Part 3 (1/2)
Another gunshot. ”Keep your heads down,” Chris yelled. ”He's just firing at random.” A woman's scream came over the mic. Emilie? ”s.h.i.+t, he's taking her down the bas.e.m.e.nt stairs.”
The partner's haphazard shots forced SWAT to halt at the top of the stairs and take cover.
”There's no place for him to go,” Johnson insisted, breathing hard. ”Hold your positions.”
”Can you see him at all?” Nathan hated being stuck outside.
”No,” Chris replied. ”He's too quick.”
A gut-wrenching sound screeched over the radio: the crack of a gun discharging and the dull thud of impact as the bullet connected with flesh.
”Officer down,” Johnson shouted.
”Adam,” Chris yelled. ”Adam, talk to me.”
Adam Briggs had been a member of the team for only three months. Chris was his mentor, and the two had grown close.
Adam's ragged breathing was loud in Nathan's ears as the rookie struggled for air.
”Just my side,” Adam gasped. ”Don't worry about me. Get that b.a.s.t.a.r.d.”
”Holt, give me some light,” Johnson said.
”Entry point's in his right armpit, just above the Kevlar. He's bleeding pretty badly. ”
”G.o.dd.a.m.ned lucky shot,” Johnson huffed. ”Put pressure on it.”
Nathan found his voice. ”Paramedics are coming in now. Chris, what's going on with the partner and Emilie?”
”s.h.i.+t. It's quiet, Nate,” Chris said. ”Too quiet.”
”You need to get down there.”
”Madigan, you know d.a.m.ned well I can't send Holt down there,” Johnson cut in. ”Perp's got too much of an advantage. We've got to wait for backup.”
Nathan listened as the paramedics arrived and Johnson ordered the rest of the team to rea.s.semble in the hallway. ”This sneaky b.a.s.t.a.r.d has no way out. But he does have the advantage, and we're not taking any more risks. We'll set up here and cover the stairs. If we have to wait him out all night, then fine. He'll crack.”
”What about Emilie?” Nathan gripped the barricade so hard that pain shot through his hand.
”We need you in here to establish contact with this guy. Try to negotiate her release. Come in armed-”
”Did you hear that?” Chris interrupted. ”I could have sworn I heard her calling for help. Ms. Davis? This is SWAT officer Chris Holt. Can you hear me?”
Nathan's anxiety grew as the team waited for a response.
”Ms. Davis?” Chris repeated.
Her voice was barely audible over Nathan's earpiece. ”Gone.”
”Say again, Ms. Davis?” Chris asked.
”He's gone. He just let me go and...disappeared.”
”He can't be gone,” Johnson said. ”Maybe she's an accomplice.”
”No way she's in on this.” Nathan had no doubt of Emilie's innocence. ”She was too scared.”
”She's probably just confused,” Chris said. ”Emilie?”
”I need help.”
”We're coming, I promise. I need you to help us first. Our guy has to be down there. He's got nowhere to go but up-straight into us. Is he injured? Can you see him?”
”No. I'm telling you, he's gone. It's dark down here, but he's gone.”
”She's not thinking clearly. He's using her to lead us into an ambush,” Johnson said. ”She needs to turn on the light and draw him out.”
”Emilie, can you get to the light switch so we can come down and help you?” Chris's voice was m.u.f.fled. Nathan strained to hear.
A startled cry came from the bas.e.m.e.nt.
”Emilie, what do you see?” Chris said.
”An old door,” Emilie shouted.
”Where does it lead?”
”I...I don't know. It's closed, but he must have gone in there.” She sounded frantic. ”The bank was built on top of the foundation of one of the city's original buildings, but I've never seen this door.”
”Emilie, back away from it,” Chris said. ”We're coming down.”
Emilie collapsed against the wall. The track lighting flickered, threatening to plunge the room back into darkness. Her stomach twisted violently at the thought.
She recoiled as footsteps sounded on the stairs. Two men dressed in black fatigues and brandis.h.i.+ng a.s.sault rifles slowly entered the room.
”I'm Chris.” The taller one raised the s.h.i.+eld on his helmet, revealing an average face and deep-set, brown eyes. Chris nodded to the stocky man standing behind him, still in full uniform. ”This is Sergeant Johnson. The paramedics are coming. They're going to take care of you. You're safe now.”
Emilie pointed to the west wall. A tremor shot through her arm. ”There. I didn't know.”
”Let us worry about the door,” Chris said. ”Get yourself checked out.”
”I want to know what's behind that door.” Emilie waved the paramedic off. ”Where did the partner go?”
”Stand back.” The one in charge hoisted his rifle onto his back and carefully approached the door. He ran his hands over the faded wood. Chris hovered behind him, his rifle poised to shoot.
Emilie's heart stuttered as Johnson's gloved hand closed around the rusted metal handle and yanked hard. Nothing happened.
”Son-of-a-b.i.t.c.h wedged it shut,” he said. ”Get the ram down here. And where's Madigan?”