Hanley hesitated; the voice down the hall called out that he had less than one minute before the first victim was to be shot in the great hall, and then he turned to Hightower. “Let the prick go.” To Zoya he said, “We’ll get you back.”
Hightower lowered his pistol and took a step back compliantly. The Russian stood, walked over to a sofa where the items that had been taken from him were lying, and put his shirt back on and stepped into his shoes.
He took his coat and tie in his arm, then began walking. Zoya followed her father through the parlor, into the library, and towards the hall. Court had taken a position behind an oak table, and when he saw what was happening he stood up. “You’ve got to be kidding.”
She just looked at him without speaking as she passed.
Court called back over his shoulder. “Matt? Matt, what are you doing?”
Hanley came out with Jenner and Brewer. “Let her go. They hold the cards for now.”
Court stood, conflicted and unsure.
Zakharov stopped suddenly, faced Court. He said nothing for a long time, just looked him over. Finally he turned to Zoya. “Your friend, I take it.”
Zoya looked down at the floor.
The bearded Russian looked back to Court. “Interesting. In other circumstances, I suppose I could be calling you ‘son.’”
Court did not reply. He wanted to lift his pistol and shoot the bastard in the windpipe, but he remained still.
Zakharov stood there silently for several more seconds, staring at Court, before yelling out in Russian. “We’re coming out!”
The Russian father and daughter disappeared up the hallway.
No sooner had they gone than Jenner said, “We’re armed with pistols. I’m hearing grenades and automatic weapons downstairs. We’re not taking down those Russians without a lot more firepower. We’ve got to get to the security armory on the second floor.”
Hanley said, “Where are Greer and Lorenzi?”
“They were on night watch, so they racked out down in their room at the far end of this floor.”
Hanley nodded. “I want you to go grab them, then all six of you make for the armory. There might be others up here we can recruit.”
Jenner said, “Not leaving you here, boss. You and Ms. Brewer will be safer coming along for the ride.”
Hightower said, “Jenner, it’s your show, but I suggest we split into two teams to cover all the rooms faster. Violator and I will take Brewer and go right, you and Travers take Hanley and go left. Find Lorenzi and Greer, see if anyone else is hiding up here. We’ll meet downstairs in the security office after we’ve had a look around.”
Hanley loosened his tie around his thick neck, looked at Brewer, then said, “Let’s go.”
* * *
• • •
At the turn of the hallway towards the main wing, Zakharov met Fox, Hines, two Russian mercenaries, and two of the four sleepers. Hines took Zoya by the back of her neck and yanked her to him, her feet nearly leaving the floor in the act.
The general looked at his men. “Who has grenades?”
Both the mercenaries immediately pulled a fragmentation grenade.
“Destroy that room. The deputy director of the CIA is in there with friends. Let’s unburden him with the task I have for the others. Then follow me down to the hostages.”
Pins were pulled, grenades were lobbed, and just as Zoya started to scream a warning, Jon Hines smothered her entire face with the palm of his hand.
Zakharov began heading down the corridor for the main staircase, followed by all the others.
* * *
• • •
Jenner was first into the corridor, and he saw a man down the hall throw something towards the entrance to the library behind a muffled scream. He spun, raced back into the room, and turned Hanley away.
“Grenade!” he shouted, and Court grabbed Brewer with his one good hand and yanked her, heaving them both backwards in the air over the side of a large leather-and-wood sofa. They crashed on the ground and Court rolled on top of the woman.
Jason turned to run away, and Travers put himself right behind Jenner, adding more protection to Hanley, as they ran back towards the little parlor used as an interrogation room.
The first grenade went off; shrapnel fired in all directions, hitting Jason in the back and Travers in the upper right leg, just below his butt cheek. Both men went down.
The second grenade wasn’t thrown as well as the first; it bounced against the doorway and detonated just in front