He shot me a glare, and Tuck ignored him, moving farther along the fence to better see inside, past the spot where the truck had turned. He looked concerned, and I agreed that anyone who was scooping up kids right now should be considered highly suspect and likely dangerous. “What do you think they’re doing in there?” I whispered.

Tuck gave me a thin-lipped stare. “If I knew, would I have my face pressed against a fence? I’m trying to figure it out. Maybe you could help.”

“Okay, Snappy. I am helping,” I said, leaning forward and widening my eyes to glare at him more fully.

He leaned in too, our noses almost touching. “How is asking obvious questions supposed to—”

There was a cracking noise behind us, one I’d heard before. It was the sound of a gun cocking. “Don’t make a fucking move.” A breath lodged in my throat, my heart jumping as my muscles froze. Next to me, Charlie and Tuck had gone still as well. I only dared to move my eyeballs, right to Tuck, and then left to Charlie, and back to Tuck.

“Stand up nice and slow and show your hands.”

Tuck gave a small nod and then began rising, Charlie and I following suit. We all raised our hands in the air. “Now turn around and face me.” Oh God, oh God. We were going to be shot by the men tossing kids into a truck and carting them to these fenced-off warehouses. My true nightmare was about to begin. I clenched my eyes shut and turned to face the maniacs who were threatening us. With the light behind the fence, I couldn’t see the three men’s faces, just their shapes. They were big and muscular, and they had rifles that could mow us down if we tried to run.

“Hello, sir,” I squeaked. “Sirs, that is. We only—”

“As I live and breathe. Tucker Mattice? Is that you?”

My head whipped toward Tuck, and he shielded his eyes, squinting toward the biggest of the men who was standing in the middle. “Hosea Hardy?”

What the hell?

“Are you shittin’ me?” The man apparently named Hosea lowered his gun, and then gestured for the other men to do the same before he took a step toward Tuck. He let out a gruff laugh and then he grabbed Tuck, wrapping his arm around him as he gave him one of those man hugs that looked more like an attack than anything. But Tuck didn’t seem to mind, his laugh relaying delighted surprise.

“How the hell are you here?” Tuck asked.

“Man, I got transferred to Leavenworth, remember? It’s not far from here.”

“Yeah, hell yeah, I remember, but I thought you had a few years left.”