Bullseye by David Baldacci Read Free Book Online Page B

the shaft after they’ve completed their mission. Different floor, masks and jumpsuits come off. They walk away and out of the mall. Gone. Just like that.” He snapped his fingers.
    “But not you,” said Robie. “You’re stuck here with us. And when someone tries to open the door to the bank, we’ll be vaporized. All of us. You included.”
    One of the female tellers started to moan. A customer choked back a sob and began whimpering.
    The gunman started nervously licking his lips.
    Stone said, “So that’s what I meant when I said the short straw. You’re the sacrificial lamb. Maybe the cops will think you were acting alone. I mean, there won’t be anyone alive to say otherwise. That way your buddies get away free and clear. While your ass gets sacrificed. For the cause. Whatever that might be.”
    The gunman pointed his weapon at Stone’s head. “I said, shut up. Or the next person to be dead will be you.”
    The next moment the man was falling forward, the door having struck him from behind.
    Robie and Stone surged forward together. Robie ripped the gun free from the man’s fingers. Stone slammed an elbow into the man’s neck, sending him down to the floor, where he stayed.
    The door opened all the way and there stood Harry and Reuben.
    Reuben eyed the fallen man. “Now I’d say that was pretty damn good timing.”
    “Perfect timing,” corrected Stone.
    Harry quickly cut all the hostages loose.
    Reuben said, “There are C-4 packs strung across the entrance to the bank. No one’s leaving that way until the bomb squad comes in and clears them out.”
    “I take it no one was in the front part of the bank,” said Stone.
    Reuben nodded. “That’s right..”
    Harry nodded. “But there’s a hole in the wall.”
    “We knew they were trying to get from here to somewhere else. Do you know where they’re going?” asked Robie.
    “A fund-raiser on the top floor,” replied Reuben. “Lots of elite types attending. Annabelle managed to get in.”
    “And the target?” asked Stone.
    “The vice president of the United States,” answered Harry.
    Stone and Robie glanced worriedly at each other.
    Robie said quickly, “Does the Secret Service know?”
    Harry said, “Alex is on the protection detail, but Annabelle hasn’t been able to make contact with him yet.”
    Reuben hiked his eyebrows and smiled. “VP. Just your run-of-the-mill stuff. Keeps us from getting rusty in our old age.”

CHAPTER 11
    The climb up the vertical did not take long. The ascent had been practiced many times on a mockup at a facility in rural Maryland. And now, for real, the trip was measured and swift.
    They made only one stop.
    At the fourth floor.
    It took a few minutes to cut the opening in the wall there, and then they were on their way again. Better to have cut the hole now. When they were fleeing from here they would not want to waste time doing it.
    As the four of them climbed, Chase gave final instructions. They would not have long after it was done to make their escape.
    The shaft was well insulated from the outside as the building had been constructed around it. Still, Chase did not want to make any unnecessary sounds. The timing would be tight. They had lost precious minutes when the power had gone out in the bank. But he had built in a contingency because things never went exactly according to plan.
    He checked his watch as they climbed. It would be okay, he thought. They would make it. They had better make it.
    They reached the top floor and Chase motioned to the person directly below him. Everyone stopped. Chase eyed the drywall in front of him and checked the construction plans for this part of the building that he’d downloaded onto his phone, confirming the location. He pointed to the wall and the person directly below him rose up beside him while holding on to one of the girders. Both men withdrew cutting blades from their belt holders and began to carefully slice away.
    It would not take long now.
    * * *
    Robie,