In Death 25 - Creation in Death

word.”
    “What’s your name? I’m sorry, did you tell me your name already?”
    “It’s Dallas. Eve Dallas.”
    “If I give Erik a break and we get married, I’m naming the first kid after you.”
    “There’s a lot of that going around.”
    “Get us the hell out of here, Dallas.”
    Eve moved to the door, yanked, shoved, pulled, kicked, rammed. Cursed. Turning again, she pulled the coat over Ariel’s face. “Just for a minute, in case the glass flies around.” And taking out her weapon again, she upped the stream and blasted at the door.
    The glass held, but she saw it shake. She hit it again, aiming for the same spot, then a third time. On the forth, the glass erupted into a wild spiderweb of cracks.
    “Nearly through, Ariel.” Eve holstered her weapon, picked up the stool and slammed it into the damaged door. She beat at it until the ground sparkled and the opening was clear.
    After heaving the stool aside, Eve went back to uncover Ariel’s face. Paler now, Eve noted, shaking a little more. Had to get moving, had to get gone. “Found a way out. I’m going to cut these ropes now.”
    “Try not to let the knife slip. I’m pretty tired of getting cut.”
    Eve picked up one of Lowell’s tools, nudged the coat away from Ariel’s arm. It was patterned with cuts, punctures, burns. Eve set the blade on the rope, looked up into Ariel’s eyes. “He’s going to pay. He’s going to pay for every minute you spent in here. I swear it.”
    She had to saw through the rope, leaving bracelets of it around Ariel’s abraded wrists. And she had to turn her mind, her rage away from the wounds she saw.
    As she freed Ariel’s feet, she heard Lowell give a soft groan.
    “He’s waking up, he’s waking up.” Voice pitched in panic and pain, Ariel struggled to sit. “He can’t get loose, can he?”
    “No. He’s not getting up on his own. And look, if he tries, we have this.” Eve drew her weapon again.
    “Why don’t you stun him again? While I watch.”
    “Appreciate the sentiment, but I think it’s time to get you out of here. Here, let’s get this coat on you.” As Eve slid the sleeves on, Ariel hissed. “Sorry.”
    “It’s okay.” She kept her eyes trained on Lowell. “I’m okay. Can you help me down so I can kick him? In the face. That’s what I imagined doing. I want to kick him in the face.”
    “Again, kudos on the sentiment. But here’s what we’re going to do. I want you to wrap your arms around my neck. Glass everywhere, and I don’t have a spare pair of shoes on me. I just need you to hold onto me, and I’m going to carry you out. You hold onto me, Ariel. I’ll get you out.”
    “Like…Like piggyback,” Ariel managed between shaky breaths when Eve backed up to the table.
    “Yeah, that’s the way. You get a little piggyback ride, and I’m hoping you don’t sample a lot of your products.”
    Ariel managed a watery laugh, then collapsed against Eve’s neck and shoulders.
    “Ready? Here we go.” With her own legs wobbly from the drugs, Eve bent to take the weight. She focused on the door. Five feet to get through, she calculated as she put one foot in front of the other. Another two, maybe three to get past the broken glass on the floor.
    There was communication equipment out there, she reminded herself as sweat slid over her skin and Ariel bit back whimpers. She’d tag her backup, the MTs.
    She heard something crash, then the rush of feet. And tightened her grip on the weapon in her hand. She let out the breath she was holding when she heard Roarke shout her name.
    “Back here! Call the MTs! That’s the cavalry, Ariel.”
    “No.” Ariel’s head slumped on Eve’s shoulder. “You are.”
    Roarke flew through the maze of the basement toward the echo of Eve’s voice. The sound of it had stabbed through the music, blown through him like breath.
    He saw her, pale, face gleaming with sweat, her weapon in her hand, and a quietly weeping woman on her back.
    He lowered his own weapon, let the tremor in his belly come and go. “We’ve come to save you.”
    She worked up a grin for him. “About damn time.”
    He was to her in the single beat of a heart, and despite the flood of cops pouring down, gripped her exhausted face in his hands and kissed her.
    “Here.” He shifted to lift Ariel from Eve’s back. “Let me help you.”
    “Is he yours?” Ariel asked.
    “Yeah. He’s mine.”
    Ariel stared up into Roarke’s face. “Wow.” She let out a deep, deep