“Andy Dean is unconscious, and they just left with him. He’ll need surgery. His wife is unconscious, and until they can stabilize her, they’ll probably put her in medically induced coma. But Ashley rolled under the bed. She received two good whacks, but she’s conscious. She’s in pain, but we’re getting her to the hospital ASAP. Be brief, because we’ll be rushing her into Emergency.”

As if to verify his words, the ambulance revved into gear.

“How did she get help?” Dan asked the EMT.

“Smart kid—had her cell phone with her. We arrived about fifteen minutes before you. Once the call was received, it went out to every agency and to Special Agent Axel Tiger. As far as I know, he was in an interrogation with a suspect and another of his team took the call, but you guys got here almost as fast as we did.”

“We hurried,” Dan said. The ambulance swayed as it took a corner.

“So, I guess you didn’t get him,” the EMT said, looking at Dan sorrowfully.

“We got one. And it isn’t just a him, it’s a them,” Dan explained.

The EMT was shaking his head. He was young, about twenty-five, but had a dignified manner.

“I have a wife. And kids. A two-year-old son and an infant daughter. The Axeman killed a baby. You’ve gotta stop them.”

“We will,” Dan vowed. “And we need every bit of help. This isn’t an immortal being returned to earth. It’s a group of sick people. We will get them all.”

Still solemn, the EMT nodded. The ambulance hit a bump, bouncing Dan sideways a step. The EMT indicated Dan could take the little seat by Ashley Dean.

An IV dripped fluids into her.

Her eyes were closed. Dan gently took her hand. “Ashley, my name is Dan Oliver. Your courage is amazing. I know you’re in pain. And I know you’re worried about your brother and sister-in-law. But you were smart. You got help out here quickly and may have saved your own life and theirs. And I’m so sorry to bother you, but if there’s anything you can give me, we need to know.”

“The Axeman,” she said.

“Yes, a man came in with an axe—”

“He was big. My brother had opened the door to get the paper. He’s old fashioned and gets a physical copy delivered. He...he forgot to lock the door. But it was daytime. He walked back up to the bedroom with coffee and then... I guess the man came in behind him. I heard Jillian scream, and I rushed in, and my brother... Andy lying in a pool of blood. The man was going after Jillian. He saw me. He attacked me, but I fell, and he hit me again, and I rolled so he couldn’t get me... My phone was in my pocket. I dialed 9-1-1.”