Read Online Shatterproof by Roland Smith - Free Book Online Page B

they’re dealing with.
    Vesper Three flashed forward to the shock on Amy’s face when she discovered that one of her own had betrayed her. The Vespers were closer than Amy thought; so close they used her little command clubhouse as a base of their own. The so-called Cahill leader thought her mansion was safe. But the Vespers had eyes — and agents — everywhere.
    Vesper Three smiled.
It’s about time for Luna Amato to make her move. The rats are all gathered and sniffing the trap.
    Vesper Three e-mailed the signal to release the bait.

“This way!”
    “No, this way!”
    “You’re both wrong. This way!”
    “Everybody just shut up!” Ted shouted.
    This stopped everyone in their tracks. Ted Starling rarely spoke and never shouted. The hostages had raced through a long, dimly lit tunnel and were now standing in front of three branches that snaked off into three different directions.
    “You’re making too much noise,” Ted said. “The two guards we locked in the bunker aren’t the only ones here! I heard five distinct voices. With the two guards locked in the bunker, that means there are at least seven people down here. Probably more.”
    Nellie had been holding Ted’s arm, guiding him through the tunnel. “Ted’s right,” she said. “We’re out of the bunker, but we’re still trapped.”
    “Maybe we should split up,” Reagan suggested.
    “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Fiske said. “The only advantage we have is our number.”
    “No, it isn’t,” Reagan said. “We have this.” She pulled the guard’s pistol from her waistband.
    “I hope we won’t need that,” Fiske said.
    Ted felt the walls. “Tell me what it looks like down here.”
    “We’re in a rock tunnel,” Nellie answered. “It might be an old mine. There’s a lightbulb about every thirty feet, covered by a rusty metal sconce. Some of the bulbs are out. We’ve passed a couple of metal doors, but they were rusted closed. In front of us are three identical tunnels, left, right, and straight ahead.”
    “Are there markings on the walls that say where we are or what this place is?” Ted asked.
    “Nothing.”
    “Put me in front of the three tunnels and let me listen for a moment without anybody talking.”
    Nellie positioned him, and Ted frowned in concentration.
    “There are people walking down the right-hand tunnel. I think they’re a few minutes away, which means that this underground warren is humongous. They’re not running, which means they probably don’t know we’ve escaped. I don’t get anything from the middle tunnel. But there’s definitely fresh air coming out of the tunnel on the left.”
    “Then it’s left,” Alistair said.
    “Let’s get out of here!” Reagan said, bounding ahead of the others.
    Natalie followed with Fiske, Nellie led Ted, and Phoenix and limping Alistair brought up the rear. The guard’s kick had badly damaged Alistair’s knee, and Phoenix’s shoulder was almost the right height for Alistair to lean against.
    They hurried on and on, Alistair hobbling as fast as he could. The tunnel seemed endless and each noise or bump had the group whipping their heads around in fear. By Nellie’s calculation, it was almost a half a mile to the end. Reagan had outpaced everyone and was waiting for them with a blank expression when they arrived.
    “It’s a dead end,” she said.
    “You’re joking,” Nellie said.
    “I wish.” Reagan turned and slapped the wall. “It’s solid rock.”
    “Shh.” Ted pressed his ear up to the rock. “They’re coming!” he said.
    “Stand behind me,” Alistair said to Phoenix.
    “There’s fresh air!” Ted had his pale face pointed at the ceiling. “I can feel it! Where’s it coming from?”
    They had been so busy looking for breaks in the rock wall in front of them, no one had bothered to check the ceiling. Above them was a narrow shaft with dim light filtering through the opening.
    “If I get a good jump I can reach the ladder!” Reagan