Chapter 7 - LOCKED DOWN AND CORNEREDRachel’s cruiser screeched to a halt directly across from the precinct steps, the doors flying open before the transmission even locked into park. Elena tumbled out behind her, ignoring her injuries, driven purely by raw maternal terror.
“Lily! My babies!” Elena gasped, stumbling toward the front entrance.
“Stay behind me, Elena!” Rachel commanded, drawing her sidearm and checking the chamber. She tapped her radio. “Control, this is Officer Brooks. We have an unauthorized breach at the front lobby. Suspect is inside. Code Red! Lock all interior security bulkheads!”
A harsh, mechanical click echoed through the entire building as the heavy steel fire doors dropped automatically, sealing the upper holding cells and administrative wings from the ground floor. But the main lobby and the ground-floor bullpen where Lily and Leo were resting were outside the primary security perimeter.
Rachel kicked open the side service door, moving in low with her weapon raised, Elena right behind her like a shadow.
The lobby was deathly quiet. Officer Jenkins was slumped over the front desk, breathing shallowly, a pool of blood forming around his arm.
“Jenkins!” Rachel hissed, rushing over to press her hand against his wound while keeping her eyes fixed on the corridor leading to the children's resting area. “Hang on, EMS is right behind us.”
“He... he went through... holding,” Jenkins whispered, coughing up blood. “The kids... he’s got the kids.”
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Elena let out a harrowing, inhuman scream that tore straight through the heart of the precinct. She didn't wait for backup; she sprinted down the hallway toward the back bullpen, her bare feet slapping hard against the linoleum floor.
“Elena, no! Get back!” Rachel yelled, scrambling after her.
