Page 48 of Say Now
"Wow," Dale said.He clapped his hands, the gun swinging back and forth."I really underestimated you.A bullseye on everything.It’s a shame that you figured that out now, but they do say that people have a moment of clarity right before they die.I was prepared to let you go, but I felt inspired."
Alison laughed.She was still wary of his gun, but she was ready to pull hers and fire it just like her father had taught her.
"What’s so funny?"Dale asked.
"No, it's just that you see yourself as some great mastermind who has everything figured out, but this wasn't your idea at all, was it?You only came up with this idea because it's what I wanted you to come up with.You're only here because I made you come here.This is exactly what I wanted.Have you heard enough?"
On the signal, the door burst open with a bang
CHAPTER TWENTY THREE
Special Agent Martinez was the first into the room, followed by three more agents.They all had guns at the ready.
Captain Kent panicked.Tommy was to his left, Alison before him, and three FBI agents to the right.
Alison recognized the stiffening of the shoulders as he readied to turn the gun on someone.She pulled the gun from her belt, pointing it at him.
"Don't you dare!"she warned.
Captain Kent knew he was surrounded.He dropped the gun and turned toward the agents.
"Thank goodness you are here," he said."I only just got him back under control.He attacked me and Officer Brandt.You need to send a car to fourth and twenty-third to see—"
"Stop it!"Claire warned, leveling the gun at his chest."Drop the gun, Kent!"
"What’s going on?"the captain asked."We need to get him back to his cell."
"Drop the gun!That’s an order!"Claire stated."Do it now, or I will shoot you."
"All right, all right," Kent said.He dropped the gun to the ground.
"Turn around.Hands on the back of your head."Claire still had the gun on him.
"You’re making a big mistake," Kent said."I will have your badge, and you will be out of a job."
Claire held the gun with one hand and reached into her pocket to retrieve her phone.She held it up.
"You’re not always one step ahead," she said."Dr.Payne is always one step ahead.She knew you would come here tonight, and that’s why she had me follow you from the police station.I watched you leave with Tommy, and then you stopped at the light and knocked out your officer.A car has already picked him up, by the way, and he’s getting treatment.Then I watched you as you arrived at the motel.After that, my fellow agents and I listened on the phone as you told us everything.I made sure to record it, too.It made for some interesting listening.I thought we might solve the murder case, but I had no idea we were about to solve another murder and a corruption case.Your honesty is very inspiring, Captain Kent."
"No, it was a lie.They made me say it.I thought I was going to—"
"Save it," Claire ordered.
Alison holstered her gun and got off the bed, going to the small deck to the left of the chair Tommy sat in, still half dazed.She reached under and removed the phone she had taped there, holding it up for Dale to see.
He tried not to grimace as his world came crumbling down around him.His breathing got quicker and louder, and his eye twitched.His neck tensed, and the vein on his temple throbbed.
He turned to face the wall and put his hands above his head, but only for a second.He placed his elbow against the wall and pushed, giving himself momentum.He took two quick steps toward Alison, who was between the bed and the wall.He didn't have a weapon; all he had was his large frame, and he was throwing it at her.
It wasn’t only how to shoot a gun that her father had shown her, but self-defense, too.There was no way to stop an attacker much bigger than her moving at that speed, so she thought about avoidance.
Alison ducked quickly, bringing her elbow up.When he slammed into her, his stomach hit her elbow, and the wind was taken from him.Alison used his momentum against him, shifting slightly to roll his moving body over her back.Kent flew through the air for a moment before he slammed into the wall, creating a significant dent.He fell to the floor with a thud.
Before he could get up, the two agents with Claire were on top of him.Kent struggled, but the wind had been knocked from him, and it was two versus one.He was raised to his feet, the two agents with an arm each, pinning his hands behind his back.Claire ran over to help them, grabbing her cuffs and slapping them on his wrists.Once that was the case, he was a lot more compliant.
"Get him out of here," Claire ordered."Take him to our offices.He’s not to talk with anyone until I get back there.I need to figure out what we’re doing with him first.More agents are on the way."
The two agents holding Kent took him out of the room.As they passed Alison, Kent held her gaze.He gave her a look that said: How the heck did you ever get the better of me?
