Free Switched by Helenkay Dimon

for ransom? Gotta tell you, that’s not sounding as no-big-deal as you’re pretending this is.”
    “I just know she wasn’t really supposed to be touched, but…” The kid looked at the ceiling and floor, everywhere but at a person. If he had some big secret, it was taking a long time spitting it out. “Something went wrong.”
    Her sympathy fizzled. Probably had something to do with being on the receiving end of an ongoing attack.
    She shot him her best you’re-an-idiot frown. “No kidding.”
    “No, you don’t understand.” The kid tried to move closer to Risa, but Aaron pulled him back. “This wasn’t a real kidnapping.”
    “What was it?” Aaron asked.
    “A joke, I guess. I don’t really know. It’s just that it was clear there was nothing illegal about what we were doing.”
    “A nonillegal kidnapping? I’m not sure what law books you guys are looking at, but that doesn’t make much sense.” Royal looked ready to explode. If he shifted one more time, his weapon might accidentally go off. “And why do you have guns and bullets?”
    Fear cleared from the kid’s eyes. “In case something went wrong.”
    Aaron finally looked at her. “I guess it’s good to be prepared.”
    “I’m starting to hate the holidays,” she mumbled under her breath.
    “Tell us what’s happening downstairs.” Aaron walked around to face the kid.
    Whatever he saw in Aaron’s face had the kid answering without trying to stall. “Most of the people have been evacuated. There’s a group in a small conference room near the party.”
    Royal threw up his hands. “And?”
    The kid didn’t handle Royal’s anger any better than he did Aaron’s. When either man spoke, the kid seemed to shrink. Much more and he’d be in a ball on the floor.
    She was just about to step in when the kid answered again. “We’re awaiting further instructions.”
    “From?” The chill in Aaron’s voice washed over the room.
    “I don’t know.”
    Silence pounded in on her from every angle. No one said a word and neither man moved. The kid had turned a strange shade of yellow-green, as if he was on the verge of throwing up.
    Finally Aaron broke the quiet. “You know what that means?”
    Royal nodded. “Yes.”
    When they didn’t say anything else, she gave up on being subtle. “Anyone want to fill me in?”
    “Inside job.” Aaron’s words resonated, and then no one said anything at all. They were too busy wincing and covering their ears as the building’s alarm system rang out.
    Emergency blue lights flickered to life and flashed from the small boxes in the upper corners of the room. The alarm wound up and then blared in a high-pitched beeping sound before repeating the process again. A computer-generated voice told them to leave the building.
    “What’s happening now?” She shouted the question over the noise.
    “It looks like someone has moved on to plan B.”

Chapter Eight
    Lowell watched Palmer rattle the door handles before turning back to the rest of the room. The small area had broken into chaos at the first flashing emergency light. For only six people, they made a lot of noise. Everyone but Palmer’s security man shouted questions and insisted they get out.
    “The building could be on fire,” Mark pointed out as he argued that they should run.
    Brandon stood up. “I told you we needed to leave. Staying here puts us in more danger.”
    “In light of what’s going on now, I have to agree with Brandon on this,” Angie said.
    Palmer held up his hand. “Everyone calm down. There is no need for concern. We are safest in this room.”
    Brandon tried to push toward the door. “How can you say that? Something is happening out there. Anything from fire to an attack on my father and we’re here, vulnerable and just waiting to be picked off.”
    “I need everyone to sit down. Chaos is our enemy here.” Palmer grabbed Brandon’s arm and shoved him in a chair. “Mr. Craft, can I talk with you a second?”
    Lowell met