“I’ve got you, baby.

I’ve got you.” I lifted her clean off the chair and into my arms and she wrapped around me like she had when she was small.

Behind us a heavy metallic clatter — Darius had wrenched the flashlight and the duffel away from Weatherby and pinned him against the base of the lectern, just as the first far-off wail of sirens finally reached us through the storm.

Red and blue light began to strobe through the shattered stained glass.

Four officers came through the iron doors with weapons up and had the building secure in seconds.

They cuffed Weatherby where he lay.