"Karsten is breaking the rules." I spoke slowly, carefully ordering my thoughts. "Everyone thinks this building is shut down, right? But inside we find gorilla security and a hidden lab. Shady."
As the words hit the air, I started to believe my own theory. Nothing else made sense. "And this secret experiment? Karsten is testing on freaking dogs. Dogs to be euthanized. Ever hear of trials like that on Loggerhead?"
Hi chewed his lower lip. Ben and Shelton looked, if not persuaded, at least like I'd created a crack.
"Karsten's running something secret," I pressed, convinced. "Off the grid. I doubt he'll ever report Coop missing. Coop's not supposed to be here in the first place."
"Where would we take him?" Shelton asked. "If he's got some doggy disease, we can't release him on the island or he'll infect the whole pack."
I'd thought of that. "The bunker. No one knows about it. We can nurse Coop there."
No response.
"We can at least give him a chance. Parvo isn't always fatal."
True, but without veterinary treatment the virus killed more times than not. I didn't say that. Caring for Coop wouldn't be easy, and there was no guarantee he'd pull through. Parvo had no known cure. I didn't say that, either.
Still nothing.
"I'm going to try." I crossed my arms and braced for opposition. "Will you help?"
Seconds passed. Five. Ten. Twenty.
"Okay." Ben first. Unexpected.
"Fine," said Shelton. "But I hope you're right, Tory. I'm not cut out for prison."
Hi muttered to himself. "Stupid, stupid, stupid!" Then, glancing up, "All right, but if we get caught, I'm blaming the whole thing on you three. I'll even make stuff up."
Tears welled. Thankfully, I kept control. "You guys are the best. I mean it."
"True," said Shelton. "But it's time to bounce."
Raiding the shelves, I shoved medical supplies into an empty plastic bag. Then I opened a small refrigerator and appropriated bags of intravenous fluid. I noticed three vials of antibiotics and swiped those as well.
Last, I grabbed a small animal carrier and lined the bottom with a spare lab coat. Best I could do to make the crate more comfortable.
Satisfied, I approached Coop's cell. The glass enclosure wasn't locked. When I pulled the handle the door released with a soft hiss.
I unhooked the drip bags from the stand, making sure not to disturb the lines. Coop would need fluids; best not to remove the tubes from his leg.
Finally, I opened the cage. Odd smells seeped from within. I switched to breathing through my mouth, reminding myself that Coop couldn't infect me.
As Ben lifted the dog, I arranged his collar and tubes. Together we placed him inside the carrier. Ben would be our pack-mule and carry Coop off the island.
Eyes closed, the puppy sprawled inside the crate, too tired to resist.
"Ready?" I asked.
"Ready." All three.
Right then, the alarm sounded.
CHAPTER 14
An ear-splitting wail pulsed through the building. I slammed the cage door and froze, hoping against hope the sound would stop.
No such luck. Blasts screamed at three-second intervals.
"We're screwed!" Hi sounded close to panic.
"Hold it together!" I snapped. "No one's seen us yet. We just have to get out!"
The alarm shrieked on and on.
"Move!" hissed Ben. "Quick and quiet, back the way we came."
Shelton streaked down the hallway. Ben followed, clutching Coop's carrier to his chest. I could have kissed him. I raced close behind, lugging the supply bag.
Last out, Hi pulled the metal door shut.
The blaring ceased.
My head whipped around.
"The electro-lock triggered the alarm," Hi said, chagrined. "We should've closed the door."
Too late for that now.
Hurrying to the staircase, I risked a quick glance out the second floor window. Rain was still falling. Water ran down the glass in tiny rivers and stood puddled in the courtyard.
My heart froze in my chest.
The alarm had registered in the security booth. Three-hundred-pound Carl was lumbering our way, sky-blue uniform already drenched.
"Carl's heading for the front steps!" I hissed.
"We're screwed," Hi repeated.
Ben took charge. "He'll check the main lab downstairs first. We hide on the stairs, wait till he passes, then bolt out the back." He looked at each of us in turn. "No noise. Got it?"
We did. And it worked. Carl waddled right by us, shedding water like a duck.
Out the back door, we skimmed the rear of the building. At the corner, I peeked around to check. The yard was empty.
Ben tied his jacket over Coop's crate to shield him from the downpour. We exchanged glances, bracing for a suicide sprint.
"Now!" I commanded.
We charged.
I slogged through ankle deep puddles, nearly losing my balance more than once. Lightening bolts slashed the sky, cutting bright streaks across my vision. I heard someone go down with a splash.
Arriving at the Turtle Beach gate, I spun and waved the others through. Hi. Ben and his cargo. Shelton, covered in mud. The boys snaked into the woods.
With shaking hands I closed the gate and slammed home the lock.