I picked up the jangling phone, then hit my knee hard against the kitchen table.
‘I’ve been looking all over for you, Alex.’Kyle was so very calm and cocksure. He had no conscience, no guilt whatsoever. His arrogance was stunning to me, even now. I wished he was here, so I could pound his face.
‘Well, I guess you found me. Congratulations. I can’t hide from you. You’re so impressive. You are the Mastermind, Kyle.’ ‘You know, I am. You had me concerned, worried there, partner. I wanted to say goodbye in a proper and civil fashion. I’m leaving after this little adventure of ours is ended. It’s almost over. Whew. Isn’t that a relief?’
‘Want to tell me where you are?’I asked him.
He paused for a half-second, and I could feel a fast river of adrenaline rushing through me. My legs were unsteady. Suddenly I was afraid of what Kyle might have already done.  ‘I suppose it couldn’t hurt to tell you. Let me think about it.  Hmmm. There’s blood everywhere, Alex. I will tell you that much. It’s stunning, a masterpiece of carnage. I’ve outdone myself this time.  Outdone Gary Soneji, Shafer, Casanova. This is my best work. I think it is, and I should know. I’m very objective about these things, but of course you know that.’
My heart was pounding and I felt dizzy. I could feel the blood rushing from my brain. I steadied myself against the kitchen counter.  ‘Where, Kyle? Tell me where you are. Where the hell are you?’
‘Perhaps I’m at your Aunt Tia’s outside Bai’more,’ he said. Then he laughed like a madman. ‘Chapell Gate. Such a pretty little town.’
A moan escaped from my mouth and my knees buckled. I flashed
an image of my family - Nana, Jannie, Damon, Alex. I needed to be there with them. How could he have gotten past the FBI teams? And
Sampson? He couldn’t have. It wasn’t possible.
‘You’re lying, Kyle.’
‘Oh, am I now? Why would I lie? Think about it. What would be the point?’
The worst is yet to come. I needed to call Tia’s. I should never have left them.
I heard a terrifying high-pitched scream above me in the kitchen.
What in hell?
I looked up. Couldn’t believe my eyes. Kyle leaped out of the trapdoor to the attic. He was still screaming. He had an ice pick clasped in his right hand, cell phone in the other.  I tried to get an arm up to shield myself. I wasn’t fast enough. He’d taken me by surprise. I hadn’t thought to look up there.  He plunged the blade into my chest at an odd angle. A shock of pain traveled through me. I went down hard on the kitchen floor.  Had he struck my heart? Was I going............