Emma leaned against the ladder. Dr. Woolf hugged Josh. His speech had persuaded her to help solve the climate problem and disobey Mom, and there he stood—with Josh. She put her hand over her chest. Was it worth it? Did it matter anymore?
She stared at them. They had the same strong jaw and dimpled chin, the striking hazel eyes. She cleared her throat and took a step toward them, but something about Josh’s slumped shoulders stopped her. He was telling his dad about his mom. She turned away, her head spinning.
Dean and Mo pushed and twisted the net.
“Damn you, Bill. I wish I’d never met you.” Mo kicked at him, but his foot was trapped.
“Bill was Chip’s friend, not mine, Officer.” Dean raised clasped hands to Larson. “I’ll tell you anything you need to know.”
“Yes, you will, but begging isn’t going to help you now.” Larson kept the gun trained on Bill, who mumbled nonstop under his breath.
She hadn’t expected the net to be so heavy, and now it held three grown men on the ground. Her throat tightened as Bill struggled to sit but fell back against Dean. She would have laughed, but it took all her energy to stand upright.
“You’re going back in the holding cell.” Larson said. “No storm to save you this time.”
She took a step and leaned against the wall. What was wrong with her legs?
“How’d they escape?” Josh asked.
“A tree fell in front of the truck, and a branch got lodged in the bumper. I hate to admit it, but I forgot to lock the back doors. This one knocked me out cold.” He pointed the gun at Bill.
She took a step, but her stomach rumbled, and she stopped.
“And Chip?” Josh asked.
“He made it to the coroner.” Larson glanced at Josh. “Wilbur’s working by generator, the whole hospital is. I’m out here trying to keep yahoos like these from stealing food and ki…”
Larson clenched his jaw and wiped his brow. “They won’t be hurting anyone else. I’m just sorry they came back here.”
“Nothing my son couldn’t handle. He’s a chip off his grandfather’s block.” Dr. Woolf gazed at his son.
Josh raised his eyebrows and shrugged.
Emma opened her mouth to speak. She shuffled forward, but the world spun as she fell.