Page 73 of Inferno

Julio winced. “Neither of us will be doing much.” He figured he’d last until lunchtime at most, even just walking through fire scenes. But that was why they had a taskforce and it wasn’t just him and Samantha working this case.

Romeo led him down the hall toward the rear of the building. “They were back here by the door. Deerdan was going out when we were coming in. I think she keeps tabs on our GPS.”

Julio eyed a maintenance cart up against the wall. Wherever the maintenance person was, he couldn’t see them.

“The guy was replacing tissue boxes and whatnot. Guess he’s in the bathroom now.” Romeo pushed through a heavy set of double doors.

The scent of motor oil and exhaust fumes hit Julio like a wave. The partially covered garage was open on three sides, andfull of rows of black-and-white police vehicles, vans, and even a couple of golf carts. But no cops.

He looked around, but it was obvious Samantha wasn’t out here.

Romeo strode down the middle of the motor pool, looking around.

The door behind Julio swung open, and a rotund male officer rushed out, breathless. “Why aren’t the cameras working? What’s going on?”

As if Julio had any idea.

Romeo said, “Over here!” and raced between vehicles. He ducked out of sight, then called out, “We need an ambulance!”

“I’ll call for one.” The officer rushed back inside.

Julio caught up to Romeo, skidding to a stop and slamming into the corner of an unmarked muscle car. Pain roiled through his shoulder, and he winced. But it wasn’t Samantha lying on the ground.

Sergeant Deerdan gasped and started to sit.

“Easy.” Romeo pushed back against her shoulder. “Don’t try to move too much.” He tugged off his jacket and pressed it against her abdomen, which was soaked with blood.

Julio crouched beside her. “Ambulance is on its way. What happened?”

Did this have something to do with the cameras being out?

Deerdan gasped. “He stabbed me and took her. Why didn’t someone see?”

“Take it easy. Don’t try to talk.” Julio touched her shoulder.

The back doors opened. He stood in time to see two EMTs race through.

“Over here.” Julio waved to them. “She’s been stabbed.” He crouched again.

Deerdan grabbed his arm with surprising strength. “You have to find her. He’s gonna kill her.”

“Who?” Julio had to shift out of the way of the medics.

Deerdan frowned. As if she thought he should already know. “He took her.” Her eyes rolled back in her head as she passed out.

Romeo dragged him out of reach, now without his suit jacket, which he’d used to put pressure on the wound. “Come on.”

“Where?” Julio said. “Who took her?Rome, where is Samantha?”

Her partner’s expression made Julio’s heart squeeze in her chest.

“I have no idea.”

TWENTY-NINE

Samantha scrambled backward, across wood beams. Irregular grain that dug into her palms. She reached the wall and sat up with her back to it. Breathing hard. Every ache and bruise she had decided to make itself known then.

She looked around, forcing her gaze from darting about to settling enough she could catalog the room around her. A cabin. Blinds and curtains on the couple windows pulled shut to create near darkness while the afternoon sun blazed down outside behind the covering of clouds.

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