All I've Ever Wanted - Adrianne Byrd [75]
Max rushed over to her.
Mason followed. “Wait, we have to call for backup.”
Kennedy grunted as she strained to open the latch.
Max laid his hand against her shoulder. “Baby, maybe he’s right about this one.”
She ignored the men and lowered herself into the dark hole.
“Dammit,” Max and Mason swore in unison.
“Kennedy, wait,” Max called, then scrambled down after her.
Mason struggled with what he should do, then resolved himself to following Kennedy and Max.
Kennedy moved slowly through the dark tunnel with her hands stretched out before her. With any luck, maybe she could feel her way to the basement.
“Good Lord, what is that smell?” Max asked.
“If I were you, I wouldn’t ask questions you really don’t want to know the answer to,” Mason said as he pulled up the rear.
Kennedy smiled. “I’m happy you two decided to join me.”
“That makes one of us,” Max countered.
“Amen,” Mason agreed.
Alice couldn’t figure out how to relock the latch from inside the fallout shelter.
“Maybe we can just stay in here.” Tommy glanced around and saw shelves packed with dusty canned items. At least they had light in this room. He pivoted around again. The room was actually kind of neat.
“My great-grandpa built this thing?”
Alice smiled with pride. “He sure did.”
“Wow. He must have been real smart, huh?”
She nodded and then reached down to pinch his cheek. “I think I see a little bit of him in you.”
Tommy’s smile widened. “Really?”
“Yes. Really.”
“Cool.”
“We better keep going. I can’t figure out how to get this latch locked,” she said.
“Do we have to? It’s dark out there.”
“I know, sweetheart, but we’re not too far from the exit. We have to go call the police.”
“Are they going to put the bad man in jail?” he asked with hope in his voice.
“You bet they are.”
“Okay. Then let’s go.”
Hand in hand, they started to move toward the opposite end of the shelter, but a loud screeching sound from the exit door stopped them.
Tommy jumped and hid behind his great-grandmother’s leg while she swallowed a scream of terror.
Kennedy gave the steel door another push, and then yelped in alarm when she fell through to the other side.
“It’s Mommy!” Tommy shouted, then sprinted over to his mother.
Kennedy exploded with relief. “Tommy!” Her arms opened in time to receive her son. “I’m so happy to see you.”
Alice breathed a sigh of relief. “I swear, Kennedy. My old heart can’t take too much more excitement.”
“Are you sure about that?”
Alice, Kennedy and Tommy jumped at the sound of Keenan’s voice, their hearts pounding at the sight of his gun.
Keenan’s sly smile grew confident. “Don’t tell me I just stumbled onto one of those mushy family reunions.”
Kennedy pushed Tommy behind her.
“I’m so happy you could join us, Kennedy. I was just beginning to think that you wouldn’t be able to make it.”
“Please. Let them go. I’m the one you really want.”
“I’m sorry, but I can’t do that,” Keenan answered with a firm shake of his head. “You know, it just occurred to me that you three are the last surviving members of Lieutenant St. James’s family.”
“You’re despicable,” Alice hissed.
Keenan swung his aim in the older woman’s direction. “I think I’ll do you first.”
“No!” Kennedy shouted, jumping to her feet.
Keenan’s eyes widened as he swung the gun back in her direction and fired.
Max and Mason burst through the small portal door.
“Freeze!” they shouted in unison. Keenan, however, was unable to respond. His aim missed its mark as Kennedy hurled her small but determined body into him.
The gun flew out of Keenan’s hand and landed without another discharge.
Kennedy pounded Keenan with her fist until she drew blood.
Alice raced to comfort Tommy.
Max raced over and pulled Kennedy off Keenan.
“It’s a shame we had to stop her.” Mason holstered his gun and handcuffed a dazed Keenan.
“Especially when she’s doing such a wonderful job.”
“Tell me about it.”
It took Max a while to calm Kennedy down. Even after they