept hidden in her shoe.

She pressed and held the side button, activating a voice command protocol she'd designed herself.

"Chloe," she whispered into the dark. "Initiate Plan B. We're auctioning the dress."