Page 26 of Hollow State

The alarms screamed inside the burning building. Smoke rolled through the hole above them, thick enough to block the upper floors from view.

They were exposed.

Anyone could sit beyond the trees with a scope trained on them.

Anyone could wait and watch which direction they ran.

She lowered herself beside Darwin and pressed a hand against his forearm. “I'm sorry.”

“I can't just leave him here like this," Darwin said.

"He'd want you to." Elis rested his hand over Darwin's. "If you don't, they'll arrest you. Or worse."

Darwin glanced between Elis and Wynn.

There was a deep pain etched in his dark eyes. His glasses sat crooked on his face, one lens streaked with water and soot. A thin cut ran along his cheek.

“Prewit believed in you,” she said. “He believed you could stop Finch. But the only way we do that is if we get out of here.”

Darwin glanced down at his friend.

Wynn kept her hand on his arm. “Elis needs to deal with the police. We need to get Kane out of here and warn the team. If this is an ambush, every second we stay gives them another chance.”

Elis wiped at his face with the back of his wrist. “My dad would want you safe. Somewhere you can work and figure out how to fight this.”

Darwin closed his eyes.

“Please,” Elis said. “I’m begging you. Leave now, while you still can.”

The fire roared behind them. A distant siren cut through the alarms.

Darwin rocked back onto his heels and stared at the man who’d been his friend for most of his adult life.

Wynn didn’t pull him away. Not yet. She'd give him a few more seconds. This kind of grief would stay with him.

Darwin took Prewit's hand. “I won’t rest until Finch pays for this.”

"My dad thought of you as a brother," Elis said. “I'll take care of things here. Go. Now.” Elis shoved the keys toward Wynn. “Silver sedan. Far corner. Take the service road south. Leave the car in a ditch when you’re done. I’ll report it stolen or something.”

“Your dad was a good man," Wynn said.

"The best," Elis agreed.

"You take care of yourself," Wynn said. "The cops are gonna have a lot of questions."

“I’ll deal with the police.”

Darwin pushed himself upright.

"We'll be in touch when we can, by the usual means. But if it's not safe⁠—"

"I know the drill," Elis said.

Wynn turned toward Kane, who had made it to his feet using an overturned cart. His breathing came hard, but his legs held.

She crossed the distance and offered her arm. “Tell me what hurts.”

“Everything.”