blocked the cart and raced after the man, his weapon still clutched in his hand.
He could have wounded the intruder, but he didn’t know shit about the man or his intentions and wasn’t going to open fire in a hospital. In the hallway two nurses were helping a pregnant woman who’d clearly been knocked down to her feet. The suspect was about twenty yards ahead, shoving people out of the way as he barreled through.
Shouts of alarm filtered down the crowded hallway as Cade dodged around a man in a wheelchair. “Federal agent, move out of the way!” he shouted, the path instantly clearing as people either jumped back against the walls or were pulled back.
Cade kept his focus on the dark-haired man, who disappeared into a stairwell at the end of the hallway. Though there was a team of agents outside the hospital, he didn’t have anyone as direct backup because this was basically a babysitting job.
Apparently Maria knew something or someone thought she did. Or maybe the terrorists just wanted everyone from the party eliminated. Cade wasn’t sure. All he knew was that he had to find this guy before he escaped.
He tapped his earpiece once to activate it. “This is O’Reilly. Unknown man escaping down eastern stairwell of main building, two possible exits. Parking garage or Fourteenth Street. Wearing tan cargo pants, black fatigues, and boots. Dark hair. A little under six feet.” He’d memorized the layout of the hospital and entire surrounding area, never knowing when he might need it. “Need backup. His intent is unknown, but he was hiding in Maria Cervantes’s hospital bathroom. Likely armed.” Whether the man was or not, Cade and everyone he worked with always assumed people had weapons. Their lives depended on that assumption.
He received two affirmatives as he made it to the stairwell door. Slowing his pace, he kicked open the door before carefully sweeping inside with his weapon. Pounding footsteps sounded below him, echoing off the walls.
Cade took off again, his heart rate pounding as he sprinted down the stairs. Fear for Maria raged through him as his legs ate up the distance, a new surge ofadrenaline spiking through him. That man had been in her room for a reason, and the way he’d fled told Cade it wasn’t to give his condolences.
A loud slam from below and a flash of light illuminated the stairwell for a moment. Cade looked over the railing of the second floor to see the exit door into the street swinging open. “He’s taken the street exit.”
“On our way. We’re on foot because of the fucking traffic,” Taylor White growled, her normally sweet Southern accent filled with frustration.
Cade didn’t respond as he neared the exit. Once again he slowed his pace in case of an ambush. It was unlikely, considering the man was running for his life, but Cade wasn’t going to risk a bullet in the head because of carelessness.
With the relative cover of the stairwell, he scanned the area for others as he spotted the man sprinting down the sidewalk. “He’s running northwest, heading for Bayshore!” They couldn’t let him get that far.
Cars whizzed past them on Mercy Way, but Bayshore Drive was a main street full of vehicles, and with the news coverage, there were even more people at the hospital now. The guy could open fire into the crowd or carjack someone. Hell, he could have a bomb strapped onto him. After last night Cade couldn’t take the chance. “Freeze or I shoot!” he shouted, his voice carrying across the nearly thirty-yard gap between them.
The man faltered and stumbled as he looked over his shoulder.
Twenty yards now. Cade’s weapon was raised, aimed right at the guy.
“We’re behind you,” Taylor said, sounding slightly winded.
The guy must have seen the backup, because his eyes widened and he turned around, darting into the street in an attempt to escape. A truck barreled toward him. For a long moment everything seemed to move in slow motion.
Shit. No.
Cade reached
He could have wounded the intruder, but he didn’t know shit about the man or his intentions and wasn’t going to open fire in a hospital. In the hallway two nurses were helping a pregnant woman who’d clearly been knocked down to her feet. The suspect was about twenty yards ahead, shoving people out of the way as he barreled through.
Shouts of alarm filtered down the crowded hallway as Cade dodged around a man in a wheelchair. “Federal agent, move out of the way!” he shouted, the path instantly clearing as people either jumped back against the walls or were pulled back.
Cade kept his focus on the dark-haired man, who disappeared into a stairwell at the end of the hallway. Though there was a team of agents outside the hospital, he didn’t have anyone as direct backup because this was basically a babysitting job.
Apparently Maria knew something or someone thought she did. Or maybe the terrorists just wanted everyone from the party eliminated. Cade wasn’t sure. All he knew was that he had to find this guy before he escaped.
He tapped his earpiece once to activate it. “This is O’Reilly. Unknown man escaping down eastern stairwell of main building, two possible exits. Parking garage or Fourteenth Street. Wearing tan cargo pants, black fatigues, and boots. Dark hair. A little under six feet.” He’d memorized the layout of the hospital and entire surrounding area, never knowing when he might need it. “Need backup. His intent is unknown, but he was hiding in Maria Cervantes’s hospital bathroom. Likely armed.” Whether the man was or not, Cade and everyone he worked with always assumed people had weapons. Their lives depended on that assumption.
He received two affirmatives as he made it to the stairwell door. Slowing his pace, he kicked open the door before carefully sweeping inside with his weapon. Pounding footsteps sounded below him, echoing off the walls.
Cade took off again, his heart rate pounding as he sprinted down the stairs. Fear for Maria raged through him as his legs ate up the distance, a new surge ofadrenaline spiking through him. That man had been in her room for a reason, and the way he’d fled told Cade it wasn’t to give his condolences.
A loud slam from below and a flash of light illuminated the stairwell for a moment. Cade looked over the railing of the second floor to see the exit door into the street swinging open. “He’s taken the street exit.”
“On our way. We’re on foot because of the fucking traffic,” Taylor White growled, her normally sweet Southern accent filled with frustration.
Cade didn’t respond as he neared the exit. Once again he slowed his pace in case of an ambush. It was unlikely, considering the man was running for his life, but Cade wasn’t going to risk a bullet in the head because of carelessness.
With the relative cover of the stairwell, he scanned the area for others as he spotted the man sprinting down the sidewalk. “He’s running northwest, heading for Bayshore!” They couldn’t let him get that far.
Cars whizzed past them on Mercy Way, but Bayshore Drive was a main street full of vehicles, and with the news coverage, there were even more people at the hospital now. The guy could open fire into the crowd or carjack someone. Hell, he could have a bomb strapped onto him. After last night Cade couldn’t take the chance. “Freeze or I shoot!” he shouted, his voice carrying across the nearly thirty-yard gap between them.
The man faltered and stumbled as he looked over his shoulder.
Twenty yards now. Cade’s weapon was raised, aimed right at the guy.
“We’re behind you,” Taylor said, sounding slightly winded.
The guy must have seen the backup, because his eyes widened and he turned around, darting into the street in an attempt to escape. A truck barreled toward him. For a long moment everything seemed to move in slow motion.
Shit. No.
Cade reached
Similar Books
