Page 93 of Sinner's Salvation

She pushed it open and walked on as if she knew where she was going and had a purpose. She needed to find where they might be holding Brian and probably Evan. They had to have seen him coming. He’d been wearing urban camo and carried enough equipment to start a small war.

Something he might actually accomplish if things went wrong.

The scent of coffee attracted her attention, and she found a small kitchen.

Hmm, interrogators needed coffee, didn’t they?

She found cups and a carrying tray in one of the cupboards. She filled four cups, put them on the tray, added some sugar packets, creamers from the fridge, and stir sticks, and headed back out into the hallway.

She continued, looking at the office name plates, trying to get a sense of what was on this floor.

“Are you lost?”

Anna looked up at a woman who was also dressed in business attire. Anna smiled at her. “Yes, I am. I’m new and I can’t remember where the interview rooms are. I’m supposed to bring coffee for everyone.”

“You’re an agent, not a caterer,” the woman said, in a hard tone. “You don’t have to run errands for anyone.”

“Oh, no. I volunteered. I’m the new one and expected a bit of an initiation. Besides, I’m hoping this will help me remember the layout of the building quicker.”

The other woman nodded, though her lips were still pinched too tightly together. “Well, okay. Just don’t let anyone treat you like you’re not an equal.”

“I won’t.” Anna smiled, again. “I’m Ann.” She held out her hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“Jessica, welcome to the team.” Jessica gave her directions to the interview rooms and hurried off.

That area was at the back of the building and at the east side. She recalled the map she’d looked at before coming here. The warehouse backed partially onto the river. She needed to keep an eye out for an alternate exit.

She smiled and nodded at people as she passed them, except for a couple of men who jogged toward the front of the building. Her group of ladies must still be causing trouble. They were exceedingly well trained in the art of subterfuge.

She entered the hallway where the interview rooms were located and found one room with a man standing in an open doorway. He was looking at his phone. When she came up to him, she glanced inside the room. It was an observation room with the far wall made of one-way glass.

Brian sat at a table, his hands handcuffed to a metal bar running over the top and through the table. Two men stood over him, one on each side, shouting questions at him over each other. Another man stood in the observation room, watching.

Anna smiled at the man at the door. “Coffee?”

He tore his gaze off his phone and smiled.

The power went out. No warning, just the lights dying. Emergency lights came on, but they were only in the hallway. The observation room and the interrogation room beyond it were completely dark.

The man in front of her swore.

“This is my first day,” she said, in a small voice. “Does this happen often?”

He swore again. “Stay in the hallway,” he ordered.

“Okay,” she said, flattening herself against the wall.

The next door along the wall opened, and a man stepped out. “What the hell is going on?”

“I don’t know,” the man next to her said. “Power is out.”

Their phones beeped, and they both looked at them. “Shit,” one of them breathed.

The guy next to her put a hand on her shoulder and steered her toward the observation room. “Stay in here. We have an active shooter inside the building.”

“Oh my God,” she whispered.

“Who is she?” the second man asked, frowning at her.

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