“Did we get them?”
“We got them. I’m heading up,” she said again.
On the next level, she took out a fleeing woman with a bare-knuckled fist to the face. Stopped short of doing the same when she realized the one charging her was maybe twelve.
“Hey, hey.” Eve blocked the punch. “I’m a cop. I’m here to get you out.”
“Fuck the fucking cops.”
Eve dodged the kick, pivoted, and wrapped her arms around the girl from behind.
“Stop, stop now.”
“I’ll kill you!”
“Knock it off! Jesus Christ, Trueheart,” she said when he, mouth bleeding, ran her way.
“Sorry, Lieutenant. Some of the kids scattered. They’re scared.”
“I get that, but— I said knock it off!” Eve snapped when the kid tried to kick Trueheart. “We’re the NYPS-fucking-D, and we’re getting you the hell out of here. There are a lot of girls in here these bastards snatched and hurt, and we’re going to help them. If you run when I let you go, you’re on your own.”
“I’ve been on my own my whole life.”
“Yeah, sad story.” She nearly sighed with relief when a Rescue team came through the stairwell door. “You can go with them, help us put the fuckers who did this to you, and all the others, in cages, or you can take off and help them keep doing it.”
“Screw them, screw you, and everybody else.”
“Okay then.” Eve released her. “Go.”
The girl rounded on Eve.
“Lottie,” Eve said. “Lottie Crug.”
“How the hell do you know? I don’t know where the hell I am, and screw you, I’m not leaving Carrie.”
“Who’s Carrie?”
The girl’s eyes went to molten slits. “Trainee 282.” She snarled it. “They took her down for vids, the fucking pervs, and—”
“Describe her.”
“She’s a white girl, long blond hair, and—”
“Blue eyes, maybe a hundred pounds. Carrie Wheeler.” Another face on her board, Eve thought. “We got her out, her and the girl they had with her. The three assholes who held them in there are currently in lockup.”
“Maybe you’re lying.”
“Not everybody lies,” Trueheart said, and the girl snorted.
“What planet are you from?”
Eve watched Baxter and two officers lead a group of girls their way.
“Check with Dr. Mira,” Eve told the Rescue team. “Have her locate Carrie, so Lottie can see for herself.”
“If you’re lying, I’ll find you, and I’ll make you pay.”
“Well, that terrifies me. Is this level clear?” she asked Baxter.
“That’s affirmative.”
“Heading up.” She released the girl. “Don’t be stupid. Baxter, Trueheart, with me.”
She started up. “Jamie, status on top floor.”
“She’s moving around, just started to. I think she was eating breakfast or something before.”
“I’m going up. Help clear the next levels,” she told Baxter. “I’m taking the top.”
“Want backup?” Baxter asked her.
“I like my odds on the one-to-one.”
She jogged up the stairs, level by level. Fifty-eight girls secured so far, came the report in her ear. Another twelve in the process. Eighty-six suspects in custody.
“Roarke, do some magic on her door. Jamie, where is she?”
“The bathroom. I, ah, think she, you know, relieved herself. Looks like she’s washing her hands.”
“Too bad. Lowers the possibility she pisses herself when I take her. I’m at the door.”
“It’s got an alarm, taking it down. Hold there.”
“Come on, come on,” she whispered, bouncing on her toes.
“She’s in the bedroom, Dallas,” Jamie told her.
“And the lock’s down. Mind my cop.”
“You bet.”
Eve pushed in as Beaty stepped out of the bedroom doorway.
“Hi, Auntie. Hands up, turn and face the wall. Well, shit,” she said when Beaty leaped back, slammed the door. Eve heard the sharp click of the lock.
“Yeah, that’ll make a difference.”
She stepped up, kicked it open, whirled away. And wasn’t a bit surprised to hear the stunner stream hit the wall behind her.
“It’s a cliché, but needs to be said. The place is surrounded. You’ve got nowhere to go. So, you know, come out with your hands up.”