Sick

48

As soon as the elevator doors closed, Ash said, “Take us all the way down.”

“No problem,” the man said.

He touched his card to the pad, then pressed the button for the bottom floor.

Ash shoved the man against the wall. “Where are the children?”

“Your kids are in one of the rooms in back. I can take you there.”

It took Ash a second to realize the man had not said “the kids,” but “your kids.”

“You know who I am?” he said, pressing his gun against the man’s stomach.

“You’re Daniel Ash, right?” The man shot a quick look at Chloe. “You got my note.”

Note?Ash took a step back.

“Yes,” Chloe said. “Thank you.”

Ash stared at the man. “You’re the guy who-”

“Why do you think I picked him?” Chloe said.

Ash dropped his gun to his side. “Sorry. I didn’t know.”

“It’s okay. I get it,” the man said.

“What’s your name?”

The man hesitated for a moment, then said, “Winger.”

“Thank you, Winger.”

Matt’s inside man nodded uncomfortably, then glanced over at Chloe. “They did a good job on you. But I still recognized you. It’s your eyes. They can’t change that.”

Chloe said nothing.

“Are my kids all right?” Ash asked.

“Last I saw them, yes. But Dr. Karp headed down here when the alarm went off. I don’t know what he’s planning on doing.”

Ash’s anxiety rose as he considered the possibility that he might still be too late.

But before anyone could say anything else, the elevator began to slow.

On sub-basement four, the arrival of the elevator was always preceded by the softwhooshof air moving around the car as it reached its lowest point. Unlike when Dr. Karp arrived, there was only one of the security men standing in the elevator lobby, a guy by the name of Montrose. Wyle, his partner, hadn’t returned yet from checking the surveillance footage.

As soon as Montrose heard thewhoosh, he drew his gun and tensed. From down the hall he thought he heard footsteps, but his attention was focused on the door, so he paid them little attention.

The elevator settled in place, then paused for half a second before the doors slid open.

Montrose let out a breath and relaxed a little. It was just one of Dr. Karp’s orderlies. He’d probably been called down to give the doctor a hand.

“They’re back with the subjects,” the guard started to say, but the only thing he got out of his mouth was, “They’re back-”

It seemed unnecessary to go on, given the two guns that appeared from either side of the open door, aimed directly at his chest.

“Gun on the ground,” Ash said softly.

The security guard dropped his pistol by his foot.

“Kick it over here.”

The man seemed reluctant, so Ash wagged the SIG’s barrel to remind the guy who was in charge. The gun skidded across the floor a moment later.

“Now on your knees.”

Again, there was a hesitation, but before Ash could repeat the command, the man complied.

Carefully, both Ash and Chloe came out from the protection of the elevator. Ash motioned for her to bind the man’s hands and legs while he stood back a few feet. Once she was done, he put a foot on the man’s chest and pushed him all the way to the ground.

“Where’s Dr. Karp?” he asked.

“I don’t know,” the man replied.

Ash put his foot on the man’s neck and pointed his gun at the guy’s head.

“Iwillkill you.”

“He…he said he was going in back. To the holding rooms.”

Ash glanced at Winger. The orderly nodded once, confirming that’s where his children were.

“You here alone?” Ash asked the guard.

“Yes,” the man said quickly.

Ash immediately knew he was lying. He leaned down and put the SIG’s muzzle against the man’s forehead. “Those kids your Dr. Karp has back there? They aremykids.”

The man’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Don’t think for a second I won’t pull this trigger,” Ash continued. “How many other guards are there?”

“One.”

Ash pressed the gun into the man’s skin.

“I swear! Only one.”

“Where is he?”

“He…went with the doctor.”

Ash stood, then looked at Winger. “Which way?”

Montrose’s partner Wyle heard most of the conversation from just around the corner. Though only one person other than Montrose had done the talking, Wyle could tell there was another person with him.

“Where is he?” the voice said from the elevator lobby.

“He…went with the doctor,” Montrose said.

Wyle couldn’t help but smile. Montrose had held it together, and given him a chance to deal with the situation.

As quietly as possible, Wyle took several steps backward.

“Which way?” the voice said.

“Around and to the left.” This was a new voice, confirming that there was definitely more than one unfriendly.

Wyle raised his Beretta, his finger poised on the trigger.

Ash walked to the edge of the lobby. Just beyond was a corridor that went left and right. He listened, but the only thing he could hear was a steady hum of the ventilation system.

“How far down?” he asked Winger.

“About thirty feet. Then we take the hall on the right. That’ll get us all the way back.”

“Okay. Stay close behind me.” He glanced at Chloe. “Ready?”

She nodded.

Leading with his gun, Ash ran into the hallway.

He saw the other guard a split second before he heard the double tap of the man’s gun. Just as Ash pulled the trigger of his SIG, searing pain flashed up his arm as a bullet pierced his skin. The hit caused him to twist to the side, sending the shot from his gun well to the left of its intended target.

Not missing a beat, though, Ash pulled his trigger again, moving his arm in an arc and sending five quick shots in the direction of the guard. Chloe, kneeling around the corner from the lobby, fired several rounds at the same time.