The officer was gone.

Only Daniel remained, slumped against the wall, his face covered in soot.

“Morgan,” he wheezed, his hand reaching out.

“They have her.”

I pushed myself up, ignoring the pain in my shoulder.

I looked at the phone screen, then at the open window.

The siren was getting closer, but it was still too far away.

I knew what I had to do.

I grabbed my weapon from the floor.

I stepped over the broken glass and lunged through the open window into the pouring rain.

The mud gave way under my boots as I ran toward the road.

Ahead of me, the tail lights of a dark sedan faded into the mist.

I raised my phone, trying to get a signal as the rain lashed against my face.

The screen flashed.

One bar of service appeared.

My thumb pressed the call button for the tactical operations center.

The line clicked.

“This is Captain Morgan,” I shouted over the wind.

“I have a code-red scenario.”

“The target has the asset.”

“I need an immediate intercept on Oakcrest Drive.”