Chapter 16 - The Woman Behind the Door
The doorknob turned.
Claire raised the gun.
Arthur pulled Margaret behind him.
The door opened two inches.
A man's voice came from the hallway.
“Police. Open the door.”
Claire did not lower the weapon.
“Which department?”
Silence.
Margaret's eyes met hers.
Claire shook her head.
Not police.
The door suddenly slammed inward.
Claire fired once into the ceiling.
The intruders stumbled backward.
Arthur grabbed the folder while Margaret pulled Claire toward the rear exit.
They ran through the narrow service corridor.
Behind them came shouting.
“Stop them!”
Margaret stumbled.
Claire caught her arm.
“Keep moving!”
They reached the basement stairs.
At the bottom stood a locked steel door.
Claire pulled a key from her pocket.
Arthur stared.
“You knew about this?”
“I've been hiding here for six months.”
The door opened.
A tunnel stretched beneath the building.
Margaret looked at Arthur.
“This place has tunnels?”
Arthur swallowed.
“Apparently.”
Claire pushed them inside.
Before closing the door, she looked back.
A flashlight appeared at the top of the stairs.
Then she whispered:
“They weren't here for me.”
Margaret froze.
“They came for the folder.”
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Claire locked the door.
“And now they know you have seen it.”
