Page 82 of Stolen Faith

“Surprise,” Brennon said as they hauled Barry into the room.

Izabel blinked, Devon nodded, and Juliette grinned.

They all crouched down, waiting for the guard to pass, then dumped Barry in the teacher’s chair as Izabel set out to find something in the room to tie him up with. There was yarn, which Rowan hadn’t found in his search. It didn’t seem that strong, but then again, if they used enough of it…

Izabel and Brennon used six balls of yarn to tie him up. He looked very colorful when they were done, especially given that stupid camo cast. They strapped it to the arm of the chair using the sling he’d been wearing.

Brennon had passed the gun to Devon, who clearly knew how to handle the weapon, keeping it pointed directly at Barry, ready to shoot if the asshole was only “playing possum.”

“Check him for other weapons,” Devon said.

Rowan grimaced as he crouched and frisked Barry, finding a knife sheathed to his calf. He unfastened the sheath, hooking it to his own leg, hidden beneath his pants. There was a chance that could come in handy later if they were recaptured.

Izabel took a poster off the wall and taped it over the window in the door. That made it even darker in the room, but that would help. Between the blind, and it being brighter outside than in, the guard probably wouldn’t be able to see anything as long as they were careful.

Rowan tightened Brennon’s yarn knots, then added a gag to Barry’s mouth made up of folded craft felt.

Once Barry was secure, Devon looked at Rowan. “Thought you were looking for an escape route.”

Rowan shook his head. “All the exits are either guarded, alarmed, or both.”

“Next steps?” Devon prompted.

“Hostage walk,” Rowan replied.

“We’re using him as a hostage?” Izabel asked.

Rowan nodded. “It’s the only way out. He calls in the guards and clears one of the exits. We walk out with him, deal with him once we’re safe.”

“We need to call the police or 9-1-1, let them know we’re coming out, and have them there and ready to stop us from getting shot in the back,” Brennon said. “Then again, that would work if we had a phone. Barry’s cell fell down the elevator shaft.”

“Are we going to involve the authorities?” Izabel asked.

Everyone looked at Juliette.

She was quiet for a long moment. “This is too big. In fact…” Juliette shook her head. “We’ll deal with that.” She stopped and started again. “The authorities are going to have to be involved because there are too many people for us to simply handle it.

“We could take care of it,” Devon said quietly.

“I won’t condone mass murder.” Juliette’s words were sharp.

Rowan stilled when he realized that she wasn’t speaking hypothetically. She could, if she wanted, order the death of every person involved in this.

“But,” she said softly, almost as if thinking out loud. “The first thing Barry will do once he’s arrested is get a lawyer, who will advise him to shut up.”

Devon cursed viciously, surprising Rowan.

He watched Barry, but his attention was on the Grand Master, waiting, because clearly there were pieces he hadn’t put together yet.

“That means, we won’t be able to question Barry or anyone else involved,” Juliette said. “There will be layers of lawyers and law enforcement between us and them.”

Rowan realized where this was going. He looked at Barry and started calculating the best way to interrogate him.

“We can’t leave without answers,” Juliette said. “Because this is our only chance to question the people who kidnapped and tortured us. If it was just us, we could decide to let it go, to prioritize getting out.”

Her words hung heavy in the air.

“But the safety of every other member of the society is at stake.” Juliette looked at each of them in turn. “I’m sorry, but we can’t leave until we have answers.”

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