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Hidden Tide

Page 195

by Susie McIver

One removes his jacket.

Beneath it, he wears a police uniform.

“Simon,” I say.

“No,” Ben replies. “Simon is already inside. That man is bringing him a way out.”

Police converge on the lobby.

The second false paramedic turns and runs.

Officers tackle him before he reaches the ambulance.

The first man draws a handgun.

A federal agent fires.

The gunman drops.

Mom pulls Hazel’s face against her shoulder so she won’t see.

“Where’s Simon?” I ask.

“He’ll avoid the lobby now,” Ben says.

“He has the police uniform.”

“And the wounded officer’s radio.”

Marquez warns every team that Simon may be disguised as law enforcement.

The exterior feed shows officers surrounding the building. No vehicles are allowed to leave the parking garage. The neighboring rooftops are covered.

“We have him trapped,” Keating says.

Ben doesn’t answer.

He studies the building plan.

“What is beneath Hazel’s apartment?”

“Two residential floors and a parking garage,” Marquez says.

“What about utilities?”

“Electrical room, water, maintenance storage.”

Ben scans the plan.

“Where does the storm drain exit?”

An officer brings up the underground system.

A drainage channel runs beneath the garage and empties into a culvert behind the next building.

Marquez immediately sends a team toward it.

Too late.