Page 80 of The Last Kingdom

Empty.

“Malone. Where are you?”

* * *

COTTON HEARD KOGER CALL HIS NAME.

He’d flattened himself across the black marble floor, anticipating Rife’s attack. The threat must now be gone. He came to his feet and opened the door. The other side was riddled with weapons fire.

“Here.”

Koger appeared from around the corner at the end of the corridor and rushed his way. “You okay?”

He nodded. “I’ll live.”

“We need to find that bastard.”

He agreed.

They headed off in the only direction Rife could have gone, following the corridors until they came to the elevator lobby.

Koger pushed the button for down and both car doors opened. “He didn’t go that way.”

They stared at the stairway door.

Koger eased it open.

Footsteps pounded.

Above them.

* * *

RIFE SCAMPERED UP THE CONCRETE STAIRS TWO AT A TIME TOWARDthe roof. He’d taken out Miller, and tried for Koger and Malone, but failed. No need to risk any more. Those two were trouble. Better to fight another day.

Knight waited at the top of the stairs.

“Change in plan,” he said. “I couldn’t get Malone or Koger. We need to go.”

He handed over the rifle and rushed out onto the roof, jumping into the helicopter and firing up the turbine.

“Be ready,” he said to Knight.

* * *

COTTON ENTERED THE STAIRWELL.

Koger right behind him, gun in hand.

Two floors above a door opened, then closed. He vaulted up the stairs to a solid metal door. Blades whirled outside. He cracked open the metal door. The chopper sat with its plexiglass bubble cabin pointing straight at him. The rotors wound fast and the helicopter slowly started up, the skids clearing the pad.

He pushed open the door a little more. A cold wind buffeted. Rife was at the controls. Another man inside the cabin swung open the hatch door and aimed a gun their way. He fell back into Koger and allowed the metal door to shut, dropping to the concrete floor.

Rounds pinged the outer facade.

The rotors grew louder.

Then faded.