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?She frowned “What?”
?I shrugged. “Oh, I guess ‘maintenance worker’ is more politically correct.”
?Hypno shook her head. “That’s ridiculous.”
?I walked to the folder and extracted another page. It was a printout of a badge with Hypno’s photo on it.
?“I have a friend, who happens also to be my attorney. On a hunch, I had him look into all of the people who worked at Randall and Charles’ offices downtown. I found it very interesting that Hypatia Norris—rather an unusual name—is listed as part of the cleaning crew.”
?Hypno stood with her mouth tight and glanced around the room.
?“With access to those offices,” I went on, “it would be child’s play to sneak someone in late at night while you were cleaning. Of course, if that person was a hacker, he would also have to be an expert at cyber security.”
?Hypno’s expression grew very dark.
?“Oh, but that’s right. Your ‘patient’ John is such an expert. This man who had lost all his money to Randall. How much did he promise you? How big a cut did he say you would get?”
?The officers took another step toward Hypno.
?“My only question is when did you get Candy involved? Was it before or after you snuck John into Randall
’s office to hack his computer? Or was it how you got Candy’s name?” I once again got face to face with Hypno, both of us standing this time.
?In a rapid move, Hypno pulled something from her belt and spun me around. As I gasped, she pushed a catch and a stiletto blade appeared at my throat.
?The two officers immediately pulled their weapons and DeStadler reached into his jacket.
?“NO!” Hypno yelled. “Guns down or I’ll slice this bitch like a pig.”
33. Doubledagger
Mark Watkins
?Sheryl’s eyes grew wide, focused on the blade that glinted in the fluorescent light.
?“I mean it!” Hypno yelled, with the blade at Sheryl’s throat, which drew a muffled noise from her.
?DeStadler removed his empty hand from his jacket and gave a wave to the officers, who lowered their weapons.
?“Okay,” DeStadler warned. “Think it through. There’s no way out of here. Give me the knife, and nobody gets hurt.”
?“Clear the doorway,” Hypno barked and pulled Sheryl toward the entrance as an officer stepped aside and cleared a path.
?“You can’t get away,” DeStadler exclaimed.
?Hypno sneered and pushed her way through the door with Sheryl.
?The officers, DeStadler, and I rushed the hall as Hypno pulled Sheryl to the elevator bank and hit the down button with her elbow.
?“Stay back,” Hypno yelled.
?The elevator door slid open. It was empty.
?She dragged Sheryl in and the door shut.
?I bounded to the nearby stairs and rushed down them. DeStadler shouted something after me, but I couldn’t understand him. I took the stairs two at a time, with my hand on the rail to make sure I didn’t fall. My knees still ached from all the running and falling I’d done, but I pushed past it, as adrenalin coursed through my veins.
?I reached the mezzanine level and burst through the door.
