Page 80 of Storm and Tempest

Once the “FBI!” and “Everybody freeze!” had died down because no one was doing anything, she said, “Ladies and Gentlemen, take a load off. Nobody leaves yet. Once you’ve talked to us and we’ve cleared you, then you can go. We’ll try and make this as quick and painless as possible.”

She strode over to where Ramon had Elliot facedown on the ground. “Special Agent Adams?” She seemed genuinely surprised to see him.

Elliot said nothing, still secured with his hands tied behind his back and his head turned so he could look at them. Until he gave up and slumped to the floor, evidently exhausted.

“He didn’t transfer out of the Phoenix office,” Jax said. “He was kidnapped. Someone murdered his sister, and it’s all connected to my wife’s disappearance.” Maybe he should’ve said that Elliot was put in protective custody.

Too late now.

Andrette holstered her weapon, and the other agents disbursed around the room. Ramon backed up from Elliot, and a couple of agents helped him stand.

“No!” The Kenna lookalike rushed out of the room, twisting her shoulders to avoid Zeyla’s grasp. “Jax!” She found him. “How could you do this?” Actual tears rolled down her cheeks.

Andrette said, “I thought she was missing?”

“What?” Jax frowned, looking at the woman pretending to be Kenna. “What!”

“You know how I feel about Mark!” She gasped. “All I’m trying to do is leave you, and you’re making it as hard as possible for me to be free of you. Don’t you get it? It’s over! We’re over!”

The vibe in the room shifted, and it wasn’t positive.

Before he could argue with fake Kenna, she continued her tirade, “Just let me go. I don’t want to be trapped anymore.”

Jax’s jaw ached he clenched it so hard. “That’s what you want everyone to think? These people have met you. They know you’re not my wife.”

“Then why aren’t you letting me leave you?” she wailed. A second later, she spun around. In a moment, she drew Zeyla’s weapon from the holster at her back. She pointed it at Jax. “Let me go!”

The agents in the room whipped their guns out and aimed at her. “Put it down!”

“Put the weapon down, Kenna!” Andrette walked toward her, taking the lead. “Put it down!”

Jax saw the shift in her intention. She swung the gun toward Andrette, her finger on the trigger. Andrette fired. Several of the other agents fired as well, eliminating the lead that was the Kenna lookalike impersonating his wife.

Zeyla had gone from the doorway, and Jax heard her scream.

Jax yelled, “Stop!”

Their target was down.

Jax ran past Andrette and shoved the barrel of her gun down, wincing when he found it hot to the touch. He raced by the dead woman into the room. Zeyla lay on Maizie, blood on the back of her shoulder.

“Zeyla!”

She groaned. “Ouch!”

He turned back. “Get a medic!”

“I don’t want a doctor.” She shifted up, and he helped her by the elbow.

Ramon reached the doorway. “You’re hit?”

She moved off Maizie. “Ouch.”

“Maze?” Jax brushed back hair from her face. “You good?”

“I think Zeyla broke my iPad.” She shifted up from the floor, moving back to sit on her behind. “I feel like I got hit by a truck.”

Zeyla lifted her fist, and Maizie tapped it.