Exit 9

40

I.D. MINUS 4 MINUTES

BLUEBIRD TIME 10:56 AM

Olivia held up a hand, stopping everyone.

In the distance, they could hear footsteps. She looked around quickly, and pointed at a door fifteen feet back the way they’d come. Without wasting a second, they filed into the room and closed the door behind them.

They heard the footsteps enter the hallway where they’d been, and walk past their current position. There was only a single set.

Olivia pointed at two of her men, then opened the door wide enough so they could slip out.

When they returned forty-five seconds later, they were carrying a man with a sidearm strapped to his belt. Though there were no obvious wounds, it was apparent the man was dead.

Once the body was on the floor, Olivia said, “Everyone ready? We’re not going to have time to stop again.”

Nods all around.

“They’ll all be in the Cradle.”

“The Cradle?” Ash asked.

“It’s what they call the command center. There’s bound to be some security there, but not much. The rest will be upstairs covering the ground entrances. Once we have the Cradle secured, I’ll lock them down so they can’t get to us.”

“We’re going to have to deal with them at some point.”

She smiled. “Trust me.”

Ash frowned, uncomfortable, but said nothing.

“Any other questions?” she asked.

He shook his head.

“So we can go?” she asked.

“Please.”

As they reentered the hall, Ash couldn’t help but think there was something she wasn’t telling him.