Encore of the Avenging Muse (Sylvia and Rupert)

Chapter 351

Sylvia Lloyd felt her legs give out beneath her. As her eyes fluttered shut, the last thing she saw was a pitch-black motorcycle helmet.

The man glanced down at Sylvia's crumpled form, pocketing the empty syringe. He let out a low chuckle. "Trust me, I'm not the only one who wants you dead. So long, Sylvia."

...

Rupert Garcia strode through the automatic doors, balancing a bag of takeout— cheeseburgers and fries-on one arm. He paused at the doorway to Sylvia's hospital room, only to find it empty, the bedsheets undisturbed, the air stale and lifeless.

He spun around and landed a punch squarely on his bodyguard's jaw.

"This is what you call protection?" Rupert's voice was icy.

"S-sorry, Mr. Garcia, I just stepped out for the restroom," the guard stammered, clutching his face.

"Who's been here?"

"That woman you helped-Mrs. Carter-and her son. I checked with the nurses; they said Ms. Lloyd went downstairs to find them just a few minutes ago..."

Before the guard could finish, Rupert was already storming off.

Downstairs, Mrs. Carter and her young son were shuffling wearily through the lobby, hand-in-hand. When they saw Rupert charging toward them, they nearly jumped out of their skins.

Rupert barked, not

she upstairs resting?" Mrs. Carter

to his knees to scoop up

gave him to Sylvia to keep

the insect's tiny footprints. Grim-faced, he ducked into the stairwell. At the first-floor landing,

Jayson protested, pointing at the

it up, glancing at

nodded, signaling his team to sweep

discovered a used syringe tossed in a

"Surveillance caught this guy wheeling a

handed Rupert an iPad, showing a burly man in janitor scrubs,

at the syringe in his hand.

nodded crisply. "Yes,

SPLASH!

gasped, shivering so hard her

standing over her-the same ones

managed, her fists clenched, trying to keep her voice

let out a dry laugh. "Look at that, she's got brains.

her up, dragging her deeper into the night. As Sylvia's

mining site-abandoned, silent, the entrance cordoned off with yellow police tape. The mine shaft yawned

if she didn't act now, she'd disappear here