French Silk(129)

"Where are you taking her? Cassidy!"

That was the last Claire saw or heard of Crowder, because Cassidy threw his arm across her shoulders, turned her around, and began battling a path through the wall of malcontents.

"Clear this area! Get these people out of here!"

The secretaries and clerks responded to the authoritative ring in Cassidy's voice and began making ineffectual attempts to disperse the crowd by nicely asking them to leave. The crowd wasn't listening. Uniformed security guards finally converged on the scene and joined the melee, barking orders and issuing threats of imminent arrest that went unheeded.

It became obvious to Claire that Cassidy was trying to get her to the stairwell. But when they reached the marked exit, a burly Bible-thumper wearing a T-shirt that read GOD IS LOVE blocked the door and sneered at Claire. "You'll burn in hell for what you did, sister."

"Get out of our way or you'll see hell a lot quicker than she does," Cassidy threatened.

The man snarled, reached out and grabbed a handful of Claire's hair, and pulled hard. Several strands were ripped from her scalp. Claire cried out in pain and instinctively raised her hands to protect her head.

Cassidy acted on instinct too. He rammed his fist into the man's gut, then, when he doubled over, caught him beneath the chin with a blow that sent his head crashing back into the wall.

The people nearest them began to scream. In a matter of seconds full-fledged panic broke out. Cassidy yanked open the door and gave the center of Claire's back a hard shove that sent her stumbling onto the landing.

He grabbed a security guard by the back of his collar and used him as a shield to block the exit. "Give me time to get her away from the building. Don't let anyone through this door," he shouted as he pulled the door closed. The guard still unclear as to what was going on, nodded dumbly.

Cassidy gripped her hand and began running down the stairs. "Are you all right?"

Claire discovered that she was too frightened to speak. Like the bewildered guard, she nodded, but in his haste Cassidy didn't even look back.

The stairs served as a fire escape and opened to the outside, so they were able to avoid the chaos occurring in the atrium lobby of the building. It was crawling with Jackson Wilde's followers, confused employees, and those unfortunate enough to have business in the D.A.'s office that afternoon.

As soon as they were outside, Cassidy dragged her along behind him, around the rear of the building, toward where his car was parked on the opposite side. "Shit!" He halted so quickly, it jarred Claire's teeth. "My car keys are on my desk."

He didn't waste a moment to think about it, but went in search of something to break the window. He returned precious seconds later with a loose brick from a nearby construction site. "Turn your head."

He bashed the window with the brick, reached inside the shattered glass and unlocked the door, then barely gave Claire time to get in before slamming it behind her. She reached across the interior and opened the driver's door for him.

"How are you going to start it?"

"The way the thieves do."

While Claire brushed broken glass from the seat, he hot-wired the car. Within minutes they had made their escape. Surrounding the city hall complex was a maze of one-way streets that required careful negotiation even by those who drove it every day. As he drove, Cassidy jerked his cellular phone off its stand and tossed the receiver into Claire's lap.

"Call French Silk. Tell them to shut down for the day. Tell everybody to get the hell out and away from there."

"They wouldn't dare—"

"You saw them back there. God only knows what these maniacs will do when they hear you've confessed."

Claire feared for her building and its costly inventory, but mostly for the safety of her employees. She fumbled with the rubberized digits on the transmitter. "My mother. I've got to get her to a safe place."

"I'm thinking," he said tautly as he raced through a yellow light.

Claire spoke to her secretary. "There's been a new development in the Wilde case." She cut her eyes to Cassidy; he glanced at her briefly. "It might be dangerous for French Silk to remain open today. Send everyone home. Yes, right now. Tell them not to report to work until notified, but assure them they'll receive full pay. Secure the building. Quickly. Now, please patch me into the apartment phone."

While that was being done, she said to Cassidy, "You have to take me home so I can see to my mother."

"I can't take you near that place, Claire. Ariel's got a communication system more effective than any public utility. But you're right, if they storm the building, it'll be unsafe for Mary Catherine to be there."

The thought filled Claire with panic. "You've got to take me to her now, Cassidy."

"I can't."

"The hell you can't."

"Could she go home with Harry?"

"I've got to—"

"Don't argue with me, goddammit! Can Harry take her home with her?"

He averted his eyes from the traffic long enough to look at her. Claire wanted to dispute him, but the suggestion was viable. She spoke tersely into the telephone. "Hello, Harry, it's me. Listen closely." Once she had made her request, she said, "I know it's an imposition but I need to know that Mama's safe and being well taken care of. Don't alarm her. No, I'm sure you'll handle it beautifully. But timing is vital. Get her out immediately. Yes, I'll be careful. I'll call later and let you know where I am."