Page 105 of Hidden Chance

“Or it could be trash. Let’s go.”

“There might be something here we need,” Hannah whispered while she continued to search.

“It’s not worth finding anything if we can’t get out of here alive.”

“But this could be what stops them. This could be how we get them.”

“We can send Peter and Robby back for it later, or we can bring in a larger team. This is too much for the two of us.”

“But it could be gone by then.”

Jemi marched over to her. “What did I say to you before?”

“To do whatever you say.” But she kept looking.

Jemi pushed her arm across the desk, shoving the papers onto the floor. “Let’s go.” She pulled Hannah toward the door.

“Wait.” Pulling from Jemi’s grip, she went back to the pile on the floor.Please, God, let whatever I take be what we need.She scooped up several files, tucking them into the back of her pants, then grabbed the closest laptop.

“Hannah! Stop it.”

“I’m coming.”

“Leave the laptop behind.”

“I can’t. I can carry it. Let’s just go.”

Jemi growled but led them back into the hall.

As they approached an intersection, they heard a shout from behind.

“Hey!”

Both women halted and turned slowly. Pike was aiming a shotgun at them. The side of his face was coated in blood from the wound on his head.

“I can’t let you go.” He adjusted his grip and walked closer.

“Pike, what are you doing?” Hannah said. “You’ll only get yourself killed. We left you alive back there. We didn’t have to. Let us go.”

“I can’t.” His voice shook, but the cold look in his eye spoke more to it being adrenaline than fear.

“Don’t be stupid.”

“You’re the one who’s stupid. There are too many guards here. You won’t get away. Give up now.”

Jemi shifted her finger to the trigger. “There aren’t enough guards to keep us from escaping. You should listen to Hannah. You don’t have to do this. This isn’t you. This isn’t your war. Let us go. This won’t end well for you.”

“You’re wrong. There’s only one way this ends. Put your gun down, or I will be forced to shoot.”

“You put your gun down. I’m a better shot than you. You can’t fire before I do.”

Shouts came from somewhere else in the building, and Pike’s eyes lifted. Jemi took advantage of his moment of distraction and fired. Pike dropped to the floor.

Part of Hannah wanted to go to him and make sure he was okay. But it only took a moment for her entire life to transform. Just like when her dad was killed. Nothing was the same anymore, but Hannah didn’t like that Pike’s staring dead eyes were a good thing.

“I’m sorry,” Jemi said. “I had to do it.”

“I know. Let’s just go.”

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