Page 81 of Witness Security Breach

Timing the meet to coincide with the movie in the theater next door had worked. The place was fairly empty now compared to this morning, and the darkness seemed to have swelled as the number of people wearing bright-colored clothing dwindled.

The employee entrance opened in the middle of the aquarium. Devlin could be anywhere. She hoped she found him before he got to Aiden.

Goatee spotted something, picking up his pace as he reached into his jacket for his weapon.

With a quick flick of the wrist, the telescoping baton extended to full length. She swooped up behind him and whacked his gun arm twice, stopping him from drawing his weapon.

A couple in the vicinity gasped and ran for the exit.

Then Charlie went for the startled man’s legs, hitting him behind the knees, bringing him to the floor. Hard.

He looked up at her, snarling. “You bit—”

Another strike to his face silenced him. She kicked him to the floor facedown and thrust her knee in the middle of his back.

Setting the baton on the floor, she pulled out zip ties and bound his wrists behind him.

“Charlie, where are you?” Aiden asked over comms.

She went to toggle her earpiece as a shocking blow to her head sent her spinning off the man and the black wig went flying. Charlie crashed into the wall.

A follow-up kick to her gut had her doubled over in pain.

Dazed, she swung out with a fist on pure instinct, but her attacker laid her on the floor with a leg sweep. As she sucked in for air, trying to breathe through the pain, he dropped on top of her, and she stared into Devlin’s hateful eyes.

Her blood turned to ice, heartbeat thrumming sickeningly in her ears.

“Thought you could hunt me. That a wig would make you invisible. Like I couldn’t draw you out.” He cocked his fist, bringing his elbow way back, preparing to hurt her. Hurt her until there was only darkness.

She had to fight, act now. Charlie brought a knee up between his legs hard enough to jolt him forward and threw a punch up into his throat.

Then he was the one gasping.

He rolled off her, and she clambered to her feet.

Staggering away, she needed to get distance from him. She reached into her shirt to draw her weapon when a hand closed around her ankle. He yanked her back with such force that she had to throw out both hands in front of her to break the fall.

He was climbing on her, with her belly to the floor.

Facedown, she wouldn’t stand a chance.

Charlie swung her elbow back and up, using the added rotation of her body to drive it hard into the side of Devlin’s head. Her bone struck his face. He grunted and his weight lifted.

Without hesitation, she scrambled forward on her hands and knees. Pushed up from the floor to her feet.

Devlin growled. A shuffling sound told her that he was in motion behind her. A bullet bit into the wall near her head.

She bolted for the stairs. Her brain spun. Dread pooled in her stomach. Faster and faster she ran.

“Charlie!” Aiden’s panicked voice in her ear reset her senses.

She spotted a sign that said Second Floor: Shark Discovery.

The new shark and stingray touch-pool exhibit was under construction. She grabbed the knob and jerked it. Locked. Her heart felt ready to explode in her chest.

“Don’t go there. It’s locked,” Aiden said.

With a desperate curse, she drew her weapon.