We ran. Or at least, everyone else ran. I did the best I could but the thing must have weighed two hundred pounds. It was like carrying a fully grown man, but not draped over my shoulders, concentrated into one small, awkward mass that I had to clutch to my chest. Now I knew why it hurt when I dropped it on my foot. I’d probably broken a toe and that didn’t help with the running, either.

Becker was halfway to us, now. And he didn’t have to catch us, he just had to be close enough to get a good shot. The others were nearly at the car but I was well behind, struggling and panting.

JD dropped back and grabbed my arm. “You okay?”

I nodded grimly. I knew he wanted to help but the case was too small, there just wasn’t room for two people to get their hands around it and carry it together. And we didn’t have time for me to pass it off to him. “Go,” I grunted. “Get her safe.”

He sped up, grabbed Erin by the hand and pulled her towards the car. She was looking back over her shoulder at me, worried. I gave her a nod. I’m fine, go!

I kept running. Falling snow was pelting me in the face but it did nothing to cool me down: my breathing was getting ragged and I was soaked with sweat.

The others reached the snowy bank that led up to the road and clambered up it. A shot rang out. It missed me, but it made me put everything I had into one final sprint, despite the pain in my foot. I pounded through the snow to the bank…

And found I couldn’t get up it. It was too steep and the snow was too slippery. I needed to use my hands, like JD, Erin and Yuri had done, and I couldn’t.

JD took a step towards me. But then another shot rang out, this one aimed at him, and he had to duck for cover. He still had Erin’s hand and she pulled against his grip. “We have to go back!” she yelled. JD pulled her towards the car and I recognized the protective need in his eyes because I felt the same thing. Yes, I willed her. Go with JD!

But Erin slipped free of his grip and raced down the bank to me. She grabbed my arm and started to help me up, ignoring my protests.

JD started towards us again but gunfire suddenly erupted from behind us, cutting across the ground between JD and us. I pulled Erin down behind a raised flower bed. JD had to duck behind the door of the car.