Dead Drop

Chapter 18

Mattie Quinn expected the men around the pool to start shooting any minute. She’d been in the water so long that her fingers were getting all pruney, something she’d always found funny in the past. Now, she could only feel sad. In scary stories, the people always worried about getting killed or hurt, but all Mattie could think about was her dad and Ronnie Garcia, and poor Mrs. Thibodaux and her little baby — and what her mom would do all by herself.

Dan Thibodaux leaned closer, coughing to clear his throat from the constant slosh of water. “We should get closer to the edge, maybe,” he said. “The minute they start to shoot, we can jump out and run.”

Their new friend Sarah wiped a strand of wet hair out of her eyes and gave a resigned sigh. “I suppose it would be better than just floating here and getting shot. I have to be honest with you, though. We’re still likely to be shot.”

“Not if a bunch of people go at once,” Dan said. “We can swim around and spread the word. Some people might be too scared, but some might not…”

“Worth a try,” Sarah said. “We’ll just go slow. Don’t make them any more nerv—”

The music suddenly stopped. All three of the men with guns stood completely still, staring back and forth at each other as if they were afraid of the quiet.

Then, Mattie heard a sound that made her begin to sob. Her dad’s deep, sure voice suddenly blasted over the speakers.

“Jacques Thibodaux, Jacques Thibodaux,” her dad’s voice boomed. “Drop them! Drop them all now!”

The bad guys looked up at the loudspeakers. Three quick pops later and they all lay dead on the pool deck.

Mattie held her breath, waiting, fighting back the tears she’d been holding inside.

The speakers boomed again, all over the park, almost as soon as the last bad guy fell. It was even louder now, but Mattie was so excited she could hardly hear it.

“Off-duty federal agent on the inside to any law enforcement who can hear this. You have two armed hostiles in the trees twenty meters in and approximately ten meters to the north inside the east gate — both male, with dark hair. Both wearing park employee uniforms.”

Everyone in the pool fell silent, in shock from their ordeal and entranced by the voice that seemed to be on their side. There was a flurry of gunfire somewhere in the distance.

“The shots came from the east gate,” Sarah said, nodding with satisfaction. “Sounds like the cops got them.”

Mattie’s dad spoke again. “And there will be a female hostile somewhere. Also a park employee. Name of Fadila Baghdadi…”

Ronnie Garcia’s voice came over the speakers next, strained and breathy. “Fadila is no longer a problem, Quinn.”

Sarah looked at Mattie. “Quinn?” she said, blowing water out of her face. “Isn’t that your name?”

Mattie closed her eyes and began to cry in earnest. “Uh-huh,” she said. “That’s my dad.”