Bullseye by David Baldacci Read Free Book Online Page A

the same plumbing from this restroom. Saves time and money.”
    “Right,” said Reuben, studying the plans. “But there’ll be sentries, Harry. We have to account for that.”
    “I know. That’s why I brought this.” He pulled from his knapsack what looked like a handheld wand that TSA personnel would use at airport security, except that it had a small screen on the handle. “Thermal imager,” he explained.
    He moved it up and down in front of the wall and then checked the readout screen.
    “It’s clear right now.”
    “Well, let’s hope nobody with a gun has to take a pee in the next few minutes,” said Reuben.
    Harry drew out a saw from his duffel and began, as quietly as possible, to cut through the drywall.

CHAPTER 10
    Stone studied the guard in the ski mask, and the man looked back at Stone.
    Finally, the man said, “You got a problem?”
    Stone said, “How did you draw the short straw? Are you the junior guy on the team?”
    “Don’t know what you’re talking about. Short straw?”
    The other hostages looked on nervously as Stone leaned back against the wall with Robie tethered to him.
    “Short straw. Surely you understand the concept. They left you here. They left you behind .”
    “Important job,” countered the man. “Guarding all of you.”
    “Not really. Better to have killed us, drugged us, or tied us up so well we couldn’t escape. Why waste someone? You’re a small team. Why divide your manpower that way?”
    “Why don’t you shut up, old man?”
    “You should have at least asked for backup,” said Robie.
    The man snorted. “Backup? I’ve got an auto pistol. All of you are tied together. You take a step toward me, you’re dead. Why do I need backup?”
    “For unforeseen things,” said Stone. “But apparently your mission leader didn’t care about that. About you, I mean. Expendable.”
    “You don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.”
    “Actually, I do,” countered Stone. “The rear-flank guy almost always goes down. That’s the nature of the beast. And your friends aren’t coming back through here to make their escape. But I bet they told you they were.”
    The other man’s shoulders tensed. He snorted and said, “So now you know all about our plan?”
    Stone kept staring directly at him. “The motorized outer wall to the bank is key-operated. Charlie had one key. You don’t have it because I saw your leader take it. He also took the other key behind the tellers’ stand. So you can’t open the door to get out.”
    “Yeah, but he can.”
    “Do you know what those things were he was having positioned on the overhead door to the bank?” asked Robie.
    The man glanced at him but said nothing.
    Stone said, “They’re either Semtex or C-4 hardwired to a detonator. They’re armed and I bet they’re configured so they can’t be disarmed except remotely. A handful of Semtex can take down a jumbo jet. What do you think those packs will do to this bank and everyone in it? Including you.”
    Robie added, “And why put those up if they were planning to exit that way?”
    Before the man could say anything Stone said, “Because they’re not coming back this way. Why would they? Cops will be waiting. It’s been long enough that people will know something is up.” He glanced at the bank employees and customers. “All these folks have people who will be missing them. Won’t take long to realize something is off.”
    “Shut up,” said the man, but his gun hand was trembling slightly.
    Stone said, “A vertical shaft up a building allows for lots of possibilities for escape. Lots of floors. That’s what I’d do. And I’m sure that’s what your friends are planning to do. While you stay behind here. For the cops to arrest. Or kill.”
    The man’s gaze darted in the direction of the shaft, confirming for Stone that his speculation had been correct.
    He continued, “They have the plans for the building. That will tell them the best place to branch off