This Fallen Prey (Rockton 3)

A nod from her, and she will, if only because she's one of the few who'll tell him off. Whether he listens is a whole other matter, but the risk of him injuring his arm is minor compared to what I fear.

I'm running as fast as my bad leg will allow. I tear down the narrow passage between two buildings, and I fly out onto the street just as another figure heads the opposite way.

"Kenny?" I call.

He looks over but doesn't stop. "There's a fire."

"I know, but you're posted at the clinic."

"Val's there." He keeps running. "Brady's secure. She said I can go help . . ."

The rest is muffled as he runs into the passage between buildings.

"No!" I shout. "Get back to your post!"

He's gone. I slow, torn between running after him and--

A bang comes to my right. From the direction of the clinic. My brain screams gunshot, but as I spin, I see it's just a door slamming shut as Diana runs from her apartment.

She sees me. "Casey?"

Come with me. That's what I want to say. I need you. Come with me.

I can't, though. Both because I don't trust her, and because I can't put her in danger.

"I need someone at the clinic," I say. "Get . . ." I trail off. Get who?

"Mathias," I say. "Get Mathias for me."

She nods, no question, presuming it's a medical emergency. Also, she's happy to avoid going near the fire. I don't blame her for that--she nearly died in the last one.

I run for the clinic. I know what this is. A diversion. Everyone in town is dealing with that fire. No one is paying attention to Oliver Brady.

Even Kenny is gone, because Val wants to prove herself. As soon as Kenny asked Val what she wanted him to do, she would tell him to go help with the fire. Brady's hands were secured. He was weak from the vomiting. He was no threat.

The possibility that he was under threat? I could not trust her to realize Brady had faced two assassination attempts, and Kenny wasn't only there to make sure Brady didn't escape.

As soon as I dash into the clinic, there's a crash in the examination room. I already have my gun out. Now I put my back to the wall. The door is beside me. I watch the knob. When it turns, I aim, take a deep breath--

The door opens, and Val appears, stumbling through. A hand on her arm propels her forward. She sees me. "Case--"

She's yanked back before she can finish. The door slams shut.

"Lay down your weapon, Detective," a voice says. "Or I slit Valerie's throat."

21

When I hear that voice, my gut clenches.

"Put your weapon on the floor. Open the door. Kick the gun through. Then follow with your hands up. Otherwise, I'll kill her. You don't want to call my bluff."

I glance at the exterior door. Hoping for what? Divine intervention? Even if Diana finds Mathias, he's not going to get me out of this. There are exactly two solutions.

I do as I'm told.

Or Val dies.

And here is the terrible truth: I should stand my ground.