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"The pantry off the kitchen There was a guy in the hall by the cafeteria exit"

"Shit"

The call dropped again So frustrating! I started focusing, trying to picture Bubba in my mind I could al froentle touch on my arm

With a jolt, Bubba popped into focus, as clear as if he was standing in front of my face I could even see the rooray sweats It was al softly into his phone "Do we have a plan, or do I i to do it this way He jerked, startled, then slid the phone into his pocket

Soht

How many?

Just one

Oneis tricky, and the sa havoc with cell calls would make it hard for them to find her Still, if they were s all the exits, and Bubba isn’t exactly unnoticeable

Want me to deal with him?

Yes Then put on an apron and a hairnet and take Michelle out the cafeteria door

It wouldn’t be h to make a watcher overlook hinaled for Michelle to stay in place, then slipped out of the pantry,his ears, I could hear the soft shuffle of steps, harsh breathing There was the crackle of a radio, and avoice said, "Have you found them yet?"

"No But I swear I saw theone out the fire exit I’ve been keeping it inTed down to back you up But we need to hurry We only have a two-minuteleft" I shuddered Even with the radio distortion I recognized that voice It was Suit Finn

"I know"

Bubba waited beside so stacked with pots and pans until the hunter stepped forward With brutal speed and zero hesitation, Bubba swept one arun to the floor as he threw a hard punch into the uy, built like a bodybuilder, but he fell like a sack of grain, too busy struggling to breathe around the swelling in his throat to worry about anything else

DUCK! Fred’s voice shouted in both our un he’d knocked froainst a pan right behind where his head had been Acid ate through the steel in less time than it took to draw a breath

Bubba didn’t spare tiun, he turned, aier three tih to put the skinny little spell slinger down

Bubba called to Michelle, who rushed out of the pantry to join him The two of them looked around quickly It took a few precious seconds, but they found a pair of aprons that had headgear in the pockets They had just gotten dressed when the radios the thugs wore crackled and Finn’s imperious voice said, "Jon, Ted, report"

The crackle of the static that followed that last word echoed behind Michelle and Bubba as they hurried out of the kitchen toward the cafeteria exit

Then my connection with theuided hirayish and cla a heart attack--I could hear it beating steadily in his chest But he’d badly overstrained his ic I’d been so worried about Bubba and Michelle I hadn’t really thought about how hard what Fred was doing would be on him

"Damn it, Fred!"

"You neededterrifyingly frail "Don’t tell Dottie"

"You think she won’t notice?" I snapped as I looked around I tried to re In the hospital with Dottie they’d given her fluids and carbohydrates I ran into the kitchen It was echoingly elass for water, no food in the cupboards Shit! No, wait There was a nutrition shake intrip and I didn’t want to risk getting vampity on the way I ran out to the truck fetch it

Fred was already breathing easier when I got back Once he’d drained the shake, his color began to improve

"Proave her the other day, she’ll never let me live it down And I’ll be fine, I just need to rest"

I scowled at hiood that she’d hauled out her bowl and atching us right now So I said the only thing I could think of that wouldht between ave a snort of acknowledged ry huot interrupted What are your ter this place?"