Assured he’d done what was needed, Hastiin Sani rummaged in his pocket for matches and set the list on fire, holding it until the last second, then letting it fall to the floor. It burned another few seconds, then he stirred up the ashes with his shoe, making certain nothing remained intact to read. “Now let’s hurry and finish up with those boards before the man reaches into his pocket and discovers what happened.”

They worked hard, managing to pull another board loose. It looked as if she’d be able to make it out now, and maybe him as well if he maneuvered through sideways. She looked at him, and he nodded, signaling her to go through first. Just then, they both heard footsteps right outside the door.

Hastiin Sani reached through the hole they’d made and pushed open the window that had been boarded up. “Go now!”

“Not without you.” Dana reached out to grab his hand but he’d already moved away and headed toward the door.

“Hurry!” he whispered harshly. “Those names cannot fall into their hands again. Once they start working you over and pain’s all you feel, you’ll talk. And no one can blame you. Then they’ll kill you. This is your one chance. If you want to live, run! I’ll buy you as much time as I can.” He jammed a board beneath the door in an attempt to wedge it shut.

The door shook and came open just a few inches. Dana climbed up onto the windowsill, but before she could swing her legs outside, two men burst into the room. Unable to leave her friend, Dana jumped back down to the floor, picked up the closest board and swung it around like a baseball bat, hitting one of the men in the shoulder. The two syringes in his hand flew across the room.

Hastiin Sani kicked the second man in the chest, knocking him back into the edge of the door. As the kidnapper struck the back of his head against the wood, he groaned and staggered back.

Dana knew that they were in a fight for their lives. Their attackers hadn’t been carrying dart pistols that time. They’d had those syringes. The men had come back to kill them now that they’d been judged to be of no further use.