Neve slid back the shower curtain and kneeled in front of Lily. “Listen, honey. I know this seems really strange. But we’re doing all this to protect you and William from getting hurt.”

“Including drugging you,” Quincy said.

“You,” Neve said, again displaying her pistol. “See if you can quietly get that window open.”

“That’s your exit strategy? I couldn’t begin to get my fat ass through there.”

“Wouldn’t that be a loss. Now move,” she said.

As Quincy grumbled something about bleach while inspecting the window, Neve leaned on the counter, tapping the countertop and trying to listen through the door.

“You can end this right now, you know,” William said. “You have no proof that my grandmother sent you. Just let us leave and go with that officer. He’s just a local cop; he’s here on a nuisance call. No one has to get hurt.”

“You don’t get it, do you?” she said. “Even after everything you’ve seen. You go with that cop, and eventually you and this extraordinary girl would end up in federal custody, which means no one will ever see you again. They’ve seen what she can do. They’ll take her away forever, get it? We’re trying to keep that from happening.”

“All I’m worried about now is that no one gets hurt, and you have filled this room with guns. I swear to you that I will make it clear we were not harmed by you—”

“Just shut up,” she said, and then forced herself to calm, looking at Lily. “I shouldn’t have said that honey, we’re all just a bit stressed right now. I need everyone to stay quiet. Please. No more talking. And get that window open.”

For several minutes, they watched Quincy struggle. The window, coated in years of grime, clearly hadn’t been opened for some time.

“It’s stuck,” Quincy said.

“Help him,” Neve said, motioning with her chin.

William slid by the woman. “Take that corner, and I’ll do this one. On the count of three.”

As they both pushed, the window slammed open so roughly that the glass cracked.

“Nice place you chose here,” Quincy said, peering outside. “Even nicer view of the alley. Is this where your ride is coming?”

“Is it big enough for us all to get through?”

“If I really sucked in my gut,” Quincy said.

“You’re the least of my concerns. Now we wait.”

Lily moved over to where William sat on the edge of the bathtub. Quincy unrolled a ridiculous amount of tissue and spread it out on the toilet lid, wincing as he sat.

“How much you guys going to ask in your ransom?” Quincy asked.

“I’m serious about shutting the hell up.” Neve came to lean on the door frame. “I need to hear—”