Chapter 30

“Get off him!” Williams screamed, behind Joe. Williams hit Joe again, this time, on the head, and Joe’s arms weakened from the force of the blow. He fell over Lebeau, but something inside him wouldn’t quit, and he scrambled to stand, trying to see Dubois.

Where was he? Where was he?

Johnson was still yelling, and Lebeau was spitting blood. Guards came rushing into the room; Joe was jerked to his feet by strong, angry arms. Blood was in his eyes. He couldn’t see straight. He was pushed, shoved, shackled. “Dubois, where’s Dubois?” His throat was crushed. “Dubois,” he groaned again.

“Shut up,” a guard said. There was chaos all around him, and Joe couldn’t see Dubois anywhere. Williams was angrily shouting lies about what had happened, and Joe was led out into the hall, escorted by two guards he didn’t know well. “You almost broke Johnson’s arm,” one of them said. “You’re gonna cool off in the hole, Vega.”

No. No. He couldn’t be down there again.