“It’s him,” she whispered, her gaze transfixed on a point in the center of the room.
“I left you a present, Lieutenant,” the man shouted over the cacophony of sound. “Why don’t you try it on again?”
Jake’s head whipped around. “Baker? We’re onto you, Baker,” he called, then started in the direction of the voice. He’d gone two steps before he caught sight of what held her attention.
The backpack.
Baker had left the backpack directly under the faceted ball. Without a moment of hesitation, Jake grabbed Cass’s wrist and pulled her toward the exit to the next room.
“Bomb,” she panted, stumbling to keep up.
“He’s in here. He won’t detonate it until he’s clear,” Jake shouted back.
The next room featured a floor made of alternating metal platforms seesawing at varied rates and a giant black-and-white painted spiral undulating at the far end. He was about to jump onto the first plank when he spotted an open-grate catwalk running along the back of the room.
He changed directions so suddenly Cass let out a yelp. “Sorry. Looks like mechanical access,” he explained as he led her to the blessedly stationary walkway.
The catwalk was only about a foot wide, so they had to scuttle along it side-by-side. Still, it was faster than trying to navigate the obstacles.
“Baker?” Jake shouted the man’s name. It was both a test and a warning. But no reply came. “We have to get out of here fast,” he said, speaking low enough for only Cass to hear.
“There should be exit panels back here,” she answered, panting. “They have to be able to take patrons who get overwhelmed out fast.”
Sure enough, just up ahead, Jake spotted a wooden door painted black with a green light shining above it. He stiff-armed it the moment they were within reach, but it was the force of a blast that sent them sprawling out onto the asphalt.
Jake rolled toward Cass. “Are you all right?”
“I’m okay. I’m okay,” she said grimacing as she brushed her hands over the front of her pants.
There was a moment of eerie silence as music and machinery cut out. They scooted away from the structure, taking refuge behind one of the trailers used to haul the disassembled rides. They watched in stunned silence as the Fun House crumbled in on itself, smoke rising from the center.
Jake looked around. There didn’t seem to be anyone at the rear of the midway. Everyone was out front, getting ready to race into chaos. Everyone except Baker. But Jake had no doubt he was still nearby. Still watching to see if he’d gotten the job done.
He was startled from his thought when Max let out three sharp barks.
“That’s Max,” she said.
Jake hadn’t needed her confirmation, but the fact that she knew Max’s bark well enough to identify him made something warm blossom in his chest.
“It’s a warning.”
“Think he’s spotted Baker?” Cass asked as they scrambled to their feet.
“Baker or another bomb.” He checked in both directions, then pointed toward the wreckage of the carousel and Ferris wheel. “Let’s go this way. I don’t want him to see us if we can help it.”
They almost made it to the other end of the Fun House when they saw a figure dressed in dark clothes jump onto the tilted platform and duck down between the horses.
“Baker.” Cass exhaled.
A second later, Max jumped onto the carousel as well, his target in his sights.
“He’s got him pinned down,” she shouted over her shoulder.
They drew up at the undamaged side of the carousel and looked around. Max was nowhere to be seen. But then they heard him.
He gave only two barks this time, but the relieved smile spreading across Jake’s face screamed, “Jackpot!’”
“What? What is it?”
