The theater, she realized. The bomb was here, in the theater. Her heart in her throat, she pulled the door open and began to run. She saw Doreen first, showing off a bracelet to two other members of the troupe.

“I want you to get out of the theater, go back to the hotel, now, all of you.”

“But the break’s nearly over and—”

“Rehearsal’s over. Get out of the theater and go back to the hotel. Now.” Knowing that even a mention of a bomb would send them into panic, she left it at a clipped order. “Gary.” She hung on to control as she flagged down her stage manager. “I want you to clear the theater, everyone, actors, stage crew, wardrobe, technicians. Everybody. Get everyone out and back to the hotel.”

“But, Eve—”

“Just move.”

She shoved past him and onto the stage. “There’s been an emergency.” She lifted her voice so that it filled all corners. “Everyone is to leave the theater immediately. Go back to the hotel and wait there. If you’re in costume, leave as you are and leave now.” She glanced at her watch. When was it set? Would she hear the explosion? “I want this theater empty within two minutes.”

She carried the authority. There might have been grumbles, there were certainly questions, but people began to file out. Eve left the stage to check the storerooms, the dressing rooms, anywhere someone might have gone before the announcement was made. She found Pete, locking up his precious props.

“I said out.” Taking him by the shirtfront, she dragged him to the door. “Leave everything.”

“I’m responsible for all of this. I’m not having some light-fingered—”

“You’re out in ten seconds or you’re fired.”

That snapped his mouth closed. Eve Hamilton never made a statement she didn’t back up. His chin shot up and a dozen different rejoinders rushed through his mind. Wisely he left them there and started down the hall. “Anything’s stolen, you’ll have to make it good,” he muttered.

“Let’s just hope something’s left,” she said to herself, and dashed to the other doors. Each one she slammed behind her echoed more hollowly. She found one actor dozing in a dressing room and routed him in seconds. He was shoeless and groggy, but she shoved him out in the hall and in the direction of the stage door.

Everyone was out, she told herself. They had to be. She thought she could hear the ticking of her watch inside her head. How much more time? Time could already be up. But she had to be sure. She was about to dash up the steps to check the second level, when a hand fell on her shoulder.

Her breath came out in a squeak, and though her knees went weak, she whirled to defend.