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They reached the end of the hall and opened the second-to-last cell A small woman came out and embraced Lyla

“I’ve got you, Patty,” Lyla said “We’re going to be all right now”

“I can’t believe this,” Patty said, sobbing with relief

She leaned on Lyla as they returned to the south stairwell Linc joined the the other prisoners up the stairs

Juan did a mental count and said to Lyla as she walked away, “That’s nineteen Are you sure about the number of prisoners?”

Over her shoulder, she said, “Yes”

While he unlocked the last cell, Raven put her ear to the north stairway door

“Anything?” Juan asked

“Not a peep,” Raven said

“I don’t like that”

“Neither do I”

Juan pulled the last door open and saw that the sht about the count

“Let’s clear out,” Juan said He waved Raven in front of hi the door behind them

They’d made it halfway to the safety of the stairhen Raven yelled, “Contact!”

He whipped around to see Eddie shove Lyla and Patty through the south stairwell door as shots rang out fro wall of the hallway The rounds barely missed the three before Eddie could close the door behind them