More struggling. “Do you recognize the man in this picture?” TQ asked.
When Arthur didn’t answer, TQ continued. “Let me enlighten you. His name is Montgomery Pierce, and he looks nothing like you. So, my question is, who are you?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Take him to the basement and finish both of them. I’ve simply lost my will to spend any more time on that conniving lowlife assassin.”
“Let’s go,” Pierce said as Lynx took off out the exit.
“No.” Shield got in front of him. “Stay here. We’ll take care of it.”
“Out of my way.” Pierce pushed her aside, but he’d gone only a step or two before he stopped short and grasped his chest. His face was ashen.
“You’re not well, Monty. Look, I’ll let you know if we need backup, okay?”
Pierce nodded. “Go,” he rasped.
By the time she got outside to the curb, Lynx was speeding toward her in the van. The guy who’d been behind the wheel was now escorting Wagner, one hand on her elbow, briskly toward the restaurant.
The van slammed to a stop two feet away. “Get in,” Lynx shouted.
Shield jumped in and grabbed the two automatic assault rifles that Lynx had already retrieved from the duffel in the back. “Let’s do it.”
They buckled up, and Lynx floored it at the first gap in traffic a second or two later. The van shot across the roadway, up half a dozen wide marble steps, and straight through the big glass entrance of the building. The SRS bags popped immediately, but Lynx kept going, the sound of screeching tires, shattering glass, and the rev of the engine deafening. Finally, the van hit something solid and would go no farther. Shield gave one rifle to Lynx before they got out.
“Give me your location, Arthur,” Shield said.
“Two floors down,” came a crackled response.
“Hang in there. We’re on our way.”
No sooner had she said that than TQ’s men started shooting. Shield couldn’t tell how many, but the shots seemed to be coming from all directions. They dove for cover behind the massive marble reception counter and fired back. Shield got one man in the chest while Lynx got another in the neck.
She pointed to the emergency exit a few feet away. Lynx nodded, and both kept firing while they ran to the stairwell.
They made it through the heavy door and heard voices from below. Both waited at the landing until two men came into view and showered them with bullets.
“One more level to go,” Shield said as they headed down.
“Door at the end of the hall,” Arthur’s voice came again.
“Is she alive?” Pierce asked in her ear, obviously to Arthur.
“She’s…we need to get her out now,” Arthur replied.
Lynx accelerated at this, taking the last few steps two at a time, and was about to bolt into the hall of the sub-basement when Shield grabbed her. “Easy.” Shield carefully checked to see if anyone was in the hall. “Two guarding the door.”
“We have to take them out now,” Lynx whispered.
Both took a deep breath and stepped into the hall, shooting. They ran to the door, stepping over the two corpses, and when they found it locked, Lynx started firing at the lock while Shield checked the bodies for keys. She was sure no amount of gunfire would open the thick steel door, and so was Lynx, for that matter. But Shield knew Lynx had only one thing on her mind and a lot of anger.
Shield put her hand on Lynx’s shoulder, signaling her to stop. “Arthur, is there a lock on the other side?”
“I’m looking, but nothing here. You haven’t even put a dent in it,” he replied. “Jack’s lost a lot of blood.”
“Keep her conscious,” Lynx yelled, and pounded on the door.
“I’m trying,” he said.
“Someone’s coming,” Shield whispered. Both turned to look down the hall, rifles at the ready. Shield tried the door to her left while Lynx the two on the right. “Damn,” Shield said.
“Get ready.” Lynx lifted her rifle in preparation.
“Shield, Lynx. Cease fire,” came Pierce’s voice through the mic.
“What’s going on?” Lynx asked.
“I’m almost there,” Pierce replied.
Shield, shocked, looked at Lynx, who was obviously just as surprised.
“Monty, it’s dangerous,” Lynx said.
The elevator door started to open and both of them took aim.
“Put your weapons down,” they heard Monty say before they saw him.
When the doors opened completely, Shield saw that Pierce wasn’t alone. Next to him stood TQ, who looked scared but forced a smile nevertheless when she saw Shield.
“What the—” Lynx said.
“Move faster. You’re on a time limit,” Pierce said to TQ as they walked down the hall.
TQ picked up the pace and stopped three feet away from the steel door. She looked up at the right corner, straight into the sensor, and nodded. The door made a loud unlocking sound and opened.
Lynx ran in first, with Pierce behind her.
“You screwed with the wrong people,” Shield said to TQ as they both waited outside.
“How’s the florist?” TQ looked smug.
“How’s your face?” Shield asked.
TQ’s eyes narrowed in confusion. “My what?”
Shield backhanded her across the face so hard TQ hit the wall.
Lynx came out, with Pierce behind her and Harding in his arms. Lynx put her gun to TQ’s head.
“We had a deal.” TQ looked to Pierce.
“You had a deal with him, not with me,” Lynx said menacingly.
“As much as I want to see her dead,” Pierce said, “I’d much rather see her suffer.” He turned in the direction of a sudden ruckus behind them.
“Police! Drop your weapons,” a male voice shouted as a small army of armed men came into view down the hall. With them were two paramedics, carrying a portable stretcher.
“Who called for an ambulance?” Shield asked.
“I did,” Pierce replied.
The cops came at them with their guns drawn, and both Shield and Lynx dropped their weapons.
“She needs immediate care,” Pierce said. “GSW to the leg and internal hemorrhaging.”
“Put her down,” one of the policemen ordered, apparently the guy in charge.
“She needs to go to a hospital,” Pierce insisted. “Now. If I have to repeat myself, you’re going to find yourself writing tickets for the rest of your life. As to who I am, call the Agency and ask about a Montgomery Pierce. Maybe you should mention TQ has been caught.”
“Who?”
“We had a deal,” TQ repeated, terror evident in her face.
*
From the cop’s expression, it was clear neither name registered, but he let the paramedics through. “Someone stay with her,” he said to his men as the EMTs pried Harding from Pierce’s arms.
“I’m going with her.” Lynx jumped forward as they strapped Harding to the stretcher.
“No one is going anywhere until we figure out what happened here,” the head cop said.
“Then get on the goddamn phone,” Pierce ordered him.
Harding was taken away while the police kept their guns trained on the rest, and the one in charge stepped away to make the call. He came back moments later. “Thank you, sir,” he said to Pierce, and extended his hand. “My sincerest apologies for the inconvenience. You and your people are free to go.”
“About time.” TQ made to push through.
“Not you.” Shield pushed her back.
“What is this about? I am the victim here. This is my place of business they broke into.”
“Have Mrs. Rothschild arrested for terrorism against the American government,” Pierce said, “to name just the first of many charges.”