he dimly lit interior, taking in the rows of dusty liquor bottles, the cloud of cigarette smoke hovering near the ceiling,

the bar she

't any or

e door slammed shut behind her with a mechanical click, too sharp, too final. Emma's spine stiffen

ught in her t

alleyway had been wrong,on purp

in Bla

t walked right

es were on her now,dozens of them. Menacing, silent, waiting.

a gruff voice echoed

baton sat, snug against her hip. The tension in the room thickened like fog. She could hear t

s tattooed arms flexing with every step. She watched his shad

s here for a drink,

lun

truck

but another one was already behind her. She spun, ducked a punch, and slammed the end of the baton int

s er

nto the jukebox. Another grabbed her from behind,big arms, iron grip,but she twiste

, her mind in full combat mode. But they were too man

ing on the back exit sign glow

cking a barstool into one of the thugs. Her boots skid

ck

bottle, and smashed it against the

someone yell

the broken end of the bottle into the door's r

ey, her coat flaring behind her as she ran. Her car was parked th

ght get h

thundered

n't loo

stant horn. She reached her car, yanked the door open, dove inside, and started the e

ance, she grabbed her p

ey know. They know, Ryan. It was a setu

voice was sharp

st a red light, heart still racing. "I think so

Did anyone see you? Did y

ce. I hurt a few of them. They're going to

the sentence. Sh

ou to Meredith,"

,or even if she just knows-I'm screwed. I

right. Listen to me. Lay low for now. D

es scanning the dark

47. Code's s

ka

l Meredith you're sick. Just to see how she re

though he couldn't

ea

got bigge

ause. Then he said

her rearview mirror suddenly a threat. The city lights

ld, har

-

rs

d shelves of weapons she hoped she wouldn't need tonight. Her coat lay on the floor, so

e started fighting back-but more than that, she s

kne

been expe

he inside had betrayed h

lities,Meredith? Maybe. But wh

dith wasn't

phone again. No me

her arms around herself, trying to breathe

hispered to herself. "This

de her flinch.

bought the story. No red f

he text. Relief

was

e was hiding behind the cu

ren't done