Free Firewall by DiAnn Mills Page B

jerk free from Shep’s hold. She opened her palm and pressed her thumbs into his wrist. He loosened control, and she stepped back.
    “Trust me,” he said. “You’ll regret this.”
    “Are you threatening me?”
    “Without me, you’ll end up dead. You know what I want.” He reached for her, but she took another step back toward the bus.
    Her worst fears had manifested and stood before her.
    The bus driver called out. “Either get yourself on in here, or I’m drivin’ on.”
    He grabbed her wrist again, and she drove a kick into his nose. Blood gushed. He doubled over and fell.
    “I’ll find you, you b   —” he cursed. “No one can save you now.”
    She scrambled up the bus steps, and the door closed behind her. The bus rolled away, and contempt for the man she’d sworn to love until death settled in her.

CHAPTER 10
    9:35 P.M. MONDAY
    Shep’s betrayal bannered across Taryn’s mind. Had he committed all of today’s atrocities? Sent innocent people to their deaths? Murdered Claire? Done something with Zoey? Clenching her fists, she allowed herself to accept the unthinkable. She’d been used, but for what purpose? Could it be . . . ?
    Shock numbed her as the bus rumbled down the street, letting passengers on and off at various stops. She didn’t want to believe what had happened. She wanted to believe that Shep hadn’t threatened her but was a good man who loved her. The screen mounted inside the bus continued to report the bombing. A segment of the Houston FBI director’s speech replayed . . . the number of dead and injured etched into her mind.
    Special Agent Grayson Hall hadn’t lied to her. His insulting questions held a vein of truth. She shivered.
    She’d hurt a police officer because she believed in Shep’s innocence. Her mind spun with one thought after another, all centered on hurt and betrayal. Her throat thickened, but she refused to cry. Her life had been dedicated to solving dilemmas for businesses and industries through the latest in software technology. But no amount of superior programming could reverse today.
    She rode the bus through four more stops, her heart and mind torn in many directions. A huge stone church set back from thestreet caught her attention. Safety. Rest. Surely it would be open. The bus stopped and she exited, peering in every direction for Shep. He said she knew what he wanted. Before the question left her mind, the answer came.
    The only thing she possessed that anyone would ever want was access to Nehemiah and her knowledge of other encrypted files from Gated Labs.
    Once the taillights of the bus disappeared, she worked her way across a busy intersection to the church. Claire always used to say God reigned with His people, and Taryn wanted to believe her friend’s words. She hoped God’s house held an invisible shield to protect those who needed it.
    She yanked on the main entrance door. Locked. Would the church have an alarm system? Of course it would. What was she thinking? In this world, no one could be trusted. She’d learned that valuable lesson today.
    Please, God. I need rest.
    She walked the perimeter of the church building, trying each door until a rear one by the children’s playground surprisingly released. She stole a look over her shoulder before pulling the door open. A swing moved as though a child eased back and forth. If an alarm sounded, she’d simply escape into the night.
    No sirens. Eerie quiet met her ears . . . like a low hum. She locked the door behind her and leaned against it, willing reality to lift its weight from her shoulders. She couldn’t recall ever being in a church alone. But the need for rest overpowered caution. Here in the solace of those who lived by faith, she’d find a way out of today’s mess.
    In the shadows, she explored the hallway, finding a series of offices. A table lamp lit the desk of one of the larger ones, and she limped inside, the sting in her foot growing worse. A green leather sofa caught her