Phantom Prospect - Alex Archer [79]
But Annja knew it hadn’t been.
She took a few moments to really scan the area. “Cole.”
“Yeah?”
“Keep watch and stay quiet.”
Cole nodded.
Annja relaxed and crept outward. She sat and listened.
She realized the first guard was directly above their position on the catwalk.
He would be difficult to get past. He could wait until they were exposed by other guards and then fire down on them.
They’d be dead before they knew what hit them.
Annja carefully charted the positions of the other guards she could detect. They had the area well covered. Whoever they’d been dealing with thus far, these guards seemed to have a coherent strategy in place.
And Annja fully expected that they would be shooting to kill, regardless of what their boss might have told them.
She looked back.
Cole was scanning the area. “What do you think?” he asked her.
“I know where they are.”
“If you say so.”
“But it’s going to be tough,” she said. “We might not make it.”
Cole smiled. “Has there been one thing about this entire mess that’s been easy?”
“Not a damned thing.”
He nodded. “Exactly. So why don’t you tell me what you need me to do and let’s stop wasting time.”
31
Annja headed back along the corridor and took one of the submachine guns from the fallen guards. She then collected the magazines from the other guns so she and Cole would have enough ammunition. She slapped home a fresh magazine and Cole did the same thing.
Cole kept his voice hushed. “You think they have any idea what we’re doing down here?”
Annja shrugged. “We have to assume that they do. I always try to imagine myself in their position. That tends to keep me honest in my plans.”
“So, what now?” They worked their way back to the opening.
“Our biggest problem is the guy above us. He’s up there waiting for us. I think they’re planning to let us get out into the open, then have two shooters pin us down from the front. He will then pick us off from behind. It’s a neat and efficient way to take us down without exposing any of them to any degree of threat.”
“So how do we get out of this?”
“They hold the high ground,” Annja said. “Strategically, that gives them the advantage. But if we can throw a wrench into their plans, then we have a chance.”
“And what’s our wrench is this instance?”
Annja smiled. “I don’t know yet.”
Cole frowned. “That’s not the answer I was hoping for.”
“It’s not the answer I hoped to give you.”
Cole nodded. “Why don’t you leave this one to me?”
“You’re in bad shape. There’s no way I’m letting you take the lead, not when you’re injured.”
“I’m not that badly injured,” Cole said. “And I need to do this. If it doesn’t work, we’ll try something else.”
Annja shook her head. “I hate to tell you this, but we’re only going to get one chance. If we don’t pull this off, they’ll just come down on us and that will be it.”
Cole nodded. “Even more reason to let me try.”
“I don’t know…”
“Look, you risked your life the last time we got bogged down. It’s only fair that you give me my shot, as well.”
“I had the sword.”
“And I have my incredible sex appeal.”
Annja looked at the blank expression on his face and then broke into a grin. “Wow, all right, you can go for it.”
“I get points for saying that with a straight face, right?”
“Definitely.”
“See?” Cole grinned. “I can die happy now.”
“Well, don’t say that,” Annja said. “You’ll make me reconsider my decision.”
“Team work, Annja.” Cole readied himself. “Now, just wait until I clear the way and then come on out and give me some covering fire from the guys in front of us.”
Annja frowned. “What in the world are you planning to do?”
Cole pointed at a small dolly. “Can you grab that for me?”
Annja got the dolly and Cole took it from her. “This should work.” He glanced at the catwalk above them. “You said he was up there? Directly above us?”
Annja nodded. “Yeah.”
Cole looked out into the open space before them. “Looks like a clear shot.”
“What does?”
“The lay of the ground.”
Annja shook her head. “What exactly are you up to?”
Cole