Grace hadn’t thought anything could be worse than not knowing where her husband was. The constant worry, the never ending questions, the unanswered prayers. Those long months had been nothing compared to this.
How could she have trusted Jun so completely only to be betrayed like this? How had she not seen any sign of a problem? Why had she brought her into their home?
The questions continued through her mind, tears streaming down her face. Her mother-in-law sat on the couch beside her, holding Grace’s hand to both gain comfort and receive it.
The house phone rang, and her grandfather rose from the chair across from her to answer it. She could hear his muted voice in the kitchen. A moment later, he returned and held out the receiver.
“Grace, the phone is for you.”
Grace shook her head. “I can’t talk to anyone right now.”
“It’s about Lydia and Madeline.”
Her hand shot out to take the phone he offered.
“If there’s a ransom, I’ll pay it,” Boyd said quickly. “Anything to get them back.”
Grace’s eyes met Boyd’s, and gratitude filled her before she spoke into the phone. “Hello?”
“Mrs. Shanahan, this is Reuben from Vail Valley Medical Center. I’m calling to tell you your daughters are safe and in our custody here.”
Her shoulders instantly relaxed as she let out a sigh of relief. “Thank goodness.” She tried to comprehend what had happened in the past hour and asked, “How did they get there?”
“Your nanny brought them in. She said they were in danger and asked me to call you so you wouldn’t worry.”
“We’ll come pick them up right now.”
“I’m sorry, ma’am, but we can’t let you do that.”
“What? Why not?”
“We have a live shooter situation here at the hospital. No one can come in or out.”
“What?” Her shoulders tensed again. “My husband? Is my husband there?”
“I’m afraid I don’t have that information.”
“But my nanny dropped the babies off,” Grace said.
“Yes, she did,” he confirmed. “I will call you back as soon as the police tell us it is safe for you to come here.”
“Thank you.” Grace hung up the phone and looked at her grandfather and in-laws. She drew a deep breath. “The babies are okay,” she told them, her emotions churning. “But I think Devin is in danger.”
“What’s going on?” Catherine said.
“Jun dropped the babies off with hospital security, but Devin was chasing Jun,” Grace said, trying to put her suspicions into words. “The security guard said there’s a live shooter situation. I’m afraid Devin might be right in the middle of it.”
Boyd pushed out of his seat and headed for the door. “I’m going over there.”
“They said they aren’t letting anyone into the hospital right now,” Grace called after him.
He didn’t slow down until he stepped outside. Then he stopped and turned to look at them, confused. “Where is our car?”
“It should be right outside.”
“It’s not here.” He looked around the room as though seeing it for the first time. “Where is Maureen?”
“I don’t know.”
* * *
Devin waited an extra two minutes before he pressed the emergency-stop button in the elevator. The moment he did, the car resumed its upward movement. He waved for Jun to take cover in the right front corner of the elevator while he took the spot opposite her.
The doors slid open, and Devin cautiously peeked out, leading with his weapon.
“It’s just me,” Chee called out to him.
“Where is she?” Devin asked.
Chee’s attention immediately shifted to Jun when she edged forward and looked out into the third-floor hallway. “What’s going on here?” Chee lifted his gun and took aim. “Hand over the babies.”
“It’s not what you think,” Devin said quickly. “I sent you a text. Jun isn’t the one who was stealing secrets. It was—”
A door creaked open behind them, and Devin looked just in time to see Maureen aim her weapon at him. “Look out!” Devin dove to the ground. “Jun, go back down!” Devin rolled to his left, barely escaping a second shot.
“Where’s the shooter?” Chee asked from where he had pressed himself against the wall, effectively hiding him from Maureen’s line of sight.
“Across the hall, first door on the left,” Devin said.
Behind them, the elevator doors closed.
“You said it isn’t Jun. Who is it?”
“Maureen. She’s my dad’s secretary.”
A door opened and closed in the direction Devin had indicated. From the corner, Chee leaned out to look, then stopped instantly.
“Drop it.” Maureen’s voice was like steel.
Devin shifted ever so slightly, now able to see the gun barrel pressed to Chee’s temple.
Chee dropped his weapon, but his voice was surprisingly calm when he said, “Stay back, Devin.”
Devin lifted his own gun, praying for a clear shot. But it wasn’t to be. Maureen remained concealed behind the wall, only the smallest part of her hand visible from where she held it against his coworker’s head.
“Come out, Devin. No one else has to get hurt.”
“Stay where you are, Devin,” Chee said, moving ever so slightly so he would remain between them.
“Do what I say, or he dies,” Maureen said.
“Don’t do it,” Chee demanded. “She’ll kill you.”
“Devin is going to die regardless,” she said. “It’s up to him if you go with him.”
“Why would you do this?” Devin asked. “You don’t have to hurt anyone.”
She didn’t respond except to shift around the corner enough to take aim.
Chee immediately put himself between them more fully.
“Step aside.” She waved her gun at Chee. “You don’t have to die.”
“I can’t just stand by and watch you kill him,” Chee said.
“You have a choice. It’s either him or all of you.”
That was an odd word choice. All of you. It was then Devin realized Jun was standing behind him.
He felt her hand on his back, and his shirt shifted, then he felt the pressure of his secondary weapon being pulled free of his waistband holster.
“We can protect you,” Chee said. “Tell us what you know about the Chinese, and the government can hide you from them.”
“That’s not how it works, and we both know it.” She spat the words at him. “Now move!”
“How do you expect to get out of here?” Chee continued as though she hadn’t spoken. “You won’t be able to get through security.”
“I have a plan.”
“Don’t do this here,” Devin said, speaking in Mandarin rather than English. “I’ll come with you. Just don’t hurt them.”
“What?” she said.
He repeated the words in English.
“Why should I believe you?” she asked.
“I’ll give you my gun.”
“Don’t do it, Devin,” Chee said.
“Take care of my family,” Devin said. “And do what she says.”
Chee looked over at him and must have sensed that everything wasn’t what it seemed. He shifted slightly but not quite enough for Maureen to get a clear shot.
“Drop the gun,” she demanded.
Devin engaged the safety and dropped the gun to the floor. He spoke again in Mandarin, his comment directed to Chee. “When I say now, get down.”
“Speak in English!” she demanded.
“Now!”
Chee and Devin both dropped to the floor, both reaching for their weapons. Three rapid gunshots sounded.
Devin turned to see Jun beside him, her face pale. It took him a moment to sweep over the rest of the scene to realize the lack of color wasn’t from a wound but from what she had done. A short distance away, Maureen lay on the ground, her eyes open and lifeless.
“It’s okay,” Devin said, gently prying his gun out of Jun’s hand. He pulled her into his arms and felt her shudder.
“She was going to kill you,” Jun said.
“You didn’t let her.” Devin pulled back and held both of her arms. “You saved our lives. And you saved my daughters.”
Chee collected the weapons off the floor and handed Devin his. “Where are the babies?”
Devin turned to look back at Jun. “I was wondering the same thing.”