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"Yes, we’re fine, I proed to land soft, and rolled All the padding we’re wearing kept us froh "What happened, do you know?"

"When Dane and I went in, the roout it was a setup even before I saw the device--sitting on the side table, red light blinking right at us--and we got out of there"

"Which ot out of that roo Pinky with them They would have had a remote detonator, a timer, or some kind of trip device"

Connie said, "They had it all planned out I’ll bet you anything they used Ruth’s primo snitch to set us up She’ll rip out his pointed canines"

Savich said, "That sounds right We need to find Rolly, Connie, really get in his face Put out an APB for him We need to nail him as soon as possible"

Connie said as she jerked out her cell, "I’ll track hiotten out before we ever got here, Dillon They could have cut through the bathroo is so cheaply built, or maybe they just slipped out the backin the dark and Dykes didn’t see theot here"

Savich said, "Have Police Chief Tuh the woods and see what they can find They obviously stashed another car or van somewhere There’s an access road that runs behind the woods to the east" But he kneas too late They were long gone, enjoying the that the cops outside the motel were dead or injured That he was dead Savich looked over at the old Chevy van It was flattened under s for Moses Grace and Claudia See who you can roust Dane called nine-one-one, so the fire department should be here soon"

"Yes, I’m on it Connie called nine-one-one, too, and probably every other deputy here You swear to ht, Dillon?"

He couldn’t believe it, but he grinned into his wrist unit He had been more scared for Sherlock than for hi"

He turned to Dane "At least we’re not freezing to death any white teeth "Wasn’t that a kick A well-thought-out plan, except for that slitch They wanted you, Savich I wonder if they saw us jump or if they think you’re dead"

Twenty minutes later, Savich stood in front of as left of Hooter’s Motel, watching the fire hoses douse the last of the fla out black s up little spurts of flaet very close The old building had gone up quickly He’d had Chief Tumi send two deputies to find the owner, and at thattoward hi white and dazed Savich wanted to kick the man into the frozen ditch where he and Dane had sheltered after the explosion He heard Dykes say to himself, "Those bastards Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, this wasn’t supposed to happen I’ when Marlene finds out"