Game of Fear (Montgomery Justice #3)(97)

Gabe motioned to Deb. They moved forward again.

Someone coughed nearby.

“Shhh . . .”

Whispers filtered through a set of double doors. It sounded like scared kids.

Ashley?

Gabe and Deb eased down the hallway then peeked through the small inserted window. It was some sort of cafeteria and two kids stood huddled inside.

He shoved into the room. Mylo and a sandy-haired kid spun around in a panic, fumbling with their M-16s. A horrifying stench came from the blood-spattered duo.

“Whoa, hold it!” Gabe lifted his hands. “Mylo, it’s Gabe and Deb.”

Angry fire blazed in Mylo’s eyes, then cleared. “Oh, man, thank God it’s you.” His shoulders sagged. “I thought we were dead.”

Deb raced to them. “What happened? Where’s Ashley?”

“Some big shots that flew in today have her. I only caught one name. Petrov,” the sandy-haired boy said, his face streaked with blood.

“Gasmerati’s partner.” Gabe frowned. They had a name.

“How did you get away?” Deb asked.

“When they announced we were all going to the basement, we were in the back corner.” Mylo shuddered. “This is Floyd. He knows everything about this place.”

Gabe ticked through his father’s list. The name sounded familiar.

“You said the kids are in the basement?”

“It’s where they execute those who are expendable,” Floyd said. “No one likes to go there. We slipped under the grates and went to the armory on the other side of the complex like Niko told us to do. Can’t believe that blond bastard helped us.”

And paid for it. “What about Ashley?” Gabe asked.

“We saw her in the C corridor with those big shots and about six guards. She covered for us,” Mylo said, his face painted with an awed look. “She’s crazy brave. Threw a fit, screaming that she didn’t want to go with them. Biting and scratching. Petrov backhanded her, and in the chaos, we managed to escape. I don’t know where she is now, but the kids downstairs are probably being gassed right now.”

“This can’t be happening.” Deb closed her eyes. A tear slid down her cheek. She clicked her earpiece. “Ashley last seen in C corridor near the armory with Gasmerati. Six guards. Please, find her. Gabe and I are heading to the basement for a rescue. Over.”

She turned to the group. “We have to save those kids.”

Gabe thought he’d never seen a woman more heartbreakingly beautiful or brave. “They’ll find her,” Gabe said. “Okay, where’s the basement, Floyd?”

“Follow me,” he said. “Keep your weapons ready. They shoot to kill here.”

The group hurried as fast as they dared. They turned right near the door where Deb and Gabe had entered and started down the stairs.

A flurry of shots echoed from several places inside the building and more shots answered.

“Move it,” Gabe urged.

“The basement is here,” Floyd whispered, finally slowing as they neared the bottom. “There’s a big room that I’ve never seen anyone go into before.”

“Any idea what it’s used for?”

“Yeah,” Floyd said softly. “Mass murder.”




Gabe raced down the stairs, followed by the teenagers. Deb brought up the rear. She must be champing to search this place for Ashley, but she’d put her faith in him and his brothers. He just prayed they didn’t let her down.

She could have his back anytime, and if they lived through this, he intended to tell her that. Among other things.

A series of rapid-fire gunshots sounded again in the distance. Gabe knew his brothers could take care of themselves. But still . . . Damn, he couldn’t help them now.

One last step and he entered the basement corridor. The others crowded around him.

Two compound guards lay dead on the floor.

A weak cry sounded from behind the door. Gabe grabbed one of Zach’s toys, jammed it against the panel, and turned it on. The machine whirred and lights flashed and a few moments later, the tumblers clicked. He wrenched open the door.

Acrid gas spewed from the room, its sour odor nauseating. More than twenty kids lay on the floor gasping, vomiting, and writhing in desperation.

One boy rolled over and looked at Gabe. “Get out. Heard talking. Bomb,” he said. “Today.”

Gabe took a second to tap his communication device. “Heads-up. Confirmation of explosive device to detonate today. Get everybody out.”

“Ashley! Are you in here?” Deb called out, even as she dragged the retching kids from the room.

Some could still walk a little and they helped others. Gabe, Deb, Mylo, and Floyd half dragged, half carried the weakest ones into the hallway.

One figure remained huddled in the corner.

Floyd hurried into the room to help. The man turned over, vomiting all over himself.

The boy stilled. “You killed my brother.”

Green with sickness, the Warden looked up at Floyd.

He raised the gun.

“Floyd—” Gabe rushed toward him.

“This is for Fletcher.”

Gabe was too late. Floyd peppered the Warden with bullets.

He emptied the magazine, then tossed the weapon next to the body.