A cord, tightly wound, lay in the corner. She grabbed it, her hand shaking. She’d found it. Turning, she hurried out of the hidden room in time to see her father’s eyes flutter shut. Jory dropped him to the ground and staggered back. Chance stood to the side, his face white, his mouth open. “You killed him.” Wonder filled the kid’s voice as if he couldn’t quite believe anybody could kill the commander. “He’s dead. I mean, he’s really dead.” Hope now pushed away the wonder. Jory turned around, blood flowing from his side. Piper’s feet remained rooted, and she held up the cord. “I found it.” Her gaze went to her obviously dead father. What? How? She blinked several times, and cold burst through her chest. Her vision fuzzed, and she swayed, disoriented. Dead. He was really dead. Chance jumped for her and grabbed the cord.
