THEY DECLARED HER DEAD—THEN ORDERED HER CREMATED WHILE SHE WAS STILL ALIVE!

"Put the gun away, Pike," Shaw ordered.

The deputy hesitated. "Dr. Vale said—"

"I heard what he said. And I said put it away."

Lena used the argument to move closer to the van. Nora pressed both palms against the cracked window.

"Don't be scared," Lena told her.

"I'm trying not to be."

Ivy swung a heavy trash bin into Pike's knees. He stumbled, swore, and grabbed at her coat. Lena drove the wheel chock into the van's damaged glass. It burst inward. Nora crawled toward the opening as Maya caught the falling pieces with the blanket.

Shaw lunged forward. "Stop!"

For a second Lena thought he was coming to help. Instead he seized her shoulder. She twisted free, scraping her arm against the doorframe. Ivy snatched Pike's dropped keys and tossed them to Lena.

"Start the van!"

"Nora, out!" Maya yelled.

The girl slipped through the broken window. Maya caught her and dropped to her knees, wrapping both arms around her. They clung to each other while the alarms began to howl.

"I thought you were gone," Nora sobbed.

"I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere."

Lena hated breaking that moment. "We have to move."

Shaw blocked the gate. His face was hard, but he didn't draw the weapon on his belt. His eyes moved from Maya to Nora and stayed there.

"You have no idea what you're up against," he said.

"Then tell us," Lena snapped.

"I can't."

"That's a choice."

Shaw's jaw tightened. He stepped to one side, just enough to make a path. "Take the laundry exit. Not the main road."

Pike staggered upright. "What the hell are you doing?"

"My job," Shaw said, though it sounded like a lie even to him.

Ivy pushed Maya into the laundry van parked behind the dock. Lena climbed into the driver's seat. Nora curled against her sister on the floor as the vehicle lurched into the rain.

"Why'd he let us go?" Ivy asked.

Lena checked the mirror. Shaw stood under the dock light, watching them leave.

"I don't know."

They turned onto the service road. Two patrol cars slid across the intersection ahead, lights flashing, blocking both lanes.