Page 68 of Hidden Chance

“They’ve just driven off down the street.”

“Maybe they’re taking a break.”

Robby huffed. “Yeah, right. Listen, I need you guys to get ready for a trip back to Burma. I was going to go over it with you now, but just in case, I think we should clear out of here.”

“Can’t do it, I’m afraid. Fletcher’s put us onto another case.”

“When?”

“As of yesterday.”

“Why would he do that?”

“Because it’s urgent. After the non-event the other night, he thought you could keep working on your own for now. I don’t think he was expecting another trip overseas.”

“I don’t think it can wait, but I’ll have to sort it out later. I’ve got to get Hannah out of here. I’ll be in touch.”

“I’m about to go offline.”

“Right now?”

“Yeah, you caught me just in time.”

“The whole team?”

“Yeah.”

“All right. I’ll figure something out. Talk when you’re back.”

Robby pulled his gun and returned to Hannah, who was in the kitchen making coffee.

“Don’t worry. It’s decaf,” she said, then she saw the gun. “What’s wrong?”

“They’re not out the front anymore.” He pulled her away from the window before turning off the light.

“Maybe they gave up.”

“Or maybe they got new orders. I’m not taking any risks. Stay low and behind me.”

She crouched and followed him to the back door. The door handle rattled before they got there.

“Don’t make a sound, no matter what,” he ordered. “And don’t move until I say.” He hurried across the room to the other side of the door and waited.

When he looked back at Hannah, she was pressed against the cupboard with her hands clamped across her mouth. When she saw him looking at her, she widened her eyes. He smiled to reassure her, then focused back on the rattling door. It clicked, and the handle turned.

Robby waited until the intruder had moved through the door before he kicked it. A man grunted, and a gun went off.

Robby rolled, shooting through the door as he went.

“Sorry about that,” he said to Hannah when he crouched beside her. She still had her hands over her mouth.

Another shot was fired, and she cried out a muffled protest as he moved to cover her.

“One of your neighbors will call the cops,” he said, firing another round. “We only have to hold them off until the sirens. They won’t want to be caught here.”

Robby pushed Hannah back farther into the room when a bullet lodged above their heads.

The door moved again, and he shot at it.

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