He nodded, then moved to hold the door open for her.“The boy’s father is one of ElCuervo’s men. I don’t want him seeing you if he does come,and I don’t want you here longer than is necessary.”
“Trying to protect me?” She glanced at him, thenscanned the area around them. “How noble.”
“It’s not nobility,” he said. “If you get hurt, orkilled, I’ll be spending a day doing paperwork instead of trackingdown Zimmerman.”
She snorted, but continued making her way to the car.“Sofía said he doesn’t come around much. Can’t handle seeingJosé like this.”
Adrian nodded, and they got in without incident. Hesent up a prayer of thanksgiving. It was that time of year, afterall, when everyone was reminded to be thankful. He didn’t want tobe one of those people who only prayed when they neededsomething.
“Ready?” She looked at him expectantly.
“Just saying thanks that we got out of there,safe.”
“I know what you mean. And I’ve been praying for thatboy.” He figured as much. Most of Double Down were Christians. Itwas nice to be around them, supported by people who believed whathe did. His own work environment wasn’t hostile toward what hebelieved, but it was expected that he leave his faith at home.
He didn’t know where Megan stood on the faith issue,but he wanted to know. Would she share with him?
Megan ran her hands over the ends of her jacket.“What…” She dug in the pocket, then the other one. Then the insidepockets.
“You—”
She looked up, dread in her eyes. “The flash drive isgone.”
Chapter7
Megan threw the car door open and stalked back towardthe hospital foyer. The guy that had bumped into her in the lobby.He had to have lifted the flash drive from her pocket.
She couldn’t believe she’d been so dumb. Thieves weregood, and the great ones could take things from you without youeven noticing. Still, part of her had always thought she wouldnotice it happening. Apparently not. She’d had all the answers, andnow they were gone before she even had the chance to find out whatZimmerman wanted to tell her.
“Megan!” Adrian pulled to a stop beside her,breathing hard. Her breaths were coming fast as well. Evidentlyshe’d pushed it to get across the street.
She kept going, scanning the ground in case she’ddropped it. Unlikely, but it was possible. Her hands curled intofists at her sides. “Whatever Zimmerman had to say is gone.”But even as she said it, she realized she didn’t want to give up.She wanted to find it somewhere.
Or find the thief.
An old man pulled open the front door of thehospital. He started to head inside, then halted and backed up halfa step.
Two men walked out, Sofia between them. One held herarm. The other stood close to her side. Her face was pinched, herbig brown eyes even darker in her paled face.
Megan put her hand out to Adrian. He stopped besideher. They both drew their weapons, but Megan held hers out ofsight.
“Sofía!” Megan put on her happiest face, a widesmile, and waved with her free hand. She strode toward the youngerwoman. “How are you? It’s so good to see you.”
The men glanced aside at her, but continued to hustlethe young woman out of the hospital. Sofia whimpered as they turnedonto the sidewalk and headed for the street. Vehicle parked aroundthe corner? They couldn’t think that was less conspicuous thanparking close.
“Hey!” Megan yelled again, like she was getting madat being ignored. “Sofía!”
One of the men spun back, gun raised.
Both Megan and Adrian lifted their weapons.
He said, “FBI. Put it down. Let the woman go.”
The other man continued to pull Sofia along while hisfriend faced off with them.
Beyond the gunman, Sofía started to struggle.“Megan!” She kicked at the man’s shins, but he was bigger so herflat shoes had little impact on him. “They killed my son!”
Megan took two steps to the left. Adrian could takethe first guy. She trained her gun on the man holding Sofía. “Lether go. Now.” Then she said, “And give me back the flashdrive.”
Sofía whimpered against the man’s hold, her energy tofight dissipating. She sagged. That was good. A limp victim washarder to control and harder to get her to whatever vehicle theyhad parked nearby.
“Put it down.” Adrian’s voice was strong and full ofauthority.
The man who’d turned back first shifted a tinyamount. Megan braced for the shots that would surely follow.
Then he turned and ran.
Cut and raced away, determined to get out ofthere.
Adrian ran after him, and the two of them bypassedthe second man still holding Sofía. Megan used the momentarydistraction to run at the man holding her. She couldn’t see aweapon, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t hiding one where shecouldn’t see it. Where he’d have point blank aim on Sofía.
Sofía screamed. Megan barreled into the two of them,shoving so that she could put herself between Sofía and theman.
Security ran out of the hospital doors.
Megan shouldered the man into the ground, then puther weapon back into its holster. She grabbed the man’s arms andpinned them behind his back. Then she turned to the securityguards, holding their stun guns. “FBI.”
She patted the man down, found his weapon in the backof his pants, and then pulled him to his feet. His hands weren’tbound. She held his elbow while she moved two steps to the guards.“Secure this man.”
“We called the cops.”
She nodded. “Good.” They would have handcuffs atleast—better than the plastic ties the guards had. And they’d beable to take this guy in. Get Sofía’s statement.
Megan needed to find Adrian and the other guy. Sheturned to go, and Sofía slammed into her. “Thank you. Oh, thank youso much.”
Megan patted her back, not sure what else to do.“What happened?” The question was automatic, nothing but areflex.
“They were in José’s room.He coded and the nurses ran in. They dragged me to the elevator.”She sucked in a breath, panting from the adrenaline of nearly beingkidnapped.
Those two men tried to kill José?
Sofía whimpered and clutched Megan harder. “He’sdead.”
She didn’t know what to say. Likely nothing wouldever be all right for this woman. Not
