to surface in his eyes as he released his hold on Betty. “They’re rioting,” he warned Gabriel.
“Well, as you said, we’re not killing anyone.”
Jeremiah frowned and glanced at his wife, then Jean, then back at Gabriel. “And like you
said, we’ll do whatever’s necessary.”
Inwardly, Gabriel chuckled at Jeremiah’s about-face on the issue, but told him, “Use a gun
on the most vocal one first. That ought to buy some time.”
Jeremiah kissed his wife, then made his way through the throngs of people to whisper
those instructions in the ears of the nearest guards. One of the guard’s eyes widened in shock,
and he quickly glanced at Gabriel, who nodded.
A roar of male voices sounded behind the door of Room 2, followed by the wails of women
who had at first rejected the plan, but now begged to be let into Room 3. Gabriel was certain
that his offer was a lot more promising to them than going back home with a man who was
sure to hurt them for keeping secrets. Gabriel looked up in time to see Jeremiah and one of
the guards run from the room. Their shadows flickered for brief seconds in the small glass
windows before disappearing altogether.
Moments later, two shots rang out, and for a moment all was quiet. Then chaos ensued in
all three rooms. With a nod from Gabriel, the guards in Room 3 pulled angry men away from
their wives, who stood steadfast along the wall. Gabriel signaled to Jean, who motioned for
the women in Room 3 to branch out into the anteroom and prepare to load up.
The children ran in from the brightly lit area outside. Their mothers gathered around them;
some held their offspring to their bosoms. Others were trembling with fear.
Gabriel gestured to Jean, who made her way to him with quick, sure steps.
She cast a wary glance toward the children.
“It’s all right, sweetheart,” he said to her unspoken question. “We’ll leave a single car of
our men behind. They’ll unlock all of the doors when they know we’re at a safe distance.”
“Everything’s ready. We leave now,” Jeremiah commanded.
“Have some of our men go out and disable the cars and slash the tires,” Gabriel said. Then
he lowered his voice so Jean couldn’t hear. “The minute that last bus turns the corner, have
the guards hold the people for about thirty minutes, then burn this building to the ground.”
Gabriel went back to Jean, who had rounded up everyone and aimed them in the direction
of the buses. “Make sure the other children make it around to the foyer.”
Jean moved forward, beckoning for Cleopha and Betty to come help. The clatter of broken
glass accentuated the need for swift movement. Though the windows were too small for
anyone to climb out, it wouldn’t keep them from trying.
“So what about you?” a sultry-voiced woman asked from behind Gabriel. “It’s obvious
that there are more of us than all those good-looking men out there.” Lucille gave Gabriel a
thorough onceover. “Are we expected to share?”
54 | NKLC Magazine