Page 133 of Capturing You

She crawled behind a rolling cart of books and opened her phone, aiming the screen away from the men. After checking twice to make sure it was silenced, she started to dial 911.

But stopped, fearing they’d hear the operator’s voice on the line.

She texted Nathan instead.

I’m trapped in the library. They’re here. Help!

He responded with a thumbs-up that felt all wrong, considering the situation. But he was on it.

Shoving her phone into her pocket, she prayed the police would arrive before the men found her.

It was too dark back here to make out much, but red glowed from around a corner at the back of the room. An exit? The guard might be there.

But he might not.

A thump, followed by a low curse word, came from the direction of the librarian’s desk.

Someone was closing in.

She couldn’t wait. She had to try.

Slowly, slowly, she crept toward that red glow. Around carts and boxes and chairs and desks, careful not to bump anything.

Her foot caught something soft, and she looked down.

It was a leg. A leg connected to a body, lying on the floor.

No.

She crouched to confirm her suspicion.

It was the librarian. Brooklynn found her neck and felt for a pulse. It was there. Faint, but there.

She wasn’t dead, thank heavens.

Creeping toward the door, she prayed the woman would stay unconscious until this was over.

She followed the back wall to an open doorway, then peeked into a hallway.

There was an exit just a few feet away.

On the other end…

“Got her!” A man bolted her direction.

She lifted the cane like a bat and swung at his head.

It connected. He paused, unsteady.

Glared at her, murder in his eyes.

She jabbed the cane again, this time hitting his forehead.

He fell back, and she lurched for the door.

He reached out, grabbed the cane. She let go of her only weapon, pushed through the exit, and bolted outside.

“Help!” She screamed, running toward the front of the building. If her Uber driver was there, she could escape.