Page 42 of 25 Alive

“You go on ahead to bed,” I said to my husband. “I’ll be back in a minute.”

He untied the bathrobe sash with a quick pull and laughed at me, saying, “I’m timing you.”

I re-tied the sash and went to Julie’s room, kissed her sweet face, tousled her unruly hair, and assured myself that Martha was snuggled in and not whimpering.

“Mommy, I love Martha so much.”

“And she loves you. Call me if you need me, Jules. Try not to wake up your dad.”

“I know,” she said. “He’s going to Mexico, but he’ll be back soon.”

My little girl was comforting me.

I pulled down the blinds, shut off her lights, and went toour room. Dropping Joe’s robe to the floor, I crawled into bed next my husband, and he hugged and kissed me to pieces.

When he took a breath, I asked him. “Joe? What’s this assignment in Mexico about?”

“It’s about information gathering,” he said. “Bao is fluent in Spanish, and you know I’m a pretty good negotiator …”

But then he had no words and neither did I. I was supposed to tell Joe something, but I couldn’t remember what the hell it was.

CHAPTER64

YUKI LIVED IN a two-bedroom apartment on Nob Hill. She’d lived there first with her mother after graduating college and now with Brady. At present, two police cars monitored the street. A couple of Yuki’s uniformed escorts stayed in one car while the other two walked Yuki into her building, rode the elevator up with her to the fifth floor and cleared all rooms of the apartment, ensuring that her home was secure.

Yuki thanked the cops. One of whom said they would be parked downstairs and for her to call if she needed anything. Yuki bolted the front door, then called Brady to say that she was home.

“I’ll be in bed in four minutes,” she said. “Maybe five.”

“I’ll be there soon too,” he said.

“Good,” said Yuki, adding, “Hurry.”

Yuki undressed, slipped into a pale-blue silk nightgown that Brady loved, and got under the bedcovers, where she fell asleep in seconds.

She was awoken by the cracking sounds of gunfire. Five, ten, too many rounds to count. There were screams on the street and the blare of car horns. Yuki crept to the window and, looking out, saw the cops firing back at an old tan Honda Civic. Whoever was firing from the Honda had automatic weapons, and Yuki no longer knew how many guns, how many cops, or where Brady was right now.

She grabbed her phone from the bench at the foot of the bed and took it with her into the closet. She and Brady jokingly called it their safe room, because they kept a safe inside. Yuki closed and locked the closet door, then dialed Brady—but there was no answer on his private line, and his work phone sent her to a recording.

“If this is an emergency, hang up and dial 911.” The recording offered options, none of which werePush 3 and you will be connected with Lieutenant Brady.

Sweat rolled between her eyes, down her sides, and between her breasts. She heard a mash-up of gunfire and sirens coming from the street below.

Yuki’s phone rang as soon as she disconnected the call.

Brady said, “Yuki? Are you okay? Morris and Kuby are on the way up to you.”

“I’m fine, but I hear a lot of gunfire—”

“I can see our building,” he said. “Keep down. Stay in the closet.”

Even with the closet door closed, Yuki heard the gunshots and the squeal of tires on the street. She sat on the carpeted closet floor, clasping her knees with her arms. She thought of calling Lindsay but didn’t want to put her friend in the line of fire.

Yuki had no idea how much time passed before she heard Brady’s voice.

“It’s me, Yuki. I’m coming in.”

She stayed behind the door to the safe room and heard Brady bellowing for her. Officers Morris and Kuby began clearing the apartment and then Brady pounded on the closet door.

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