“Holy shit,” Dino said, “Willa’s in trouble, and I don’t even know if they’re in the building yet.” He snatched Stone’s phone and dialed a number. “I’ve gotta keep my line clear.” He waited impatiently for the number to answer. “This is Bacchetti,” he said finally. “I want you to get hold of the state police at the nearest station to Sneden’s Landing, then meet them at this address and hold whoever is in the house until you hear from me.” He read off the address. “You got that? Also, I want backup at Devlin Daltry’s address in SoHo right now! Officer needs assistance. They may need battering rams!” He hung up.

“I told you she shouldn’t go into that building,” Genevieve said. “He raped me.”

Eliza looked shocked. “You never told me.”

“I never told anybody,” she said.

Dino patted her hand. “I’m sorry, Genevieve. Don’t you worry, I’m going to make him pay for that.”

“Why don’t you call Bernstein back?” Stone said.

“He’ll call me,” Dino said. “He’s got enough on his hands right now without having to take my phone calls. His partner is in trouble; I shouldn’t have let him send her in there,” he said. “This is my fault all the way.”

“It was her call, Dino; she was on the spot, and you have to back her decision. Nothing is your fault.”

“Shit,” Dino said, banging on the table.

55

Bernstein screamed, “Mayday, Mayday,” and pulled out his gun, intending to shoot at the locks. He didn’t know if it would do any good. Then he heard Willa scream.

“My back is killing me, goddammit!”

Joe Dowdell came running with the crowbar. “I’ll try again!” he yelled.

“Not this door, the garage door!” Bernstein shouted.

Dowdell ran toward the garage door and ran the tip of the crowbar under it until it stopped where the door latched into the pavement. He worked it to no avail, then he stood on the end of the bar and put his whole weight on it. There was a metallic snap, and the door came unanchored from the concrete. All four cops got their fingers under it and managed to raise it about eighteen inches. Then the flying form of Shelly Pointer scooted under the door.

Shelly ran for the elevator. “It’s five floors!” she yelled back. “It’s faster to wait for the elevator.”

Bernstein, who was in the best shape of the four men, ignored her and ran for the stairs.

The elevator seemed to take forever.

“I don’t like the noises I’m hearing,” Pointer said. There were grunting sounds coming from their equipment. “And I don’t hear Willa at all.”