Page 49 of One Last Step

Judging by the look on his face, that isn’t very likely.

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

I open my mouth to scream for help, but Lukas rushes forward and clamps his hand around my mouth.He might not be the most macho of men, but compared to me, he might as well be superhuman.I can barely breathe, let alone speak.

“Don’t scream, Mary,” he says softly.“Please.”

“She knows.Damn it, Lukas, sheknows.”

“Quiet,” Lukas hisses.“What did you hear, Mary?”

He pulls his hand away, and I swallow nervously.My first instinct is to say that I heard nothing, but that’s not believable.I don’t have to tell them everything, though.

“I heard the clocks go off, and I got up to make myself some coffee.I was awake after that, so I thought I would come downstairs to walk around for a bit.I used the stairs because I didn’t want to wake Sophie and Elena.”

“Bullshit,” Margot snaps.“Those clocks are louder than the elevator.”

“Andyou’relouder than a rock concert!”Lukas scolds.To me, he asks, “What did you hear when you came down here?”

“Nothing.I mean.I heard you two talking, but I didn’t hear what you were saying.I don’t know anything.”

“Bullshit again,” Margot replies in a marginally quieter voice than before.“She must know something, or she wouldn’t be so afraid right now.”

“Well, you pulled me through the door, and now you’re acting violent,” I explain.“Of course I’m afraid.”

“You know that we’re the thieves, at least,” Margot challenges.

Lukas rolls his eyes and looks incredulously at her.“Well, she knowsnow.”

“Oh, don’t be a fool.We’re dressed like ninjas.She’s notthatstupid.”

Why, thank you, Margot.“I didn’t see you take anything.I’m not going to tell a soul.”

Margot laughs.“You can’t possibly think we’re that stupid.”

“Who were you calling?”Lukas asks.

“I wasn’t calling anyone.”

Margot’s eyes widen.“No, you weren’t.You werespyingon us!You bitch, that’s what you were doing.You were videotaping us, and you were going to send that to the police.Weren’t you!”

“No!I swear I wasn’t!”

“I don’t believe you!”

“We can’t stay here,” Lukas says.“Just in case, we need to leave.”

“We can’t leave her here.”

“I’m not going to kill her, Margot.”

“Then I will!”she cries.“Lukas, think about this!Think about your son!”

“Iamthinking about him!This is Sophie’s governess.I can’t kill her.”

“He’ll never know!Andyou’llstay out of jail.”

“Enough!We’renotmurderers!”He runs his hands through his hair.“I can get her visa revoked.I have contacts who can do that.”

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