The smell of gunpowder still hung thick in the air as EMTs rushed into the building. Flashing red and blue lights danced across the broken concrete walls, mixing with the haze of white smoke that refused to settle.
Courtney refused to let go of Arron's hand. "Stay with me. Please, Arron… stay with me."
An EMT gently placed a hand on her shoulder. "Ma'am, we need to move him."
Courtney shook her head, gripping tighter. Tears fell off her chin onto the torn fabric of Arron's pant leg.
Steve moved beside her. "Courtney… I promise you, he's not leaving without you. But they need to help him now."
Her lip trembled, but she finally released Arron's hand. The EMTs slid him onto a stretcher, stabilizing his leg and checking his vitals.
"He's got significant trauma to the surgical site," one EMT said. "Possible fracture. Elevated heart rate. He needs to be in the ER immediately."
They wheeled Arron toward the exit, Courtney following close behind.
Jaime knelt beside Jose—Keith now that the truth was out—who was nearly unconscious. His face was grey, drenched in sweat. His breathing was shallow, and his pulse thready.
"Sir, can you hear me?"
He barely opened his eyes. "My… kids… tell them… I tried…"
"You'll tell them yourself," Jaime said firmly. "Stay with me."
Jennifer was still tied to her chair, shaking uncontrollably as she stared at Ron and Ashley's bodies sprawled across the floor. A pool of dark blood spread slowly beneath them.
"I didn't… I didn't think they'd actually do this…" she whispered. "I thought it was just threats. I thought—"
Steve had to cut her loose himself because her hands were trembling too hard to move. "Jennifer, save it for the station. We're taking your statement."
She nodded shakily, unable to stop crying.
The EMTs carried Keith out next, his head lolling to the side, lips mumbling a name that only Steve heard:
"Sue…"
Steve's jaw tightened. "You'll get justice," he whispered, though he wasn't sure if Keith could still hear him.
Police officers began clearing the room. Cameras flashed. Evidence bags snapped open and closed. Radios echoed with sharp commands.
But through all the chaos, Steve's mind was somewhere else.
Katie.
He needed to get back to her. He needed to keep her safe.
Because if Ron and Ashley had planned all this…
Someone else might still be out there.
---
Back at Courtney's house, Katie paced the living room, wringing her hands. Every single sound outside made her jump. Every car door, every bark from a neighbor's dog.
Mark sat on the couch, trying to stay calm for both of them. "Katie… sit down. You're shaking."
"I can't." Katie kept pacing. "I can't sit. What if Steve wasn't in time? What if Arron—what if Courtney—what if—"
Mark stood and gently grabbed her shoulders. "Katie. Listen to me. Steve won't let anything happen to them. He's the best cop we have."
Katie swallowed hard. "But he's just one man…"
Before Mark could respond, the house phone rang.
They both froze.
Katie's breath hitched. "Mark… what if—"
He moved first, grabbing the receiver. "Hello?"
A familiar voice came through.
"Mark, it's Steve." His tone was low but steady. "Put Katie on."
Mark handed the phone to her with shaking hands.
Katie pressed it to her ear. "Steve?"
"Katie, listen to me." His voice softened just a little. "Arron and Courtney are alive. They're on their way to the hospital right now."
Katie collapsed into the chair, sobbing in relief. "Oh thank God… thank God…"
"But," Steve continued, "I need you to stay put. Don't leave Courtney's house. Do you understand me? This isn't over yet."
Katie's tears slowed. "What do you mean… not over?"
Steve hesitated.
"Katie… Ron and Ashley weren't the only ones involved. I don't know who else was part of this, but I can promise you this—someone else out there knew exactly where they were holding your brother."
The room felt suddenly colder.
Mark sat beside her, their knees touching.
Katie whispered, "Steve… am I in danger?"
There was a long, heavy silence on the line.
Then finally—
"…I don't know."
Katie's fingers tightened around the phone.
"When can I see Arron?"
"As soon as the doctors stabilize him," Steve said. "I'll come get you myself. But until then—lock every door. Keep the curtains closed. And answer the phone only if it's me or Jaime."
"Okay," she whispered.
"And Katie?"
"Yeah?"
"You saved him today. If you hadn't remembered the tracker, we never would've found that building."
She wiped a tear. "I just want my family back."
Steve exhaled, the exhaustion clear in his voice. "I know. And we're going to get through this. All of us."
He hung up.
Katie set the phone down slowly. Mark wrapped an arm around her shoulders and let her cry into him.
But even as she cried…
A chilling thought pricked the back of her mind.
If Ron and Ashley were dead…
Who sent the text earlier?
Who followed them?
Who wanted her to "come alone"?
Who was still out there?
She didn't know.
But one thing was certain—
The night wasn't done with them yet.