Chapter 9 - THE STATION
“Down!”
Cole fired first.
The gunshot exploded through the basement.
Maeve dropped behind the lockers.
Rocco pulled Nora with him.
The shotgun fired.
Metal doors blew open.
Maeve screamed.
“Maeve!” Nora yelled.
“I’m here!”
Rocco crawled toward her.
“Stay low.”
“What about the evidence?”
“Forget the evidence.”
“No!”
She reached toward the open locker.
Another shotgun blast hit the wall.
Concrete sprayed across the floor.
Cole fired twice.
The man at the far end ducked behind a pillar.
The footsteps on the stairs stopped.
Then a voice called out.
“Daniel, put the gun down.”
Cole shouted back.
“Come take it.”
Rocco looked at Maeve.
“Can you run?”
“Yes.”
“When I say.”
Nora grabbed Maeve’s arm.
“Don’t leave me.”
“I won’t.”
Rocco looked toward a narrow service door at the side of the corridor.
“Three seconds.”
Cole fired again.
“Now!”
They ran.
Maeve grabbed the ledger and one USB drive as she passed the locker.
Rocco saw.
“Seriously?”
“You said run, not run empty-handed.”
They crashed through the service door.
A narrow tunnel stretched beneath the old tracks.
Behind them, more shots echoed.
Nora stumbled.
Maeve caught her.
“Mom.”
“I’m okay.”
Rocco glanced back.
“Cole!”
No answer.
Then Cole came through the door.
Blood covered his shoulder.
Nora gasped.
“You’re hit.”
“Graze.”
“Your entire shirt is red.”
“I’ve had worse.”
Rocco said, “Move.”
They reached an iron ladder.
Rocco pushed the hatch overhead.
Locked.
“Damn it.”
Footsteps entered the tunnel behind them.
Maeve stared around.
“No other exit?”
Cole shook his head.
Rocco grabbed the ladder and slammed his shoulder into the hatch.
Once.
Twice.
Nothing.
The footsteps came closer.
Nora whispered, “Rocco.”
“I know.”
Maeve pulled the USB drive from her pocket.
“What if we give them this?”
Rocco looked at her.
“No.”
“It might buy time.”
“They won’t leave witnesses.”
That answer silenced everyone.
Cole checked his gun.
Two rounds left.
The first attacker appeared at the far end of the tunnel.
Rocco slammed the hatch again.
Metal bent.
Cole raised his weapon.
The attacker lifted the shotgun.
Maeve covered her ears.
A shot rang out.
But it didn’t come from Cole.
The attacker fell forward.
Everyone stared.
A flashlight appeared behind him.
Then a woman stepped into view.
Gray hair.
Long coat.
A handgun in both hands.
Mrs. Alvarez.
Maeve’s mouth dropped open.
“What the hell?”
Mrs. Alvarez looked down at the unconscious man.
“I told you I saw what Dominic did.”
She kicked the shotgun away.
“I didn’t say that was the first thing I’d seen.”
Rocco stared at her.
“You want to explain?”
“Later.”
Police sirens sounded outside.
Mrs. Alvarez looked at Cole.
“You called backup?”
Cole shook his head.
Her face fell.
“Then those aren’t your people.”
The basement doors above them slammed open.
Mrs. Alvarez looked at Maeve.
“Give me the ledger.”
Maeve tightened her grip.
“No.”
Mrs. Alvarez’s eyes sharpened.
“Your father trusted me.”
Maeve froze.
May you like
The older woman continued.
“And if you want to live long enough to find out why, we need to move right now.”
