One of the guards put a hand out and raised his HK MP5 submachine gun. “Stop right there. Identify yourself.”
The other guard touched his earpiece and spoke using his throat microphone, “Contact sitrep: one white coat and escort outside. Status pending. Await update, over—”
The professor raised her ID card for the guard to see, “Professor Van Vaerenberg; cellular and molecular imaging—”
The guard lowered his gun and brought up a scanning device to check the ID card. Mercy’s eyes narrowed.
Situational awareness—
Mercy registered the electronic key card on the guard’s belt.
This is it. Relax, breathe, it’s like a dance. Timing is everything—
The nearest guard looked down at the hand held scanner as he waved it over the professor’s ID card. Mercy brought up her HK45 and leaned in over the professor’s shoulder.
The professor screamed—
Chapter 11
Penetration
Mercy squeezed the trigger. The professor’s shoulder knocked against Mercy’s gun hand. The shot went wild, missing the guard.
The professor dropped to the floor. Mercy threw herself at the guard, slamming her gun arm against his chest. Shots exploded behind Mercy.
Impact. Movement. The smell of stale sweat.
The guard grappled with Mercy, breaking her hold. He brought his MP5 up and squeezed the trigger. Mercy felt a tug at her waist. Her pistol went off. The guard jerked and fell to the floor.
Muffled voices. Screaming. Blurred vision.
My leg’s wet. What just happened?
Mercy’s breath returned in a rush. She looked down at her waist. Her water bottle had taken a round, her trousers were soaked. Mercy took a deep breath and shuddered. Her vision focused.
Calm down. It’s not blood—
Rose’s face came into focus. “You’re OK Mercy. You’re not hit. I checked. Your canteen took a hit is all, he got a burst off, most went into the wall. I finished him. Barnes got the other guy, the woman caught a round, she freaked out, she didn’t make it—”
Mercy looked at Barnes and Rose, “We’re OK, it’s still on.” She reached down and grabbed the key card from the dead guard’s waist. “On me—”
Mercy swiped the key card in the electronic lock. The red light changed to green and a metallic click came from the door. Barnes and Rose stood to one side. Mercy pressed her back into the corner and opened the door.
Silence.
Mercy unslung her M16 and dropped to the floor. She made eye contact with Rose, pointed to her chest then at the door. Rose nodded. Mercy counted to three then rolled in front of the open door.
Clear. A foyer—
A white, marble antechamber lay ahead. An inner set of double doors faced Mercy. A camera looked down onto the foyer from the corner.
They’ve got eyes on us. Keep moving. There’s no time to waste—
Mercy stood up and pulled a fragmentation grenade from her webbing. She rushed forwards and opened the inner doors from the side. She pulled the pin and threw the grenade into the next room. She ducked to the side. Rose and Barnes pressed in behind her. Mercy counted.
One, two—
An ear shattering explosion tore through the room beyond.
“Watch our six,” Mercy yelled to Barnes. “Rose, with me—”
Mercy crouched low and rushed into the room, her M16 blazing. She stopped and stared.
It’s empty—
The room was lit by a green banker’s lamp on a large desk near the back wall. A drinks counter lay on the right and a huge lounge area opened up ahead. Sofas and chairs filled the space. A large TV screen dominated one wall, above an imitation fireplace. A map of the United States filled another wall. A corridor extended behind the desk. A set of double doors lay ahead and a second set on the left. The grenade had destroyed a luxurious chandelier which lay shattered on the floor.
Shit. Too many doors. Move—
Mercy ejected the empty magazine from her M16 and inserted a fresh one. She rushed to the end of the room, passing the large desk. Three single doors were visible in the corridor. Mercy stood to one side of the nearest door. She kicked at some broken glass. Three shotgun blasts came through the door.
Mercy reached out, pointing the M16 through a gaping hole in the door and emptied a whole magazine into the room. She inserted a new magazine and gave Rose a nod. “Open it—”
Rose kicked the door and Mercy burst in, her M16 at the ready. A young woman lay dead on the floor, her body riddled with bullets. Mercy took the Mossberg 500 from her still-warm hands and threw it to one side.
Shit. Where are you Mitchell?
Mercy left the side room.
Rose was outside shaking her head, “The other two rooms are empty.” Her eyes returned to the two sets of double doors on the other side of the lounge area.
A loud electronic wailing erupted throughout the underground complex. Red LED lights flashed in the ceiling, creating a strobe effect.
Christ, the alarm. We’ve probably got seconds. A minute or two if Barnes can hold them off at the door. Do it, it’s all been for this one minute—
“Give me a fresh mag,” Mercy held out her hand.
Rose gave Mercy two magazines.
Mercy reloaded. “Be ready with your frags. On me—”
Mercy ran through the flashing red lounge to the first set of double doors. She rolled across the broken glass and fired a whole magazine into the doors. A second later two magnum rounds burst through what was left of the doors. Mercy cursed and shouted, “Now Rose—”
Rose leant in and lobbed a grenade through the shredded doors. A vicious series of shotgun blasts came from the room.
One, two, three—
A heart stopping explosion followed, silencing the shotgun.
Result—
Gunfire erupted from the front entrance.
Barnes—
Mercy rolled away from the blasted doors to the wall beside the remaining set of double doors. Rose rushed across the room and joined Mercy.
“Last room, we’ve got to be sure. We need to nail the bastard, we need to see his
