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 bothering with

resting?" Mrs. Carter stuttered, eyes

free from her grasp, dropping to his knees to

how did Blackie get here? I gave him to Sylvia to keep her

following the trail of the insect's tiny footprints. Grim-faced, he ducked into the stairwell. At the first-floor landing, he spotted a small wicker

was for Sylvia!" Jayson protested, pointing at the

up, glancing at Orson, his right-hand

to sweep the area. Minutes later,

a used syringe tossed

it's a sedative," Orson reported. "Surveillance caught this

in janitor scrubs, moving with the confidence of a linebacker. Clearly not a

at the syringe in his hand. "Find

crisply.

SPLASH!

gasped, shivering so hard her breath fogged

standing over

two are Garcia family elders?" she managed, her fists clenched, trying to keep

she's got brains. Too

dragging her deeper into the night. As Sylvia's

cordoned off with yellow police tape. The mine shaft yawned before them, black as the

if she didn't act now, she'd