I count to thirty, then lower the snips to the toolbox with a shaky hand. “Thirty seconds,” I hiss.
“Right here,” comes a meek reply from behind the door.
Dipping out of my hiding place, I see Halsey and his girlfriend disappear into the elevator on our side of the ring. I force myself to take one more breath to let the doors slide closed.
“Okay, count to ten and then open that door.”
Quickly, I replace the ceiling panel, jump down the ladder, and grab the tool box. Then I fold the ladder and park it against the wall as Daphne slips out, her purse over her shoulder, her face bright red. “I’m sorry.”
“Shh.” I take her hand and walk her quickly, heading for the stairwell again. “I can’t tell if he went up or down. But there has to be another door out of this place.”
“There is. At the bottom of the stairs.”
“Let’s move.” Tightening my grip on her hand, we gun it across to the stairs, and then trot down them as quickly as I dare.
I can’t see Halsey anywhere. But I won’t let go of Daphne. Not until we’re far away from here. The stairs continue down another half flight past the atrium. And then I see a blessed sight—a set of double doors with a red EXIT sign glowing above them.
We’re pushing through them a minute later. “The car should be that way.” I point to the right.
“Yes.” Daphne is flushed, her eyes pinched. “I really fucked that up. I can’t believe you got rid of him.”
“Shh,” I say, forcing us to walk at a mostly normal pace around the building. It’s going to take some time, seeing as the place is huge. The grass is perfectly mown, and chrysanthemums bloom in a carefully landscaped row.
Meanwhile, my heart is still ready to explode. I’m remembering the ropes cutting into my skin as I tried to escape. Halsey trussed me to my bed, and somehow broke several of my bones. I still don’t remember how I got injured. But I remember Paul’s gagging sobs on the bunk above me.
They raped him. I’m ninety-nine percent sure. It took me twelve hours of digging, but I’d found the court martial summary early this afternoon. I’d printed it out and folded it up in my wallet. Then I’d gotten into the car to drive here. I’d put two hands on the wheel, at two o’clock and ten o’clock.
And that summary is still burning a hole in my pocket, and my brain:
Decision: Sergeant A.P. Horst was relieved of his command at the United States Tactical Services Academy, and demoted to O-4. Crime: dereliction of duty, and endangerment of students in his care. Incident: two students assaulted on campus by upperclassmen. Both victims admitted to the infirmary and later hospitalized, one with multiple fractures, one with contusions, internal injuries and anal bleeding. Further action: three students expelled, one infirmary tech reassigned.
That’s it. That’s the whole writeup. But the moment I’d read it, I’d known. And I’d begun to remember.
Our hands still in a sweaty hold, Daphne and I finally reach the corner of this monolith, and we turn. At last the Volvo comes into view. I let go of Daphne’s hand, and pat my pocket for the keys. “I don’t want to stay here overnight.”
“Okay,” she says immediately. “But I need my stuff from the inn.”
“Right. I walk toward the car, stopping on the passenger side so I can open the door for Daphne. The Volvo was made before remote key entry was a thing. I slide the key into the lock and turn it.
Someone steps out from behind an SUV and appears in my field of vision.
Daphne gasps behind me.
It’s Halsey. He’s alone.
I let go of the keys and square off toward him, my instincts jumping. I will not be caught off guard by this man again.
“You,” he says. “I thought I was losing it. But it is you, Ralls.” He takes a step closer. “Miss me?”
“Get the fuck away from us,” I snarl. “I promise it’ll be harder to take me out when I’m awake. You won’t enjoy it.”
His mouth goes hard. “I don’t care about you, dumbass. Whatever Daphne took from my office, she’s going to give it back now.”
“She didn’t take anything,” I growl. “Get out of my face. You’re lucky I don’t drive right to the nearest police station and turn you in for assault and rape.”