Angus blinked blood away from his eyes and surveyed the destroyed cop car. “Where’s Sean?” That stubborn jackass. Why hadn’t he stayed safely in police protection?

“Dropped him at the hospital,” Wolfe said, finishing and turning toward him. “Guy was on his last legs and didn’t have a choice.”

Oh, this was a complete disaster. “Phone,” Angus said.

Wolfe handed over his burner. “Any chance you can talk while running up the hill?”

The thought of even limping up the hill made Angus want to throw up. The incredible pain in his left side promised a couple of broken ribs. So far, he was breathing okay, so one hadn’t pierced a lung. Yet. He took the phone and dialed quickly.

“Angus?” Brigid’s panicked voice came over the distance. “What’s going on? Is everyone okay?”

“No.” He coughed, and blood spit out. Shit. Internal bleeding was a bastard. “Listen. We need help.”

“What do you need?” Nari’s voice came through the speaker, straightening his spine. “Where are you?”

Her voice helped center him. He’d deal with that fact later. “Quick rundown. Wolfe and I stole two police vehicles from the Collinsville station.” Two out of the four the department owned. “The shift change is going to happen shortly, and they’re going to notice. I need you to contact Fields and Rutherford and have the HDD take care of this.” He leaned over and tried to gasp as a spasm took him.

“Angus?” Nari’s voice rose. “What’s happening?”

“Nothing,” he groaned as Wolfe helped him to sit up again. “The HDD has to cover us with the cops, and it’d be perfect if they’d put out a bulletin about a local officer being shot and killed, with no other information.” The HDD was never going to go along with this. “And they need to pick up Sean Banaghan, who’s at the local hospital. Put him in a safe house until further notice.”

“My dad? What are you talking about?” Brigid breathed.

“He was hurt, but he’ll be okay. Get him out of that hospital if possible.” Angus groaned.

“You think HDD will help us?” Nari asked, her tone tentative.

“Either that, or all hell is going to descend upon us and the agency. Use those words if you have to.” Angus tried to sound more confident than he felt. “We’re in a shitstorm here, but tell them we’re close to breaking open a huge trafficking case.” Close might be a lie, but he was willing to lie at this point.

“We’ll make it happen,” Nari said. “I promise, Angus.”

Good. The shrink had connections beyond Angus’s, and that was the most he could hope for. He clicked off and took Wolfe’s offered hand to stand. He wobbled on his feet. “We have to get the hell out of here.”