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“Now tell me what the problem is with the plan.”
“It isn’t bad,” Maizie said. “It’s just not going to work. There are too many captors, and they’re making their way to you. They all have guns. They’re between you all and the front door.”
Kenna said, “Maizie, let the FBI in. Open all the doors and let them in.”
“They aren’t quite through the inner doors. I’m unlocking them now.” Maizie paused. “I think I have a roundabout route for you. I can lock the people coming for you in a hallway, seal it, and leave them there.”
“Do it. Get the bureau down here,” Kenna said. “What about the doctor? Is he here?”
Axel whipped his head around, watching their six but also interested. “What doctor? Wait, there was a doctor.” He shook himself. “Why does he terrify me?”
“I need to find him. But I don’t want him dead. I need him alive so he can face justice.”
“I’d rather put a bullet in his head, thanks for offering, though.” He leaned down to the phone, getting in Kenna’s space. “Where is he? I’m gonna kill this guy.”
“I’m in favor of this plan,” Sean said. “In case anyone is interested.”
Kenna figured she should stick her pushpin in everyone walking with them, but she would have to get them all convinced to help. “We need somewhere to hole up. What have you got, Maze?”
“Sean Reed. Nineteen, double major in biology and chemistry.” Maizie sounded like she was in awe.
“Let’s focus, shall we?”
“Somewhere to hole up, got it.” Maizie went quiet again.
“No offense,” Axel said. “But I’m not stopping until I’m out of here. Got it?”
“I understand. If you could get the rest of these people out, I can finish this.”
Up ahead, Ramon said, “You’re recruiting?”
“Everyone, keep an eye out for assailants, okay? We don’t need anyone else getting shot.” She made her way to Nicola. “Can you tell me, did you see any kids while you were here? I still need to find the two who came to your medical center that day. They were taken as well.”
Nicola frowned. “Maybe. There was a ward. I went there once because he—the doctor—needed me to look at patient files. I don’t know who it was for.”
“Can you show me where it was on a map?” Kenna slid the phone from her vest, thumbed to Maizie’s map, and handed it to Nicola.
Sean glanced behind them. “Where did that guy go?”
Ramon stopped up ahead, bunching everyone together. “What is it?”
Kenna looked for Axel, but he wasn’t behind them. Down the hall, out of sight, gunshots rang out. “He’s going after the doctor.” She turned back to Nicola. “Tell me where, then take Sean and these people and get out of here. Maizie will clear a path to the FBI.”
Ramon skirted around them and took the phone. “Let’s go get those kids.”
Kenna fought the urge to go get the doctor before someone else did, but she knew what Jax’s first priority would be.
So, she went to save more lives.
Even if it meant he lost his.
Chapter Thirty
Up ahead of them, somewhere down the hall that seemed to stretch forever, gunshots rang out.
“Axel is going to run out of bullets.” Ramon glanced at her. “You okay?”
“My head is swimming, but I’m good.” She’d been headbutted, but that felt like forever ago. “I’m good.”