Deception Cove

Chapter 14

THEY SET OFF IN A SINGLE FILE, DRAKE AND HOUDINI in the lead. Karen fell in behind Drake. Alice brought up the rear. The walking was difficult in places but not impossible. The sky remained leaden. The dark fog crouched just offshore, waiting for the energy of the night to summon it. The ominous sensation in the atmosphere did not fade, even though they were putting distance between themselves and the cove.

“All right, Karen, let’s start at the beginning,” Drake said. “Tell me about the Dream Chamber Project.”

“I don’t know where to begin,” Karen said. “It’s all been such a nightmare.”

“You said you were working for the Rainshadow Foundation arm of Sebastian, Inc.”

“That’s right. I was hired as a research assistant a few months ago. I’ve got the paperwork to prove it.”

“And you were employed here on the island,” Drake said.

“Until I couldn’t take the stress any longer. We tried to quit.”

“Who is we?” Drake asked.

“The other research assistant, Pete Banks. Like I said, we tried to quit but she wouldn’t let us. When we tried to leave she had the security people lock us up. I managed to escape this morning but—”

Drake stopped and looked back at Karen. “Who had the security people lock you up?”

“Dr. Tucker,” Karen said.

“Dr. Zara Tucker,” Drake said, repeating the name very precisely, making sure.

“Yes,” Karen said.

“Damn,” Drake said. “Well, that certainly answers a few questions.” He looked at Alice. “I knew she wasn’t dead.”

“But what has she been doing for the past three years?” Alice asked.

“Isn’t it obvious? Zara Tucker spent the last three years plotting her revenge against me and my family.”