Sweat ran down the side of her face, and the black ribbed tank top she wore clung to her breasts. The coastal humidity and heat acted like a steam bath even when she was standing still. For the moment, all she could hear was the ragged gasps of her breath wheezing in and out of her straining lungs. And despite the retched stench of the waste beside her, she welcomed the respite from the chase. Where was Madison? She’d been right behind Reggie until now. The quiet of the alley was broken when pounding footsteps entered and raced toward her. Risking a stealthy glance around the hard metal corner of the Dumpster, Reggie confirmed the runner, and she reached out to snag her and pull her in beside her. “Can’t…stop.” Madison bent low, her shoulders heaving with the effort to fill her oxygen-starved lungs. “Breathe,” Reggie ordered, and tapped the miniature headset positioned inside her ear like a hearing aid. “Where the hell are Jordan and Mike?” “It’s…as…if…they disappeared.”
