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Racing along the hallway, Romy hung on Patrick's arm and stared at the baby. She couldn't take her eyes off that pink, perfect little face.

"You weren't exaggerating, Patrick," Romy told him. "She is truly beautiful."Advertisement

Behind her, she heard Betsy say, "Skip the elevators and take that stairway at the far end of the hall." Then in a lower voice to Zero: "I need to talk to you about that baby."

The two of them fell behind as Romy and Patrick entered the stairwell and started down. On the ground floor they exited and found themselves at the doctor's entrance. Joanna and Madhuri were already there with what looked like an oversized clear-topped bread box on wheels.

"We took the elevator," Joanna said, eyes wide, "and we saw a SWAT guy in the lobby. He had 'FBI' on his back," Joanna said. "Are we in trouble?"

"They're not FBI," Romy told them, trying to keep the dread out of her voice. They mustnot get this baby. "They're dressed-up thugs."

Patrick passed the baby to Madhuri who kept her wrapped in her arms as they made the frigid pre-dawn dash across the near empty parking lot to Joanna's minivan. Patrick loaded the isolette into the rear while Romy helped Madhuri and the baby into the front seat.

As Joanna started the engine, Romy spotted Betsy hurrying their way. Behind her she saw Zero leaning against the brick wall outside the doctor's entrance. Her heart twisted. His posture was strange, as if he was sick.

"Is something wrong with Zero?" she asked Betsy as she arrived.

"He's a little upset. I don't have time to explain now. He can tell you. If you need us we'll be at - "

Romy raised a hand. "Don't say it. Better if we don't know. That way they can't make us tell."

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Betsy's face blanched. She nodded, then hugged Romy. "Get the hell out of here before they find you."

The three women and the baby roared off.

Romy watched for a few heartbeats, praying for the baby's survival, then Patrick was tugging on the sleeve of her scrubs.

"Romy. Let's move."

Zero reached the van a few seconds before they did. He pulled off his ski mask as he climbed into the rear seat, moving like an arthritic old man.

"Will you drive, Patrick?" he said in a voice barely above a whisper.

As they got moving, Romy turned in the passenger seat and looked back. Kek was in the far rear; Tome sat next to Zero who was staring at the floor in silence.

"What's wrong, Zero?"

"What?" he said, blinking and looking up at her. "What's wrong? Everything's wrong."

"Meaning?"

"Please don't ask me about it." The lost look in his yellow eyes constricted Romy's throat. "Not yet."

"Where are we going?" Patrick said as they shot out of the parking lot.

"To pay a visit to someone who has answers I need."

"Who?"

"Ellis Sinclair." pqdm.com