Silent Run

clutching the toy and the book. She couldn’t seem to let the items go, and he couldn’t blame her. They were a tangible link to Caitlyn.
    â€œWhy don’t you pack up some clothes in case we don’t come back here for a while,” he said.
    â€œWhy? Where are we going?"
    â€œTo where you worked -- maybe back up the coast. Who knows? Caitlyn isn’t here, and I’m not sure it’s a wise idea for us to stay long. Obviously the person who is after you knows where you live."
    â€œIt seems so hopeless. I thought my memory would be back by now."
    â€œDon’t quit on me, Sarah. I need you in this all the way or we’ll never find Caitlyn. You can’t give up."
    She bristled at the idea, as he’d known she would. She immediately gathered herself together, throwing back her shoulders, lifting her chin, a new light back in her eyes. She might not be willing to fight for herself, but she would do battle for Caitlyn.
    â€œI’m not quitting,” she said. “I would never do that, not while my daughter is in danger."
    â€œOur daughter,” he corrected.
    She ignored him and moved to the closet. She pulled out a duffel bag, grabbed some clothes from the dresser and closet, and then went into the bathroom for personal supplies. She had barely returned when an alarm went off in the building. A series of shrill bells rang through the apartment.
    â€œThat’s the fire alarm,” he said in surprise.
    â€œYes,” Sarah agreed, putting on her coat. “We need to get out of here."
    He grabbed her by the arm. “Wait. I want to see if there’s any smoke.” He walked over to the window and saw gray smoke billowing up around the side of the building. When he turned, Sarah was right behind him.
    â€œIt’s real. It’s a fire,” she said.
    â€œYeah, a very convenient fire,” he muttered.
    Her eyes met his. “You think someone set it deliberately?"
    â€œIt’s a good way to smoke us out of the building -- literally."
    â€œIt’s obviously a real fire. We can’t stay here. We’re on the third floor, Jake."
    â€œLet’s go. Get your bag.” He jogged over to the front door and put his palm against the wood. It was still cool. He turned back to see Sarah stuffing Caitlyn’s blanket and bear into her bag. She grabbed his shirt, and then stared at it in bemusement. “What’s this?"
    â€œIt’s mine,” he said shortly, meeting her quick, questioning gaze. “And no, I didn’t put it there. You must have taken it with you when you left me. I used to wear it all the time.” Sarah hesitated, then put the shirt into her bag. “Pull your sweater over your mouth and nose,” he advised. He opened the door slowly, coughing as smoke blew through the hallway from an open window at the end of the corridor. He tried not to breathe as he took Sarah’s hand and headed toward the stairs, praying he was making the right choice.
    The smoke was so thick he could barely see where they were going. Sarah’s hand tightened in his, a sign of complete and utter trust. They were in this together, for better or worse. He put his hand on the door to the stairwell. It was warm but not hot. He pushed it open. The air was dense and dark, but he didn’t see any flames.
    He grabbed the railing with one hand as they made their way down the stairs quickly but carefully. They were almost to the second-floor landing when a figure came out of the smoke.
    The man wore bulky clothing, baggy pants, and a hooded sweatshirt, and there was something in his hands. A gun. They’d run straight into an ambush.

Chapter Fourteen

    Jake stopped abruptly, shielding Sarah with his body as he quickly assessed the situation. They were trapped between the fire behind them and the gun in front of them. Sarah’s hand tightened in his, and he could feel her body shaking, her breath on his neck. She was depending on him to get them out of this alive. He needed a plan, but there was no time to make one. The man was raising the gun, his finger on the trigger.
    Jake let out a yell as he launched himself at their attacker, praying the gun wouldn’t go off and hit Sarah.
    The man stumbled backward in surprise, but he recovered quickly, coming at Jake with a fury that he didn’t expect, slamming Jake’s head against the wall. He saw stars and felt blackness begin to descend, but he forced it