Chapter Sixteen

Dunn wiped sweaty palms down the side of his pants as he and Smith walked through Unified Biotech’s parking lot toward the truck. He could hardly believe they’d pulled off the theft of the pathogens without a hitch. Manned with only the weekend guards, Unified Biotech was ripe for the picking, just as Smith predicted. The excuse of the fire made the guards more than willing to let Dunn do a walk-through on the pretense of securing the facility. Smith’s appearance as a supervisor from the Portland office barely raised an eyebrow. His story about driving to Rockton because of the fire was flawless. The other guards left them alone the entire time.

Once they were inside, Smith led the way to the lab as though he’d been in the facility before. He’d brought a special metal attaché case for the vials, so leaving with that same metal case wouldn’t raise a flag. The harrowing part for Dunn was the amount of time it took for Smith to go through the procedures of entering the clean room and then decontaminating it after he’d come out again.

Now the deed was done and they were home free.

The cell phone attached to Dunn’s belt vibrated again. He’d been ignoring the calls from Jacko for the past hour. The old biker was probably trying to round up the club for a special meeting to address the canceled rally.

When Dunn and Smith had passed through the doors of the facility to begin the inspection, Dunn turned off his ringer. He’d been so anxious about getting inside the inner levels of the facility he hadn’t given the calls another thought. Now, he glanced at the caller ID, expecting to see another call from Jack. Instead, it was the hospital’s number. He felt as though the blood settled around his ankles. He ignored Smith’s frown as he put the phone to his ear. “Hello.”

“I tried to reach you sooner, Martin,” Lacey’s doctor said. “I couldn’t get through.”

At the sound of the doctor’s voice on the other end of the line, a hollow sensation filled Martin’s gut. He paused beside the truck. “What it is, Doc?”

“You need to come to the hospital as quickly as you can. Lacey’s taken a turn for the worse.”

“I’m on my way now,” Dunn kept his voice steady even though his heart was pounding like a broken Harley engine at high speed. “Do everything you can for her. No matter what it costs. I’ll be there in thirty minutes.” With a decisive click, he closed the phone. Turing to Smith he said, “We’re heading to the hospital now. Get in, or I’ll leave you here.”

“You’re not going anywhere,” Smith growled.

Dunn pulled the semi-automatic pistol that he carried as part of his guard duties from his belt holster and pointed it at Smith. “You got what you came for. Our business is done.”

“I have the other half of your payment,” Smith said in a low quiet threat. “Our deal included making sure I got out of town undetected.”

Dunn hesitated for only a moment, then aimed the gun at Smith’s head. “Get in the truck or get out of my way.”

“As you wish.” Smith’s face seemed impassive as he stared down the barrel of the pistol. Eerie morning light filtered through the smoke still hovering over the canyon, giving the terrorist a menacing look. He didn’t say another word, just blinked twice, then opened the passenger door and slid in, securing the attaché case between the bucket seats of the truck.

Dunn holstered the pistol, climbed in, and slid the key into the ignition. “I want my money now.”

“Get me down this mountain in one piece, and I’ll pay you the rest.”

“No problem.” Dunn gunned the engine, and the truck spun out of Unified Biotech’s parking lot and through the gates. Changing gears, he floored the accelerator, sending the truck down the mountain road like a runaway rollercoaster.

The trip into Rockton took half as long as the drive up to the lab. Dunn raced toward the hospital using the town’s back roads, ignoring posted speed limits and running stop signs. When he reached the hospital parking lot, he stomped on the brakes, coming inches from colliding with more than two dozen motorcycles rolling into the lot just in front of him.

“What’s this?” Smith looked around the parking lot. For the first time, Dunn heard a hint of panic in the other man’s voice as he gestured to the big Harleys and even bigger bikers astride them.

“How the hell should I know?” Dunn growled back. He couldn’t think of a single reason the club would gather at the hospital, unless they’d heard about Lacey’s condition, too, and were there to support him. Was that why Jack had called so many times? If Dunn had just answered, he would have known about Lacey sooner.

Dunn edged into a parking spot as Jack MacAlistair’s bike rumbled to a stop beside the truck.

“Get out of the truck, Martin,” Jack demanded.

Dunn stared at his biker bro. From Jack’s tone, he didn’t think this was about Lacey. He hoped Jack hadn’t learned about the fire. Dunn turned to Smith. “Jacko doesn’t know anything about the lab,” he murmured under his breath. “Let me handle this.”

Quicker than a snake’s strike, Smith reached across to Dunn’s belt and snagged the pistol from the holster. He pointed the gun low at Dunn’s stomach and clicked off the safety. “Then get rid of him or you’re both dead.”

How dare this scrawny terrorist threaten him with his own gun! Rage coursed down Dunn’s spine. The longer he was with Smith, the more he realized this deal with the devil had backfired. His forearm twitched with the urge to smash Smith’s face.

Still keeping the gun out of sight, Smith jabbed it into Dunn’s side. “Don’t try anything.”

Dunn twitched, curling his fingers into a fist. The muzzle pushed deeper into his side. He saw no options other than to go along with Smith’s demands. Lacey was waiting for him. He couldn’t help her if he was dead.

Dunn tipped his head in acknowledgment and reached for the door handle. With his other hand, he snatched the attaché case and dragged it with him as he leaped from the truck. Smith might have the gun, but Dunn had something infinitely more valuable. Smith wanted the case filled with pathogens. To get it, he’d have to keep a low profile or the entire biker gang would be all over him.

As Dunn jumped out of the truck, he saw other club members parking their bikes. In a few moments, they would surround him. He had to move now or they’d block his escape.

Jack had climbed off his bike and was placing gloves inside the helmet when Dunn ran at him. Jack tried to step out of the way, but Dunn crashed into his shoulder, knocking him backward to the asphalt.

Jack fell, striking his head against the hot pipes on his bike.

Dunn heard the harsh thud of flesh and bone. He hated hurting Jack, but Lacy was more important than anything or anyone.

The other bikers saw what Dunn did to Jack and looked shocked at a fellow club member attacking one of their own. They converged in a semi-circle that cut off Dunn’s route to the hospital. He ignored the sick, hollow feeling that he’d betrayed his brother bikers. Fear for Lacy made him crazy with desperation. He waved the metal case in the air.

Behind him, Jack stirred. Over his shoulder, Dunn saw his old friend stagger to his feet.

“Back off,” Jack shouted at the bikers. “What he’s got in that case will kill us all.”

Dunn glanced over his shoulder, offering a look of apology, then he took off running toward the hospital emergency entrance.

“Dunn! Stop! You son-of-a—” Jack’s words were cut off by a gunshot ringing out over the parking lot.

Dunn just kept running. For Lacey. All he had left was Lacey.

****

From inside the examination room, Caitlin heard a muffled gunshot. Not even a second later, a scream came from the other side of the door. The unexpected sound made her jump just as the doctor taped the bandage over the cut on her head.

“Sit still,” he said. He looked at Mac. “Why don’t you see what’s going on out there?”

Mac had been leaning next to the closed door, watching the doctor and making sure Caitlin didn’t bolt before she got all her injuries assessed. He straightened and opened the door to check on the noise.

Caitlin hopped off the exam table.

“Wait!” the doctor said. “You need to move slowly. Even though the ribs aren’t broken, you can’t aggravate the bruises.”

“I’m fine.” She’d been through much worse in the last twenty-four hours. A short walk in the examination room wouldn’t hurt her. Still she held on to the table for a second to steady herself then hobbled to the door. She tried to peek around Mac into the hallway. “What’s going on?”

Mac ducked back inside the room and closed the door to a crack. “Dunn.”

“He’s here?” Caitlin automatically reached for her gun at the small of her back, before remembering it was still in Mac’s backpack. “Why would he come here?”

Mac continued to stare through the crack in the doorway. “I don’t know, but he looks really upset.”

“Don’t anyone come near me!” Dunn’s shouts carried clearly into the examination room. “Everyone get out.”

The big biker sounded hysterical. Caitlin already knew he had to be unstable for starting a forest fire. She had to stop him before he harmed anyone else.

Looking around, she spied Mac’s backpack next to a chair on the floor. Kneeling, she dug through it until she found her 9 mm Glock. The weight and balance gave her hope that she could level the playing field against the desperate man in the other room. She joined Mac at the door, and edged it open a little more. Together they looked out onto utter chaos.

Dunn was still shouting. In his hands, he waved a metal case. Hospital staff and patients scurried to find cover.

“Didn’t you hear me?” Dunn shouted at the people cowering around him. “There’s a terrorist outside and he’s got a gun! Get the hell out of here.”

Fatigue and hunger sloughed off Caitlin like water through a drain. She started to move, but Mac’s firm hand on her shoulder held her back.

Eyeing the gun, he said, “What do you think you’re doing?”

“Going after Dunn.” What did he think she was doing? This was her job.

“Like hell, you are.” He reached around her middle. “You’re hurt. You can’t go out there.”

She yanked free of his hold and stepped aside. The thunderous look he threw her way had her taking another step away.

The doctor came up behind her. “Someone’s got to stop those men.” He sided with Caitlin and her gun. “There are innocent people out there.”

Caitlin raised an eyebrow at Mac and nodded at the doctor. “Doc’s got a point. You both just stay here. I’ll take care of Dunn.”

Mac had already pulled out his cell. “The police can be here in a matter of minutes. Let them handle the situation.”

“Dunn looks too desperate and unstable.” Caitlin pulled the door open wider. “If we wait, it could be too late. People might die.” She wasn’t having one more injury on her conscience.

She looked around the corner of the door again.

Dunn had moved farther into the emergency room. His face was flushed, eyes wide and wild. He pulled a vial from the metal case and held it over his head. “Don’t anybody come near me or I’ll smash this. We’ll all die.”

The threat of the vial changed the game. Caitlin’s heart raced. An icy sweat broke across her brow. She ducked back into the room and looked at Mac. “He’s got a vial of something.” It was difficult to swallow around the knot in her throat. “I’m sure it’s from the bio-lab.”

“From Unified Biotech’s laboratories?” the doctor asked.

“Afraid so.” Mac nodded. “If this thing goes bad, I hope you have plenty of antiserum on hand.”

“A few months ago, Unified briefed the hospital staff on the work they’re doing,” the doctor replied. “They gave the hospital some antiviral vaccinations as back-up.”

“How much?” Mac interrupted.

“We have enough for most of the hospital staff.” The doctor paled. “But we don’t have enough if there’s an outbreak on Rockton’s entire population.”

“You don’t even know what kind of pathogens he’s carrying,” Caitlin said.

“Doesn’t matter,” the doctor answered. “If it came from the lab, it’s deadly. We’re not prepared to contain an epidemic.”

Resolve filled Caitlin. Dunn had to be stopped. Now. Before he killed them all.

She glanced at the phone in Mac’s hand. “Advise the police that I’m going after him. And find Jack, too. He and Dunn are friends. He might be able to talk some sense into Dunn. In the meantime…” she checked the Glock. “…I’ll do what I can to stop him.”

Caitlin slipped past Mac into the emergency area. She saw a nurse crouching in the corner near the wheelchair. Another nurse hid next to a high counter. There were feet and legs showing under a curtained examination room. Dunn was gone. She turned to look down one hallway, then another and started down the latter.

“Cait. Don’t,” Mac called behind her. “You don’t have to do this.”

“Yes, I do,” she murmured. She gestured around the rooms. “Get these people out of here. When the police show up, let them know where I am.”

“The doctor can evacuate the hospital.” Mac had a stubborn look on his face.

Caitlin didn’t like where this conversation was headed. Mac confirmed her suspicion with his next words. “Jack’s not answering his phone. But I may be able to help talk to Dunn. I’m coming with you.”

At his words, a bit of warmth got past the wall she’d been building around her heart. If things went wrong, she didn’t want Mac in the line of fire, but the desire to have him beside her, lending his strength, was too great to ignore. Reluctantly, she nodded her head. “Okay.”

Stepping cautiously into the hall, Caitlin scanned the area. The emergency staff stared at her as she reached the center of the room. With Dunn gone, they came toward her, all talking at once.

“It’s okay.” Caitlin tried to calm them down. “We’re getting you out of here.”

“I’ll help,” a nurse said. Then she glanced off to Caitlin’s left, her eyes wide. “Look!”

Caitlin spun around and saw Smith enter the emergency room. He raised a pistol and scanned the room, sending everyone ducking for cover again.

Caitlin aimed her Glock right at Smith’s chest. “Drop it.”

Smith swung toward her and paused, his eyes wide. “You!” The muscles in his arms flexed and he leveled the pistol at her and squeezed the trigger.

Caitlin twisted and ducked just as a single report echoed across the sterile walls. Behind her, the doorjamb splintered. She flinched, her finger reflexively squeezing off a shot of her own. From the wild shot, she knew, she’d missed hitting Smith. The scent of cordite followed as Mac knocked her to the floor, jarring her injuries. He dragged her back into the examination room.

“Where’s Dunn?” Smith’s calm voice was incongruous against the whimpering cries throughout the emergency room.

Someone shouted, “He went that way.”

Smith fired two more shots at the door where Caitlin hid with Mac.

Several seconds ticked by without any more gunfire. Caitlin gingerly raised herself up on an elbow. “Get off me, Mac. I think he’s gone.”

“Why would he just leave? He knows you have a gun.”

“I’m betting he wants Dunn and those vials more than he wants me. I have to stop both of them.”

“I don’t like it. The odds just changed,” Mac said. “I’m not letting you go after them.”

Caitlin wriggled out of his hold and stood. “The odds just doubled in our favor. Those two will be too concerned about each other to care about me.”

“You shot at him. You don’t think he’ll notice you chasing him with a gun?”

“It’s a chance I’ll take.”

The doctor stepped beside them. “I know where you can head off Dunn.”

Caitlin glanced at the doctor. “What do you mean?”

“Lacey Dunn’s physician was called in this morning because she’s not going to make it through the day. I’m sure that’s the reason Dunn is here. To see her.”

“Where’s her room?” asked Mac.

The doctor pointed. “Down that hallway. East wing.”

Mac was right about chasing after Smith and Dunn. They’d see her coming if she followed them through the hospital. “Is there another way to get to that wing without going through all those halls?” Caitlin asked.

The doctor pointed to a set of doors. “Go through the delivery exit behind emergency to the dock. Once outside, stay along the back of the hospital until you reach the ramp to the east wing.” He slipped a plastic key card from his pocket. “Use this to get inside and then take the second hallway that leads to the patient’s room.”

Caitlin glanced at Mac. “Isn’t Dad’s room in that wing?”

Mac nodded, his lips tight.

She looked away. Icy fingers danced down her spine. Under different circumstances, knowing her father was nearby might’ve brought some comfort. He’d been one of Northstar’s top agents. But in his present condition, he could definitely be at risk, or worse, a liability.

Caitlin didn’t hesitate. “If you’re coming,” she said to Mac, “then let’s go. We don’t have any time to waste.” She didn’t wait to see if he followed her.

****

“You shouldn’t be chasing after these guys.” Mac followed Caitlin as she limped through the emergency room. “You need to be in a hospital bed.”

Caitlin whipped around so quickly he put his hands out and grabbed her to stop from running her over. “We don’t have time for this argument. I’m here. I’m doing this. End of story.”

Mac wanted to shake her. Drag her as far away from this situation as he possibly could. He wanted to hold her, cradle her body against his, and never let her go. His code of ethics didn’t matter anymore. His fingers tightened on her arms and he stared into her eyes.

There was a plea in her eyes—a determination on her face to set right the mistakes she’d made. To rid herself of the burden she’d carried since Atlanta, and save the citizens of Rockton. Mac could no more deny her that chance than he could deny his own breath. But he damned well wasn’t going to let her do it alone. “Okay. Let’s go.”

Caitlin’s smile was brief, and the expression that followed was enough to send his heart crashing to his feet. How had he missed it? All the years growing up together, he’d never seen her need for approval—his approval.

On the mountain, he’d asked why she left. Her answer was only part of the story. He finally saw what his leaving had done to her. She must have felt abandoned all over again. She’d struggled with her father’s absences growing up, but he and Grandma Mac had always been there to fill in the gap. Then Grandma died, and he left shortly after. She was left alone with a father who didn’t know how to connect with his daughter. No wonder she rebelled. As Sean had alluded to a couple of days ago—it was easier for her to run.

Sean was also right that she needed to push back. That’s what she was doing right now. Who was he to stand in her way? He had to trust her. Trust the training she’d received from her father, from Northstar—and from him.

Caitlin turned and pushed through the doors leading outside to the back of the hospital. The long cement landing ended short of the corner of the building. They hopped off the delivery dock to the ground. She clutched her ribs as they headed around the corner. Mac winced in sympathy for the pain she was enduring—wishing he could take it away.

The east wing of the hospital sprawled out about a hundred yards beyond them, with a wheelchair ramp leading up to a door. They hurried along the wall, ducking under windowsills to avoid detection. At the ramp, they slowed. Scooting beside the glass door, Caitlin edged up and peered inside.

“I don’t see anyone in the hall.” Raising the pistol, she checked the clip. Carefully, she swiped the doctor’s key card. There was a faint click and she twisted the handle.

Opening the door just enough to squeeze through, Caitlin slipped inside, sweeping her gun left and right. Mac followed and eased the door shut with a gentle snap that sounded loud enough to wake anyone napping in his or her room.

They crept quietly toward the patients’ wing hallway with their backs to the wall, staying low and scanning for activity. At the other end of the hospital, commotion still echoed from clearing the emergency room. Sirens screamed in the distance and were getting louder. Backup was on the way. With some luck—and careful evacuation—the patients and hospital staff would not become hostages. Or worse, casualties of some horrific biological weapon.

Mac stayed close to Caitlin as they slipped into the first room they came to. This one was unoccupied, the beds stripped down to the mattress. They cleared the adjoining room, which was also empty. As they moved toward the next set of rooms, a scream erupted from down the hall. Caitlin and Mac ducked into a doorway just as Smith strode out of a room at the other end of the hall. They watched as he moved to the next. He was methodically searching room-to-room for Dunn.

Just then, Sean Malone poked his head around his door to see what the commotion was about.

“Dad!” Caitlin whispered loudly. “Get back inside.”

He turned at the sound of her voice and raised his eyebrows in surprise, but there was no hesitation when he motioned to them to his room.

Mac and Caitlin hurried along the hallway and ducked inside just as Smith came out and started toward the next room.

Sean stared at the gun in Caitlin’s hand. “What in the hell do you think you’re doing?” he whispered. His eyes, so much like his daughter’s, flared. He looked from Caitlin to Mac. “Well? One of you say something.”

“She’s your daughter,” Mac answered quietly.

“Tell me something I don’t know.”

“You’re the one who said she needed to push back.”

“But not put herself in the line of fire.”

“Hey!” Caitlin interjected as loudly as she dared. “I’m a big girl and can take care of myself.” She glared at Mac then looked at her father. “Tell me which room is Lacey Dunn’s.”