The dying man shook his head. “Police defer to … federal authority here. And forget … anyone in charge.”

Dani looked confused and frustrated. “But why? Mr. Coleman, what is all this? What is Rigel? What are these people going to do tonight at the barn?”

Mr. Coleman shut his eyes tightly. He looked despondent, and Sam knew the reason: the man was simply out of time. There was way too much to say.

He opened his eyes again and fixed his stare on Dani.

“You can save her,” he whispered. “You.”

“How?” Dani asked.

His next two words were so quiet he was almost mouthing them: “You’ll see.”

Then he broke into a coughing fit that made his whole body convulse. Dani continued gripping his hand in hers.

When Mr. Coleman went quiet again, Dani leaned very close to him.

“I’m sorry to keep you talking,” she said. “But please, can you tell us why we can’t get someone to help? I’m sorry. I’m so sorry…”

Mr. Coleman took another breath. Sam had a feeling it was nearly his last.

“Insiders,” the man whispered.

“Insiders?” Dani asked. “You mean people working with the bad guys? People here in Ashland?”

Mr. Coleman nodded. “One for sure … maybe more…”

“Who’s the one?” Dani asked. “Do you know the name?”

Mr. Coleman nodded, and then he let go of Dani’s hand, took hold of her shoulder and pulled her down to him. She turned her head and put her ear directly to his mouth, and Sam heard him gasp one final word. He couldn’t make out what it was.

If Dani understood, she didn’t show it. For a second she didn’t move or even blink, and then she raised herself up, and Sam saw that Mr. Coleman’s face had gone slack. His eyes stared at nothing above him. His hand had fallen limp at his side. He was gone.

For a while neither of them spoke. Then Sam turned to Dani to ask if she’d heard the last word. But before he could speak there came a sound from elsewhere in the station. A wooden crate falling over.

Both of them jumped as if electrically jolted, and stood up fast. They turned to the doorway, through which they could see some of the cages along the far wall of the big room. On a hunch, Sam sidestepped to get a view of the last cage. The one with its door open. The one whose occupant had lain across the threshold. Dani did the same, and let out a low, scared breath.

The baboon was gone.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

They heard the thing scream a second later. A high-pitched, ragged cry that reverberated through the complex. Dani grabbed Sam’s arm. She was shaking. So was he.