Page 51 of One Last Step

Margot shrieks, and I hear footfalls as she tries to run.Boots thud around me, and a few seconds later, Margot shrieks again.“No!All right!All right, I surrender !Please don’t hurt me!”

Lukas speaks then.“I’m sorry, Mary.I’m truly sorry.I was just trying to do what’s best for my son.”

I lift my eyes and see him on the ground with his limbs spread.A moment later, Claudia kneels on him, causing him to wince.She handcuffs him and looks at me with concern.“Are you all right, Mary?”

I can’t help it.I laugh at that.I know I look crazy, but for Heave’s sake, what a foolish question!

A smile plays across her lips, but she manages to keep her voice professional and clarifies, “Are you injured?”

I shake my head.“No, I don’t believe I’m injured.”

“You’re bleeding a little,” she informs me.“Hold on.I’ll take a look at you.”

She stands and says to Lukas.“If you’re not in this exact position when I turn around, things will go much harder for you.Do you understand?”

He nods.“Yes, ma’am.”

“Good.”

Claudia bends down and helps me to my feet.She leans me against the front desk and says, “Sit here.Catch your breath.Let me see your hands.”

She takes my hands, and I realize that I am bleeding.A few shards of glass have sliced the back of my hands open.There isn’t a lot of blood, but it’s still shocking to see.

“Superficial cuts,” Claudia informs me.“You’re all right.Just rest for a moment.”

Two police officers come into the foyer, dragging Margot with them.The socialite is muttering darkly and casts a glare at Lukas.“You weak bastard.You should have killed her the moment you saw her.”

“Making criminal threats,” one of the police officers notes drily.“That’s another charge for you, Miss Keller.Would you like to keep going?”

I recognize the voice as Inspector Moreau.I catch his eye and smile gratefully.He gives me his trademark nod, then puts Margot on the ground next to Lukas.

The elevator door opens.The police officers and Claudia spin around and draw their weapons.Elena comes walking out and cries out when she sees the mess.“What on Earth… Mary, are you all right?”

“I’m all right,” I call back.“I found your thieves.”

Elena’s eyes fall to Lukas and Margot.Her eyes widen.“Lukas?My God.What about your son?”

Lukas lowers her eyes and says nothing.Margot turns into a witch.She snarls, “Her family is Nazi too!Adrien Rousseau was a spy!He sold intelligence to the Nazis and tried to betray Switzerland!”

Elena looks at Margot.She pales, and her mouth drops open.But then she closes it, and her eyes harden.She squares her shoulders and says, "Yes.What you say is true.But I will no longer hide from my past."She meets my eyes."Thank you, Mary, for your advice, but you were wrong.The past is not to be forgotten, no matter how painful.It is to be remembered, darkness and all."

She looks back at Lukas and shakes her head.“I will do what I can for Luc.”

Lukas slumps with relief."Thank you, Elena.I don't deserve it, but thank you."

“No, you don’t,” she replied.“And Luc doesn’t deserve to be in this position.But I’ll do what I can.”

The other elevator opens, and Sophie steps out.“Grandma?Is everything all right?”She sees the scene, and her eyes widen.

Elena pulls her into her arms and kisses her forehead.“It is now, Sophie.”

The police haul Margot and Lukas to their feet and drag them outside.Margot continues to spit oaths while Lukas only hangs his head.

Claudia helps me to my feet, and a moment later, Sophie barrels into me, holding me tightly.“Are you all right, Mary?”

“Yes,” I tell her.I smile wryly.“I am now.”

She giggles and squeezes even tighter.I pick her up and return the favor.“It’s all right now.”

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