her years of
running and physical training were no match against Partlan. The man was a
machine.
She sagged against a wall. “I need to take a breath.”
Partlan nodded. “I will see what is ahead. Stay here.”
“You’re not going to try and escape?”
“I give you my word, I will come back. I cannot leave you, especially in
a dangerous situation.”
Grace slid down the wall and sat with her knees against her chest. It
took several minutes before her breathing steadied and then she leaned her head
against the damp basement wall. It was insane to continue running, but she
wanted to take Partlan into headquarters herself. Those strange men back in his
room had scared her. She shuddered when she remembered the effect their eyes
had on her. There was no way she was going to hand Partlan over to them. It was
her responsibility to keep him safe and she intended to do her job.
She didn’t believe that they were aliens. She refused to give credence to
such a ludicrous story, but whatever agency they worked for, she didn’t trust
them. She stood and was about to head off in the direction that Partlan had
taken, when he returned.
“I have found a way to escape.” Partlan pointed down the corridor. “We
must hurry.”
“Will they be able to follow us?” Grace jogged beside him.
“There is only one camera and I have already redirected it. We will not
be seen. Once we are in place, they will not be able to follow us.”
“What did you find?” Grace stumbled.
“The door is up ahead.” Partlan offered her a hand. “You will be able to
rest soon.”
True to his word, there was an exit a hundred feet down the corridor.
Partlan motioned her to stop while he opened the door a crack. He surveyed the
area and then reached for her arm. The door opened into another hallway. There
was an incline that leveled off at the top.
“Stay close to the wall. We will duck under the camera and make our way
up the ramp.”
Grace glanced in the direction that Partlan wanted her to go and nodded.
Dodging surveillance was their best option. She followed close behind, stopping
when he did, and moving when he motioned her. They made it up the ramp area and
into a loading zone. He kept them close to the wall.
“We will leave the hospital on one of the vehicles picking up from here.”
“Don’t you mean deliveries?”
“They do not drop off here.” Partlan pointed to a row of long boxes
against the wall. The boxes were black and rested on a type of wheeled cart.
“There are no cameras.”
They edged over to where three cases were lined up together.
A shiver raced up Grace’s spine as a premonition of Partlan’s plan took
hold in her brain.
“What’s in there?” She fought to control the tremor in her voice. She was
a federal agent, a woman in charge, not someone who was ruled by their fears.
She shut her eyes for a brief second while Partlan lifted the lid and then she
looked down.
The body of an elderly man wrapped in a sheet stared back at her.
“We can get into the containers and wait.” He was matter of fact.
“You want me to hide in a coffin with a dead body?” Her voice vibrated
with terror.
Memories of a dark, airless prison rushed at her. Her heart raced. Beads
of sweat formed on her forehead and she inhaled a shaky breath as she fought
for control. She’d pushed the horrible experiences from her mind and vowed
never to be that helpless again. It didn’t matter that her life was in jeopardy
or that she was an adult. Some things never left you.
“I can’t do it.”
Chapter
7
Terror shone from her eyes.
Partlan sensed she was paralyzed by it.
He couldn’t let the fear overwhelm her, so he opened the container next
to them and carried the body of the old man to it. That left the box in front
of them empty. He motioned for her to get in. A shudder went through Agent
Kelly’s body. Partlan did not want to cause her discomfort, but they had men pursuing
them and time was running out.
“Is
running and physical training were no match against Partlan. The man was a
machine.
She sagged against a wall. “I need to take a breath.”
Partlan nodded. “I will see what is ahead. Stay here.”
“You’re not going to try and escape?”
“I give you my word, I will come back. I cannot leave you, especially in
a dangerous situation.”
Grace slid down the wall and sat with her knees against her chest. It
took several minutes before her breathing steadied and then she leaned her head
against the damp basement wall. It was insane to continue running, but she
wanted to take Partlan into headquarters herself. Those strange men back in his
room had scared her. She shuddered when she remembered the effect their eyes
had on her. There was no way she was going to hand Partlan over to them. It was
her responsibility to keep him safe and she intended to do her job.
She didn’t believe that they were aliens. She refused to give credence to
such a ludicrous story, but whatever agency they worked for, she didn’t trust
them. She stood and was about to head off in the direction that Partlan had
taken, when he returned.
“I have found a way to escape.” Partlan pointed down the corridor. “We
must hurry.”
“Will they be able to follow us?” Grace jogged beside him.
“There is only one camera and I have already redirected it. We will not
be seen. Once we are in place, they will not be able to follow us.”
“What did you find?” Grace stumbled.
“The door is up ahead.” Partlan offered her a hand. “You will be able to
rest soon.”
True to his word, there was an exit a hundred feet down the corridor.
Partlan motioned her to stop while he opened the door a crack. He surveyed the
area and then reached for her arm. The door opened into another hallway. There
was an incline that leveled off at the top.
“Stay close to the wall. We will duck under the camera and make our way
up the ramp.”
Grace glanced in the direction that Partlan wanted her to go and nodded.
Dodging surveillance was their best option. She followed close behind, stopping
when he did, and moving when he motioned her. They made it up the ramp area and
into a loading zone. He kept them close to the wall.
“We will leave the hospital on one of the vehicles picking up from here.”
“Don’t you mean deliveries?”
“They do not drop off here.” Partlan pointed to a row of long boxes
against the wall. The boxes were black and rested on a type of wheeled cart.
“There are no cameras.”
They edged over to where three cases were lined up together.
A shiver raced up Grace’s spine as a premonition of Partlan’s plan took
hold in her brain.
“What’s in there?” She fought to control the tremor in her voice. She was
a federal agent, a woman in charge, not someone who was ruled by their fears.
She shut her eyes for a brief second while Partlan lifted the lid and then she
looked down.
The body of an elderly man wrapped in a sheet stared back at her.
“We can get into the containers and wait.” He was matter of fact.
“You want me to hide in a coffin with a dead body?” Her voice vibrated
with terror.
Memories of a dark, airless prison rushed at her. Her heart raced. Beads
of sweat formed on her forehead and she inhaled a shaky breath as she fought
for control. She’d pushed the horrible experiences from her mind and vowed
never to be that helpless again. It didn’t matter that her life was in jeopardy
or that she was an adult. Some things never left you.
“I can’t do it.”
Chapter
7
Terror shone from her eyes.
Partlan sensed she was paralyzed by it.
He couldn’t let the fear overwhelm her, so he opened the container next
to them and carried the body of the old man to it. That left the box in front
of them empty. He motioned for her to get in. A shudder went through Agent
Kelly’s body. Partlan did not want to cause her discomfort, but they had men pursuing
them and time was running out.
“Is
Similar Books
