“Is that his name?” She lifted a barely interested shoulder. “I went to the alley behind your bar this morning. I tossed Isa’s bloody clothes in the Dumpster. He was hiding and saw me. I couldn’t risk any more variables.”

Conor’s stomach turned. “The cops didn’t find Isa’s clothes.”

“I can’t say how disappointed I am with the police.”

“You really think you’ll be able to pull off pretending to be a victim?” She wasn’t just crazy. Zoe was evil. Her eyes glittered when she talked about her plan. She hadn’t killed those girls just to get ahead. She’d enjoyed being smarter than everyone else, jerking the cops around—and Conor suspected she’d also enjoyed the killing.

“Yes. It’s the perfect alibi.” Her knowing smile faded. “Now, enough talking. It’s time for you to die. Dr. Hancock will have to be next.”

He had to admit, Zoe’s plan was brilliant and devious. He’d never suspected she was the killer.

Suddenly a look of curiosity crossed her already crazed features. “How did you find me here?”

“Louisa found the map you hid in the museum.”

“Those were supposed to go into the incinerator. But I’d planned out the buildings I was going to use in advance. I didn’t want to make any mistakes. Then Cusack changed the cleaning crew and beefed up security. He screwed up my plan to return to the museum to destroy everything.”

Thank you, Dr. Cusack.

“Enough questions.” Zoe pointed the gun at Conor’s chest. Her finger moved. He lunged sideways. At the same moment, Louisa launched her body at him from the ground. The gunshot reverberated on concrete. Louisa’s body jerked. She hit the cement slab and didn’t move. Conor rolled and kicked the camp lantern. The light shifted in crazy arcs.

The gun went off again. The shot went wild, pinging off the concrete and thudding into the wooden stairs. Conor rushed Zoe. His shoulder collided with her ribs. He felt the air whoosh from her body as they hit the ground. The gun skittered across the floor. She reached for it.

“Oh no you don’t.” He landed on top, sitting up and pinning her to the floor just as sirens sounded outside.

Footsteps thudded above. “Police.”

“Down here,” Conor yelled. “Call an ambulance.”

“Hands up.” Four uniformed cops came down the steps, guns and powerful flashlights sweeping the basement. The guns pointed at Conor. “Get off the girl.”

Conor put his hands in the air.

Below him, Zoe sobbed. “He tried to kill me.”

A cop tackled Conor and flipped him on his stomach. He knelt on his spine and snapped handcuffs around his wrists. Another uniform helped Zoe to her feet. “Are you all right, miss?”