Allie rubbed her face tiredly. ‘The drivers. Isabelle said the drivers were all Nathaniel’s guards. That’s how they got in. They walked in together, in a crowd. It caused such chaos they couldn’t keep track.’
‘And one of them was Nathaniel.’ Sylvain said bitterly. ‘It’s so brazen – it’s just his style.’
‘They didn’t get a chance to count them in and out, then.’ Carter’s jaw tightened. ‘Some of them could still be in the building.’
‘That’s why Isabelle said we had to stay down here,’ Allie said.
‘I don’t care. We have to get out of here.’ Jumping up, Zoe threw the stick across the cellar. It bounced off something in the shadows and hit the floor with a thud. ‘We have to tell Raj about Rachel. He’ll know what to do.’
Pressing her fingertips against her forehead, Allie tried to make herself think. ‘Should we tell him, though?’
The others stared.
‘Of course we have to tell him, Allie,’ Nicole said. ‘She’s his daughter.’
Do not bring Raj Patel or Isabelle or any of the instructors or guards…
Thinking of Nathaniel’s words, Allie felt cold inside, as if ice water ran through her veins instead of blood. But she had to stay focused. For Rachel.
‘He’ll want to run out there to fight Nathaniel,’ she said. ‘And if he does that, Rachel will die.’
Sylvain and Carter exchanged a look.
‘What do you think?’ Sylvain asked.
‘I don’t know…’ Carter sounded worried.
‘He’s tactical.’ Sylvain reminded him. ‘Always tactics.’
‘Yeah, but this is his daughter,’ Carter said.
Allie looked back and forth between them as they worked it out. They knew Raj better than she did. Better than any of the students. They’d been working with him nearly every day for months.
‘Even then’ – Sylvain’s voice was firm – ‘he believes in strategy. He’ll be able to handle it.’
After a second, Carter nodded and turned to Allie.
‘Sylvain’s right. We should trust Raj. He’s too smart to just rush out without thinking it through, even if it’s Rachel. He’ll help us plan.’
Allie held Sylvain’s gaze. ‘You’re certain?’
He didn’t hesitate. ‘I’m positive.’
She trusted him. ‘Then let’s get Raj.’
First, though, someone had to get out of the cellar.
‘Isabelle says the cellar is safe because Raj’s guards are all around it – they know we’re down here,’ Allie explained. ‘If they’re around us there must be some way to find them.’
Zoe looked around the circle. ‘Let me do it.’
Everyone objected at once, their voices making an echoed cacophony, but Zoe held up her hands. Her determination made her face look more grown up.
‘Look, I’m small and fast. I won’t go into the main buildings. I’ll search the stairwells and corridors – all the places they could be guarding. I’ll find them.’
‘No!’ They all said it together.
Her face reddening, Zoe glared at them. ‘I could do this better than you. Do not forbid me just because I’m young and a girl.’
A heavy silence followed.
Carter gave in first. ‘I think we should let her.’
Allie’s chest tightened. ‘Carter, no…’
‘She’s faster than any of us.’ Nicole took his side.
‘Sylvain…’ Allie appealed to him, but, although his expression was sympathetic, he shook his head.
‘I agree with the others.’
After a quick discussion about where she should go, Zoe leaped to her feet to head towards the stairs but, as she did so, Sylvain caught her arm. Pulling her closer, he whispered something to her.
Her small face serious, she nodded. Then as Allie watched, helpless to stop her, she ran into the shadows.
After she left, the atmosphere developed a kind of claustrophobic emptiness. Time seemed to stretch – the hands of Allie’s watch slowed.
To keep herself calm, Allie walked the borders of the ancient cellar. It was never used for any purpose any more, and held only a few old trunks and some long-forgotten stacks of bricks. Dim light came from a few old wall sconces, so yellowed and dirty the few bulbs that did work emitted only a weak, flickering glow.
She glanced around to see what the others were doing. Nicole was talking to Emma in a low voice. Carter stood at the foot of the stairs like a sentinel, his hands in his pockets, his expression unreadable. Sylvain stood with his back against the wall, lost in thought.
By now it must be getting dark outside. She thought of Rachel, alone with Nathaniel and Gabe. Helpless. Terrified.
A sob welled in her throat and she forced it back – she needed to stay focused.
She shoved her hands into the pockets of her skirt, and her fingers encountered the sheet of blood-spattered paper Nathaniel had left for her.
Pulling it out she unfolded it carefully and read it again, frowning at each word.
Suddenly she straightened. As if she’d made a sound, Sylvain turned and cast an enquiring look at her.
She held out the note. ‘I think I know what we have to do.’
THIRTY-THREE
They were all sitting in a cluster, sketching out Allie’s idea in the dust on the floor when the sudden clatter of heavy boots on the stairs jarred them into instant action. Leaping to their feet they ran together to the foot of the stairs.
Carter looked pale but determined; his jaw set. Beside him, Nicole seemed less tense. She held a thick board in one hand like a police truncheon and Allie got the feeling she’d relish the chance to use it. Allie and Sylvain stood on opposite sides of the cellar entrance; Allie held a brick in her hand.
The men who burst out of the stairwell wore the black uniforms of Raj’s guards but nobody cared. They all knew clothes meant nothing any more.
‘Does anyone know them?’ Carter called out, his voice urgent.
The others’ response was immediate. ‘No.’
It was all the invitation Nicole needed. She swung the board with all her strength, hitting the first man in the gut. He grunted in surprise and pain. Allie lunged forward with a brick in her hand.
‘Stand easy!’ Raj’s disembodied voice caught her in mid-stride – the brick tumbled from her fingers. She spun round in confusion as he stepped out of the narrow corridor, Zoe bounding at his side. ‘They’re the good guys.’
His clothes were muddy and new lines had appeared on his face, but he did not look defeated.
As Nicole offered an apologetic hand to the wounded man, Allie walked slowly over to Rachel’s father. How could she tell him what happened? What words were there in the world to explain how she felt?
But he didn’t wait for her to speak. He pulled her into a hug. ‘I know what happened.’ His voice was rough. ‘We’ll get her back.’
‘I’m so sorry, Mr Patel.’ Tears burned the backs of Allie’s eyes as she stood stiffly in his arms. ‘It’s my fault.’
‘No, it isn’t.’ He held her at arm’s length so she could see the determination in his face. ‘This is Nathaniel’s fault. And when we find him I’m going to make sure he knows exactly how I feel about that.’ As he spoke, his eyes changed. Suddenly he looked predatory; dangerous.
As quickly as the look appeared, though, it faded, and he glanced around the room, in complete control. ‘Everyone OK?’
They all nodded.
‘Can I see the note, Allie?’ Raj held out his hand.
For a second she hesitated. A few weeks ago, she wouldn’t have let anyone see this note. She would have run out there to try and get Rachel all on her own. And Rachel probably would have died.