Chapter 7 - Subterranean Flight
The blast above meant the tactical team had breached the inner security doors. Victor led the way into the tunnel, a damp, circular concrete passage wide enough for a single file crawl, built beneath the estate's foundations to drain overflow into the nearby river.
Victor held Julian tight with one arm, using the other to navigate by the beam of a small tactical flashlight. Clara brought up the rear, periodically turning to place remote magnetic charges along the tunnel walls.
"This will slow them down," Clara whispered, her breath turning ragged as blood seeped down her arm.
"Hold on, Julian. We're almost to the river," Victor encouraged his son. Julian didn't speak; his hazel eyes were wide, reflecting the flashlight's beam, his tiny fingers locked into the lapel of Victor's torn jacket.
Behind them, the sound of heavy boots echoing in the bomb shelter announced their pursuers. "They found the access hatch!" Clara hissed. She reached into her pocket, triggered the detonator switch, and slammed the tunnel's manual floodgate shut.
A muffled detonation rumbled through the earth, followed by a shockwave that threw Victor and Clara forward into the ankle-deep muck. The tunnel behind them collapsed in a cascading shower of rock and wet earth, sealing out the assault team.
They emerged twenty minutes later through a rusted iron grate into the biting night air on the banks of the Hudson River. A sleek black pontoon boat was idling silently near the reed-choked shoreline.
"Your transport?" Victor asked, helping Clara climb onto the muddy bank.
May you like
Clara frowned, bringing her gun up instantly. "No. I didn't arrange a boat."
The floodlights of the vessel suddenly snapped on, blinding them completely.
