Naked Frame Part 23

"Be careful with that thing," said Rebecca. "And tie him up."

Gabby looked around for rope.

"Use one of those cables in that box over there."

He went to the box and picked out one.

Daniel was attempting to stand up.

Gabby zapped him again, and used the cable to tie him up like a rodeo calf.

"Nice job," said Rebecca. "Now you can tie up Big b.u.t.t."

"You little b.i.t.c.h!" Big Bill stood up, ready to lunge at Rebecca from his platform.

She c.o.c.ked her pistol.

"We've already been through this. You won't shoot me."

Rebecca fired just about his left shoulder, shattering one of the computer displays on the wall.

Big Bill sat back down.

Gabby brought the cables over and tied Big Bill to his chair with several cables.

Big Bill said, "Now I need to take a p.i.s.s."

"Who's stopping you?" said Rebecca.

Big Bill's face turned bright red with anger.

"Let's go," said Rebecca.

Big Bill said, "Are you crazy? In less than four hours the system is going to prompt Daniel for the pa.s.sword. If he doesn't enter that pa.s.sword, all of my videos are going to the cops."

Rebecca picked up the box of cables. "We'll be back." She and Gabby began to walk down the hallway.

Big Bill yelled, "What if you don't make it back in time? You're gonna be so dead. Be reasonable. Come back here and untie us. Let's work out a deal."

Rebecca pushed a release b.u.t.ton beside the door and it opened.

Big Bill screamed, "You're both gonna get the death penalty!"

Rebecca blocked the door open with the box of cables. They stepped outside.

As they walked toward Gabby's car, Rebecca said. "You got a handkerchief?"

"Yeah."

"Can I borrow it?"

"Sure." He took it out of his pocket and handed it to her.

"Now, the gun."

"Aw, come on, Becca. I need my own gun."

"Give me the gun."

Gabby pulled it out of his waistband and gave it to her.

Rebecca wiped it clean with the handkerchief and threw it into the darkness. "We don't know where that gun's been or who it might have killed."

"I hadn't thought of that. Thanks for keeping me out of trouble."

"Oh, yeah. I'm doing a great job of keeping you out of trouble."

They laughed.

"Have you got a plan?" said Gabby.

"I'm working on one."

"Good. Because I think our time is about to run out."

CHAPTER 37 - Wednesday, 12:03 a.m.

Kimberly recognized the ringtone as Wiley's.

"I told you not to call me again tonight. It's after midnight."

"I just had to talk to you, Baby."

"Okay. What is it?"

"I need you."

"Wiley."

"No, really. I want you so bad I ache."

"Not tonight."

"Please."

"All I can do is...you want to play the game?"

"Come on, Baby."

"I'm sorry, Wiley. Do you want to play or not?"

He did not respond.

"Well, okay. I'll talk to you tomorrow."

"No. Wait."

"What?"

"I want to play."

"Okay," said Kimberly. "Get loaded."

"I'm already loaded."

"You know what I mean."

"Just a second. I'll be right back."

Within thirty seconds he was back to the phone.

"Okay, this time, get ready for a double o.r.g.a.s.m."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm loading two bullets."

"Oh, yeah, Baby. That will give me a double o.r.g.a.s.m. Do it."

Kimberly could hear the chamber spinning. The click. "Oh, Baby. I'm already wet."

"I told it was going to be great."

She heard him spin the chamber again. And again the hammer hit nothing. "Keep going, Lover. I'm almost there."

She heard the spin...and a big bang. Then a thud.

"Wiley? Wiley, are you okay?"

No answer.

CHAPTER 38 - Wednesday, 12:07 a.m.

On their way to the car, Rebecca said, "Did you see Phillipa Thagery on one of those monitors?"

"Yeah. It looked like she was in her lab."

"Right. And she had this rat-it was either dead or sedated, because I saw her put this silver, gun-looking thing up to its head and shoot it a couple of times."

"That could have been the thing that was used on Carly's head," said Gabby. "Maybe Phillipa was the one who killed her."

"That's what I'm thinking."

They jumped into Gabby's car. He turned it around and drove down the dirt road toward the highway. "Oh, did you notice that man in the lab with Phillipa?"

"No."

"A big black guy came in and started making out with her. He was wearing a uniform. Maybe military."

"Okay. So, there's another possibility," said Rebecca. "This military guy-whoever he is-might have killed Carly for Phillipa."

"How are we ever going to figure all this out, Becca? We've got too many might's and maybe's. Just too many questions."

"Well, we're about to get some answers."

CHAPTER 39 - Wednesday, 12:19 a.m.

Gabby drove up to the security gate. "We're here to see Phillipa Thagery."

The guard leaned out over the half-door. "I'm sorry, but visitors are not allowed after 5:00 p.m."

Rebecca slid over close to Gabby and looked up at the guard. She saw the name on his badge. "Henry, we're old friends of Phillipa. Couldn't you please make an exception?"

"No, Ma'am, I'm sorry. It's a very strict rule. I'd lose my job if I let you in."