The mobile beeps, not quite the same as the usual noise it made when a text came in. The screen's red. Not good. Glancing through the big windows to the left across the big light well the lift is stationary; there's still time. Calm the breathing. Slow it all down. Three-Mississippi. Don't panic. Casually reaching to the under side of the office desk, shaking fingers locate the release clip on the field pack and silently unhooked it. Really hoped that there would be another month. This was a big wake up call. Sloppy. There is no way to get out of this on your own. How had they found you? No time to think about that right now. Get out. Hopefully the cavalry got the signal too. No way they'd be able to help in here. Stop panicking. Slow the breathing. It's just the adrenalin. Eight-Mississippi. Not long before all hell breaks loose. Need to find backup, now. Her? Her! Your pupils narrow. How well do you really know her? There's no time to worry right now; if you're wrong it all ends in the next twenty seconds anyway. Pop up and IM window.
"no time to explain, need help. right now."
"Shoot"
"in ledd than 15 secs I need to be out of here!
lifts & main stairss are out!
prov fire exit too!
got to get to roof!"
Fifteen-Mississippi.
"Is this a joke?
What the hell are you talking about?"
"Come with me to the roof.
Trust ne, u won't want to be here in 10 seconds!"
She looks over and sees the panic in your eyes.
Nineteen-Mississippi.
"This is for real?"
"fuck! i have to go, right now, please! just fokkow"
You double click an icon on your desktop, the computer locks and silently starts to remove all digital traces of you on the network. It's probably too late, if they are on the way in they already have the netword. But you got it all ready and if your benifactors didn't get the last signal they'll get this one.
You catch a movement to your left. A lift is on the way up. Standing up. Too quick, people are looking. Right hand grabs your coat, hiding the field pack. It's ten paces to the door. She's up too, looking unsure, but you don't have time for any more persuasion. Twenty-two-Mississippi. Hit the door to the fire escape. Shift coat to left hand. The bag around the field pack falls away and the Walther sub-compact P99C feels cold and heavy in your clammy hands. No sound of footsteps coming up. Good. Up! Go up! You spin round as you hear the door behind you open. Nearly put a hole in the only person you want to trust right now. Calm down! And breath. She's just realised your pointing a gun at her. You let your arm drop to your side and make the jive for quite. Twenty-five-Mississippi. You don't have any more time, even at a full run it will be close. You turn and run up the stairs, to hell with the noise. Your body seems happy to use all the adrenalin. Slamming into the top fire door you're on the roof. Cold air. Breath. You know you will have to pay for that burst later, but no time now. Hope she followed. The thrum of a helicopter fills your ringing ears. Who's? Black silhouette. Friend! You've lost count, but you already know you're on borrowed time. An arm reaches down and you grasp it. The door opens again. She's followed. Get her on board, now! Scramble and she's on. Probably first time in a helicopter. She'll get used to them soon enough. Fuck, what have you got her into? The pilot dusts off. Ears are ringing even over the engine and wind.
White flash. Shock wave. The chopper moves like a blade of grass in a tornado. The pilots are good, but your body is screaming. The building is gone. Nothing left. Not even a scorched wall. They're all dead. Everybody you worked with for the last 3 years, gone. Why the fuck did they come after you now?
The pilot recovers and immediately heads east. Damn these things are tougher than a few years ago.
Breath. Slow it all down.
