Melissa had been getting nowhere in her questioning of Henderson when she noticed the computer-enhanced bright red flare on the screen that signaled movement outside and looked directly at the monitor. She turned back just as Henderson stood up quickly and smashed his head right into her nose. Melissa stumbled backwards as blood gushed from her nose.

Henderson’s head hurt from the strike, but he had to make his escape before whoever was approaching the house showed up and he became outnumbered.

Henderson hopped forward on his bound legs. He launched himself at Melissa and drove her into the wall. Her head cracked against the wall and she slumped to the floor.

Henderson rolled over to the pack that she had carried in. He lifted it with his hands bound behind him and dumped the contents all over the floor. He found the knife he was looking for. He lifted the knife and jabbed it into the top of the table. On the third attempt it stuck solid in the surface. He sawed the zip ties against the blade and freed himself. Henderson rubbed his wrists and pulled the knife out of the table to cut his legs free.

Henderson scooped up the MP5SD and gathered the spilled contents of the pack. He stuffed them all back in the pack and slung it over his shoulder. He aimed the MP5SD at the moaning form of Melissa.

A quick burst and she would no longer be a problem to anyone.

The utility closet door burst open and William Hartford slammed full force into Henderson. The collision skewed his aim and the MP5SD chewed into the dirt floor around Melissa with all thirty rounds before clicking empty.

Henderson swung around and grabbed Hartford by the neck. He spun him around and tossed him over the desk and into the security monitors.

The LCD monitors cracked under the impact and Hartford crumpled to the ground whimpering, shattered LCD panels collapsing down on top of him.

The stairs leading down to the basement were old and made of wood and the top stair creaked anytime someone put his weight on it.

Henderson heard it creak now.

He ran to the tunnel opening and looked back to see feet coming down the stairs slowly. He closed the door to the tunnel as quietly as he could and ran through the low underground tube.