Page 64 of Dead Fall (The Quantico Files 2)

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Ben opened the passenger-side door and was coming around the car. Alex couldn’t catch her breath, but she managed to do something she hoped would help her team find her.

Ben yanked her door open and pulled her out. Then he stuck the gun in her side with one hand and put his other arm around her to support her.

“Wait,” she said. “I ... I can’t breathe.” The snow made her feet slip, and Ben’s grip tightened.

“You’re going to be all right,” he said. “The bullet hit your vest.”

“I think I broke a rib.”

“I’m sorry. I really am. But I can’t help you. I just can’t.”

He dragged her to the pool hall’s side door and knocked on it three times. The door swung open.

“We don’t have much time,” Julie said. “They’ll come looking for them both soon.”

“I know that.” Ben pulled Alex along as the pain in her chest increased. She fought to stay conscious.

“Put her over here,” Julie said. “It took you long enough.”

Ben helped Alex into a chair. “I got here as soon as I could.”

“Now get the van. We have to leave soon.”

“Okay. But we need to be careful. She says the others might be suspicious of us.”

As Alex fought against the fog that threatened to overtake her, she tried again. “Look, if he’s threatening you or your families, we can help you. Please listen to me.” She searched Ben’s face, trying to find a sign that she was getting through to him. But all she could see was fear.

When he walked away, Alex took in her surroundings. The fake town had been used just yesterday, but now it was deserted. Obviously Ben and Julie had been waiting for this.

She blinked several times, trying to clear her vision. She realized someone was in a chair a few yards away. Thank God. It was Kaely.

“Are you okay?” Alex asked her.

“Yes, I’m fine. So far. Tell me you brought backup.”

“No. Sorry. I’m sure Logan thinks I’m safe since I was accompanied by a trusted detective. Too bad he’s crooked.” Alex glared at Julie. “They’ll find us, you know.” The last thing she wanted Julie and Ben to know was that she’d left a note for Logan. She hoped he was on his way. She tried to take a breath, but the pain was too intense.

“I don’t think so,” Julie said. “We’ll be gone before they search here.”

But most of my team heard Ben say he wanted to see Hogan’s Alley.

“Where’s your phone?”

“I don’t have it. I left it in my room. I was in such a hurry—”

“Liar.” Julie held a gun on her while she patted Alex down. If she wasn’t in so much pain, she could probably take her. But it was all she could do to try to stay conscious and wait for Logan. It was possible the bullet had cracked more than one rib.

Julie straightened up. “I guess you’re telling the truth.” She walked over to a nearby bag and took out a pair of handcuffs. While she wasn’t looking, Alex quickly left the same bread crumb she had in the car. It was a long shot, but she had to do something.

Julie walked over and pulled both her arms behind the chair. A sharp stab of pain caused Alex to cry out.

“Be quiet,” Julie said. She bent down and opened Alex’s jacket. “Guess the FBI’s bulletproof vests aren’t everything they’re cracked up to be,” she said. She removed the vest and tossed it on the floor next to them. The inside was red with blood. Alex looked down and saw blood on her shirt too. The bullet had actually pierced the vest. She couldn’t tell how bad her injury was. Julie put the cuffs around Alex’s wrists, then came around in front of her.

“You’re helping him,” Alex said. Her voice was weak. “Why, Julie? We checked out everyone who worked with John Davis, but we never thought we needed to run background on you.” She struggled to take another breath. “Why?” she asked again.

“For money. Isn’t it always for money? I make a little over forty thousand a year. I have two kids. My ex-husband isn’t paying child support because he’s a bum. My kids deserve a chance. To be something better than me.”

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