Page 54 of Visions, Paws, and Claws

The door closed behind them.

Jamie stood. “Do you have any idea why we’re here?”

“Not a clue.” Jake walked over to him, his pulse racing. After hours of jumping through hoops, he was too tired to try and fathom it, but that didn’t stop his stomach from clenching.

The door opened again, and a guard walked in, carrying a box.

“Sit down.” He headed for the front of the room.

“Why are we here?” Seth demanded. He flopped into a chair, and Jake pulled out the one next to it. Jamie resumed his seat.

The guard regarded Seth with an impassive expression. “You already know the answer to that. How did you get the gun?”

Jake froze. “What gun?” He stared in disbelief when the guard removed a revolver from the box. “How could we get our hands on a gun? Unless one of you got careless.”

“Where did you find it?” Seth was pale, and Jake understood the panic he was undoubtedly feeling.

What are the penalties for being found with a weapon?Not that Seth would have done such a thing.

The guard replaced it in the box. “Same place we found this.” He held up a compass, then glanced at Jake. “Under your bed.” He stared at Jamie. “And what about this, from underyourbed?”

Jamie’s jaw dropped when the guard showed him the wire cutters. “No fucking way.”

“You may as well tell us everything. You’re obviously planning an escape.” He sneered. “You must know how futile this is. You wouldn’t get more than three feet before you got a bullet in the back.”

Jake folded his arms. “None of us have any idea what you’re talking about. Because if you found those underourbeds, one of you planted them there.” He tilted his head. “Did you search the entire block, or was it just our little part of it? And if that was the case, how did you know to look there?”

“We got a tip from an informant.”

Jake leaned back. “Then I’d suggest your informant has it in for us. We’re being framed.”

That earned him another sneer. “Yeah, well, youwouldsay that, wouldn’t you?”

“I’ll take it from here.” Captain Keppler stood at the back of the room. “Leave the box. You can stand guard outside. I’ll call if I need help. But I don’t think that will be necessary. We can be civilized.” He stared at Jake, Seth, and Jamie. “Isn’t that right, gentlemen?”

Jake arched his eyebrows. “I knowwecan be—I’m not so sure about you, however.” He waited until the guard marched out of the room and Keppler closed the door behind him. Jake stood, his arms folded. “This is complete and utter bullshit.”

Keppler walked slowly toward them. “I know.”

His admission took the wind out of Jake’s sails. “Youknow?”

Keppler regarded him with faint surprise. “Of course.”

“Then you know whodidput them there?” Before Keppler could answer, Jake darted forward, reached into the box, and grabbed the gun.

“Carson.”

Jake ignored him. He held the revolver in both hands and focused his attention on it.Come on. Don’t let me down now.

“Drop it. And it isn’t loaded.”

Jake turned to face him. “And you would know that, wouldn’t you? Becauseyouput it there.”

What the fuck was going on?

Keppler nodded. “It was the only way I could get to talk to you without arousing suspicion.”

“What?” Seth gaped at him. “Are you—”

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