Kayla followed Steve and Bo down a staircase. She marveled at the way the entire floor had disappeared.
"This is why the cops didn't find anything," Bo muttered. Steve nodded.
"Look, we have to move fast, but we also need to be careful," Steve said. "I don't think there's anyone else down here, but I don't know for sure."
He led them into a dark room filled with computer and video equipment. Bo whistled as he took in the monitors that showed the refinery. "Wow," he said.
"Hey," Steve said, a bit abruptly. "You can play tech geek later. Right now, we've got a job to do." He motioned to a doorway on the other side of the room. "Shane's down this way."
There was a light ahead that she could tell was coming from a larger room. She heard someone shout - a voice that sent chills down her spine.
"Stop it!" Lawrence yelled.
Bo and Steve exchanged looks. Kayla understood their confusion.
"Why won't you die?" Lawrence cried.
Kayla felt both relief and fear. The relief was that Lawrence must be talking to Shane, which meant he was still alive. The worry was that it sounded like Lawrence had control, which meant the toxin must be affecting Shane.
"Hurry," she said in an urgent whisper.
They neared the door as Lawrence told Shane he was wrong. Steve raised his left hand and held a finger to his lips. In his right hand, he raised the gun. He peeked through the doorway, but Kayla could not see past him and Bo into the room. But she could still hear Lawrence.
"If nothing else, Donovan, I can still kill you."
No!
Steve rushed forward, allowing Kayla to see inside, and yelled something. Across the room, Lawrence had a gun aimed at Shane. At Steve's yell, Lawrence spun toward the door.
"Get down!" Bo yelled. He pushed Kayla to the ground.
In the underground bunker, the gunshots were almost deafening. Kayla could not make out how many shots there were, but she heard bullets strike the wall above her.
And then there was silence.
Kayla grimaced under Bo's weight. She looked up and saw that he was looking down at her with concern in his eyes.
"You okay?" he asked.
"Other than you on top of me?" Kayla asked. Bo flushed and pulled away from her. As he did, Kayla tried to assess her condition. She didn't feel any pain, which meant she probably was okay. Bo was still watching her, so she nodded. "I'm okay. You?"
"Fine," Bo said, sounding relieved. He sat up and turned. "Oh!"
Kayla knew by his tone that something was wrong. She looked up into the room.
God, no! she screamed silently.
Steve was slumped against the wall where he had fallen. His head lolled to the side and his left arm hung limply. She could see blood pooling beneath his arm.
"Steve!" she shrieked. She jumped to her feet and raced toward him. She heard Bo behind her, but her focus was entirely on Steve.
He has to be okay, she begged. He had just come home. They had a baby on the way. Please, she prayed silently. Please let him be okay.