Part 36 (1/2)

Chapter 39.

Still clasping her hair in his fist, Was.h.i.+ngton held her at the final landing. He pressed her face to the wall as he opened the door. There were voices. She opened her mouth to scream as he s.h.i.+fted the gun from her head to the hollow of her cheek. The door clicked shut again.

”Don't do it. I'll kill them all.”

She closed her mouth.

When the voices had pa.s.sed, Was.h.i.+ngton opened the door again. Peered out. He pushed her into the hallway, moving quickly behind her. He held the gun at her side and out of view.

She tried to slow him, to stall, but the muzzle dug into her ribs, the pain urged her forward.

The hallway was empty. With her in front, they walked through the back doors and into the quiet parking lot. She had prayed somehow Tony would be there, waiting. But the back lot was deserted.

Terror surged through her. She couldn't let him reach his car. She couldn't get in. This was her best chance.

He moved quickly now, his fist in her hair driving the momentum.

They turned the corner into the dark lot. She heard a tiny cry escape her lips. It was too close. There was no way out.

He pushed against her. ”Not a sound.” He stopped by a white Volvo and she heard the double beep of doors unlocking. He took her arm, steering her toward the driver's side when light exploded in her eyes.

He backed up, dragging her.

She blinked hard, waved her arms.

Headlights. A car's headlights shone on them. She squinted to see the driver.

”Move,” Was.h.i.+ngton commanded.

The car engine revved as the lights came toward them.

Was.h.i.+ngton ducked behind the Volvo, dragging her with him.

Jamie wrenched free. Threw herself into the line of the car.

They were separated. She stood and ran, tripped. Fell onto her knees, cried out, crawled on before scrambling to get up again.

She turned back to see Was.h.i.+ngton raise his weapon and fire at the car. The car revved but didn't move.

Then she heard gunshots from the other side of her. Three quick blasts.

She dropped, then rolled toward a cement post. A cry of pain burst from her lips as she tried to stand. A muscle tore against her ribs. She swallowed a scream.

Silence. She waited, listened. She stared in the direction of the headlights then got down on the ground and searched for Was.h.i.+ngton. She saw him lying huddled on the ground by his car, still.

A car door opened. Shoes sc.r.a.ped on the pavement. She heard voices.

Someone bent over Was.h.i.+ngton, rolled him onto his back. She saw her gun in his hand. He didn't move.

It was over. She closed her eyes, dropped her head to her hands.

Then she heard her name.

”Here,” she said. ”I'm here.”

She heard their voices, felt hands. Opened her eyes enough to see Hailey and Mackenzie. The rookie holstering her gun.

”Nice shot, rookie,” Jamie croaked.

Mackenzie smiled.

Jamie thought she might have dozed. She woke to the sounds of other voices, men shouting.

Time seemed to fade in and out. Through her fog, Jamie heard the onslaught of questions, felt Mackenzie try to help her up. She just shook her head. Didn't want to move.

”Jesus Christ, it's Charlie's f.u.c.king Angels again,” a familiar voice said.

Jamie opened her eyes, stared at Scott Scanlan. ”Listen you-”

Hailey raised her hand. ”Save your breath,” she told Jamie, pointing at someone walking toward them.

It took Jamie a minute to recognize that it was Daniels who emerged from the dark with two other officers. Jamie recognized the others from her own IA experience way back when. Daniels gave Hailey a quick nod, turned to Scanlan. ”Officer Scanlan, you need to come with us.”

Scanlan looked around, befuddled. Then he settled an angry gaze on Jamie.

Jamie smiled at him, the same s.h.i.+t-eating grin that he'd given her that first night when IA had come to his rescue. It wasn't as satisfying, though, because the smiling hurt like h.e.l.l.

As Scanlan was led away, she leaned back and listened to the whir of an ambulance siren, saw the spinning lights. Paramedics jumped out of the cab and jogged toward her.

”I probably don't need to go to the hospital,” she said. ”I'm okay.”

No one listened. They loaded her into the back.

She spotted Tony in the crowd. ”I'll meet you at the hospital, Jamie.”

She tried to raise an arm but couldn't.

Hailey climbed up into the back of the ambulance first, then offered Mackenzie a hand. They both sat down, waiting for the paramedics to load Jamie in.

”Only one can go,” one of the paramedics told them.

”Oh, no. We're both going,” Mackenzie stated, leaving no room for argument.

The paramedic looked at his partner for support, but the other man shrugged.