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“Oh, Jesus,” Samuel murmured. “He’s got a pipe. Hold still, and when I say run, go.”
The man stumbled in their direction, pipe in hand. “Step out from behind the goddamn tree and we’ll see if you’re still laughing.”
TWENTY-TWO
THE ASSISTANT
Fern stood beneath a vaulted ceiling crisscrossed with wooden beams painted white. In fact, the entire room was white—the woodwork, the furniture, the marble floor, the chandelier dripping with white lights. All pristine, Fern thought, but somehow soulless. Her least favorite room in the villa.
The contestants, now showered and cleaned up after the muddy challenge, sat solemnly on an overstuffed white sofa that curved into a half-moon shape. Their brightly colored One Lucky Winner gear looked garish against the white backdrop. Fern remained standing. A coffee table, a square slab of white marble rising out of the floor, formed a barrier between the host and the challengers. She half expected at least one of them to come lunging at her from across the table.
Fern waited for the signal from Alfonso and then spoke directly into the camera. “Welcome to the first elimination episode of One Lucky Winner. Sadly, we have to say goodbye to one of you tonight.”
The obstacle course had been more grueling than Fern expected, even though she had known about most of the unexpected twists. She’d known about the snipers, the razor wire, and the scorpions. What she hadn’t been aware of was Ned’s Game Changer. Cat had neglected to inform her that deadly weapons would be in play. Cat had been insistent on handling this aspect of the game, and the idea that Ned Bennett was walking around the villa with a knife sent shivers down her spine.
At least now Ned sported two black eyes, courtesy of a kick to the nose from Camille. But all the competitors had bumps and bruises. Maire cradled her arm close to her body and the senator winced with the slightest movements.
“Each of you have competed like warriors,” Fern said. “But only four can move on.” She turned. “Maire, you used your wits to be the first one through the hedge maze and Camille, you made it through a brutal obstacle course before anyone else. You are therefore safe from elimination.” Fern watched as both women’s shoulders sagged with relief. “You both won a crucial Super Clue. Any ideas as to where your clue might be leading you?” Fern asked, with an arched eyebrow.
“At this point, I have no idea,” Maire said. Fern noticed that Maire and Samuel sat as far away from each other on the sofa as possible, avoiding eye contact. She thought the two might have bonded after Samuel popped Maire’s dislocated shoulder into place.
“And you?” Fern set her gaze on Camille.
“I have a few thoughts,” Camille said coolly.
“Care to share them?” Fern pressed.
“I think I’ll wait.”
“Fair enough. Now,” Fern said, “the time has come to say goodbye.” She pressed her lips into a thin line. “Samuel, Ned, and Senator Crowley, one of you will be leaving us tonight.”
A muscle twitched in Samuel’s jaw and the senator shifted nervously in his seat.
“Over one million viewers tuned in live, and we are now up to three million views and growing. More than one and a half million watchers voted,” Fern said, looking at the camera, “and one of our contestants received over one-third of the total votes.”
After Ned sliced through Maire’s rope, Fern was convinced that the viewers would not vote to save him. She certainly hoped that would be the case. She needed Ned to be gone.
Fern unrolled the scroll. “Tonight’s one unlucky winner of a one-way ticket home is...” Fern paused, unable to speak. No, she thought. There must be a mistake.
Fern felt the heat of eyes upon her. The contestants, Alfonso, the crew. Everyone was watching, waiting to see what would happen next.
“The Senator,” Fern finally said.
Samuel bent over, hands on his knees, letting out a rush of breath. Ned punched a celebratory fist into the air.
“Thank you, Senator Crowley. You competed valiantly,” Fern said, trying to keep it together. She had to spend at least another night in the villa with Ned. She felt sick, angry at how bloodthirsty the American public was to save someone like Ned. “Do you have any parting words before you pack your things and exit the villa?”
The senator looked dazed as Ned slapped him heartily on the back. Camille leaned in with a side hug, but he gave her a little shove, creating distance between them.
“Senator?” Fern asked tentatively, a note of concern in her voice.
Senator Crowley slowly stood up and extended his hand to Fern. She took it and her fingers completely disappeared within his grip. He squeezed so tightly that her fingers were turning white. Fern tried to pull away, but the senator held tight and then drew her close to him, covering her lapel mic with one hand.
“I know what you’re up to, and you won’t get away with it,” he whispered into her ear.
A flash of panic coursed through Fern. The senator knew. He knew that she had locked Cat in the wine cellar. But that was impossible. He couldn’t have known. After a brief pause, she turned and spoke directly into the camera. “Thank you, everyone, for joining us tonight. Please, tell your friends. If you can’t join us live, you can watch every single thrilling moment on demand. Stay tuned because you never know what’s going to happen next on One Lucky Winner.”
Fern rubbed her sore fingers as the senator strode from the room. What did the senator mean by “you won’t get away with this”? It was understandable that he would be disappointed he was voted off the show, but Fern had nothing to do with that. She was the proverbial messenger.
