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Back Run, Hide, Fight Back Save as PDF
Chapters (62)
  1. Title Page
  2. Copyright Notice
  3. Dedication
  4. Map
  5. Newspaper Extract
  6. Survive
  7. One Hundred Miles
  8. So Many and So Fast
  9. Start to Die
  10. Fish in a Barrel
  11. Because of the Blood
  12. Can’t be Real
  13. Waiting to Die
  14. Panic
  15. None of Them
  16. Trapped
  17. Video Game
  18. Like Her Life Depends on It
  19. Before He Sees Us
  20. It’s Your Lucky Day
  21. Just a Shell
  22. The World’s Best Reality Show
  23. How Long
  24. No Matter What Happens
  25. The One Who Decides
  26. What You Need to Do
  27. One Last Time
  28. The Biggest Secret Ever
  29. What They Want Me to Believe
  30. Who He Really Is
  31. People Like You
  32. I Believe She Is Saying
  33. Wake Up
  34. We Told You What Would Happen
  35. Slowly, Slowly
  36. Everything Is Under Control
  37. Come with Me
  38. The Last Thing They’d Expect
  39. They Can’t Shoot All of Us
  40. Go Down Swinging
  41. Not Running Away
  42. If You’re Going to Lie
  43. Every Rattle and Click
  44. Infinitesimal
  45. No Safe Place
  46. I Didn’t Know
  47. Straight to the Source
  48. Nothing but the Breathing
  49. Anything Other Than Killing
  50. You Honestly Believed
  51. Three Inches Away
  52. Not Anymore
  53. Refusing to Crack
  54. On the Trigger
  55. Over
  56. All Too Much
  57. Together, We Can Make a Difference
  58. A Note From the Author
  59. Other Mysteries by April Henry
  60. Honors for April Henry
  61. About the Author
  62. Newsletter Sign-up

“We’re all trapped between the doors and that security gate they pulled across. One of them is inside the gate, and two are outside. All of them have automatic rifles. They made some people press up against the doors, facing out. It’s supposed to make the police think twice about coming in.” Parker looks at the guy’s shaved head and the jacket straining against his biceps. “Are you a cop?”

“No.” He doesn’t offer any other explanation.

“What’re you going to do? You have to stop them before they kill anyone else.”

The other man answers through gritted teeth. “Be realistic. If I go out there, I’ll just get mowed down. I might get one—or maybe, if I’m really lucky, two—but there’s at least three of them.” He shakes his head. “I’m going to stay put. This way, I control the space, not them. And if anyone comes in, I’ll be the one who decides who lives or dies.” He nudges the back of Parker’s head with the side of the gun. “So go on, get out of here. And good luck finding your sister. If I were you, once you do, I would try and find your own space to hide. Out there, you’re just one of the herd. And they’re looking for animals to cull.”

4:24 p.m.

SKINNER: Oh Jesus God, he’s making all the male hostages lie down on the floor on their bellies in a line.

DISPATCH: How many hostages?

SKINNER: About a dozen. I think he’s going to kill them. Like an execution!

DISPATCH: 68, RP says one gunman is making male hostages lie down. He thinks they’re planning to execute them.

UNIT 68: We need the Crisis Negotiation Team stat.

DISPATCH: Copy.

What You Need to Do

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO

4:24 P.M.

When Miranda’s phone buzzes, she jerks. It’s her dad. In her chest, a bubble of hope expands. If anyone can fix this mess, it’s him. He travels all over the world. He buys failing businesses and turns them around. He’s even had dinner alone with the president. Twice.

She forgets to whisper. “Daddy?”

“Shh!” Amina puts her finger against her lips. Javier holds up a cautioning hand. Cole frowns. Only Grace seems unconcerned.

“Honey! Where are you? Are you all right? Did you get out?”

She has been holding it together until now. But at the sound of his voice, her head fills with water. Her heart feels squeezed by a fist.

For a moment, she can’t speak at all. Finally, she manages a strangled whisper. “No. I’m still in Culpeppers. I mean, we are. There’s five of us, including me.”

“Let me talk for a second to whoever’s in charge.”