Fear beat a steady cadence through Sam’s bloodstream as she watched her partner move in a crouch behind the cars until there were no more cars to provide cover. All they could do at that point was hope the shooter was too preoccupied to pay attention to the officer sprinting down the street toward the waiting ambulance.

“Let’s establish a connection,” Farnsworth said. “Call his cell phone.”

Reading from the same page Archie had provided with the GPS information, Conklin placed the call and kept his phone on speaker so they could all hear.

Someone answered the call, but didn’t speak.

“Billy, this is Deputy Chief Conklin with the Metro PD. The house is surrounded, and we’d like to get you out of there without anyone else getting hurt.”

“I want to talk to that chick cop who’s always in the news.”

“Lieutenant Holland?”

“Yeah. Her.”

Conklin looked at Sam, who shrugged as she reached for the phone, all the while keeping an eye out for Freddie’s return. Maybe if she kept Billy busy, he wouldn’t notice them getting Gonzo out of there.

“This is Lieutenant Holland.”

His total silence had her on edge as she saw Freddie returning with the backboard tucked under his arm. She held her breath until he ducked behind the row of cars.

“Billy? Are you there?”

“Everyone lied to me. Cole pretended to be my friend, and he was a cop. The whole time, he was a fucking cop! And now my real friends want me dead because I let a cop get close to us.”

“I understand this has been a difficult time for you. Can you tell me who else is in there with you?” As she continued to talk to him she kept an eye on her team as they loaded Gonzo on the board and began to move him toward the waiting ambulance. Arnold’s right hand was still pressed against Gonzo’s wound. Sam had never been a religious person, but she said a prayer right then for Gonzo and the others who were risking themselves to get him the help he desperately needed.

She leaned in closer to Conklin. “Tell them to stay put after they get him to the bus. They’re not to come back.”

Conklin nodded in agreement and conveyed her orders via radio.

“My grandma is here and two of my cousins,” Billy said.

Sam pushed at the knot of pain that pulsated between her eyes. “How old are your cousins?”

“Six and nine.”

Sam closed her eyes and blew out a deep breath. “I’m sure you love them all very much and would hate to see them get hurt.”

“I never wanted anyone to get hurt! It’s all Hugo’s fault! He screwed up everything.”