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“Just hurry up,” Roth said over his shoulder. “If you’re still there when evac arrives, Doc, no one is coming up to get you.”

Roth descended, but did so as gently as he could.

Cooper Mitch.e.l.l limped over, Ramierez’s Sig Sauer pistol in his hand.

“Your boy Clarence ain’t coming,” Cooper said. “He’s moping about that infected woman of his.” Cooper jerked suddenly, as if something had flown in front of his face, but there was nothing there.

He shook his head. “I don’t want him to get eaten, but if he does, I do hope he’s die-die-dielicious.”

Cooper slowly hobbled down the stairs, leaning heavily on the rail.

Tim watched him go. That was one crazy motherf.u.c.ker, right there. Hopefully he was sane enough to only shoot at the bad guys.

Tim jogged to Clarence. It was worth one more try.

The man sat on his b.u.t.t, in the same spot where Margaret had been before they tied her to that ladder. His back rested against the wall, chin hung to his chest. His pistol was in its thigh holster. In his hands, he held the big knife he’d used to slice his wife’s throat.

Did he want to die here? He acted like this was all his fault, when not a shred of it was.

“Otto, get your a.s.s up. Come on, man, rescue is on the way!”

The big man didn’t move.

He hadn’t even cleaned the dust off his face. It made his skin almost the same color as his tight gray s.h.i.+rt.

Clarence had to come. Tim needed him there, needed his strength. Tim’s plan had sounded great in theory, but now it was turning into reality, which meant he’d have to go outside, he’d have to face those killers. He had to find a way to get through to Clarence. Maybe a slap in the face? That always worked on TV.

Tim reached back and brought his hand forward as hard as he could.

Clarence reached up and caught Tim’s wrist, stopping the palm an inch from his cheek. Strong fingers squeezed down. Tim hissed in pain.

“Ow,” he said. “Okay, maybe that wasn’t such a great idea.”

Otto’s cold eyes bore into him.

“You made me kill her,” he said. His voice was little more than a growl, a hollow husk that befit the hollow man. “You got what you wanted, Feely. So get the f.u.c.k out of here and leave me be.”

Clarence let go.

Tim stood, rubbed at his wrist.

“She’s gone, Clarence. If you want to end it all, do that after we’re finished, because your gun might make the difference. If we don’t get Cooper out alive, then Margaret died for nothing.”

Otto just stared, his face inscrutable. He made no motion to get up.