Reckoning by James Byron Huggins Read Free Book Online

horror, silence, and death; merciless, intent on murdering an old man who had done them no harm.
    Come on …
    He had the advantage because stairways were always a tactical nightmare. There was no way to ascend them safely, ever. And they allowed no tactical defense, except that of returning superior fire-power.
    Gage had hoped that the water and radio would lull the group towards complacency, inspiring them to ascend the staircase quickly, eager to finish the job and be gone. It would be an amateur's mistake; professionals would never deviate from procedures of safe approach. But professionals were rare, and expensive. Most societies needing special services of clandestine force were content to hire second-rate mechanics, men good at the job, usually ex-military, but men who often made mistakes for the sake of expediency, mistakes made simply because they were unwilling to rigidly adhere, without any deviation, to a strict code of procedures that forbid tactical miscalculations.
    They climbed the staircase, fast and close. Confident.
    Gage waited, palms slick with sweat.
    They reached the top of the stairs together and moved past the doorway. Gage saw the clear image of the large CAR-15 and made his move. He stepped out into the corridor behind them, the MP5 leveled.
    "Far enough," he said.
    With a quick start , they turned.
    Gage centered the MP5 on the man with the CAR. Instantly the man understood the dynamics of the situation. He didn't point his weapon at Gage. But he didn't drop it either, and the situation spiraled.
    Silence, tension climbing.
    The other heavily armed man, the one on the left, did nothing. But his eyes went solid and cold, his face twisted in anger. All three looked like they had been in this position before. But Gage knew they were afraid, just as any sane man would be afraid. And yet, as they had turned, they had repositioned. Gage saw instantly that the one on the left held a semiauto pistol. The third man, hulking in the semidarkness of the hall, stood to the right, his hands empty. Without words, almost casually, they made a movement to spread.
    "Don't!" Gage felt his finger tighten on the trigger.
    They held in place.
    "I'm going to make this easy on you," Gage added. "Put down what you've got. We're going to take a little walk."
    The middle man blinked, focused on him. Gage saw his hand shift on the rifle. "You won't get all of us," he said quietly , but there was vague fear behind the words.
    Gage pointed the MP5 center mass.
    "Yeah, but you won't be around to find out who lives."
    No one moved.
    "Now just do as I say." Gage hoped to carry the situation by his will, the determination of his tone. "Put it all down and turn around. This can go easy. None of you will be hurt if you just—"
    The left man raised the semiauto and fired quick and smooth. Gage spun and dropped to the left, firing a long burst. Two of the men fell back wildly, and then something massive hit him in the chest, throwing him against the wall.
    Stunning impact and the MP5 was lost. Gage realized that the big man had survived the lightning-fast, point-blank firefight to leap forward, colliding against him. Massively powerful, the man slammed Gage against the wall and then delivered one, two, three quick sledgehammer blows in succession, smashing his ribs and chest, pummeling.
    Gasping, Gage reached for the Hi-Power semiautomatic pistol in his waist, but the big man grabbed his hand and smashed him against the wall.
    Gage roared in pain, forgetting the Hi-Power while trying savagely to throw the hulking attacker back. But the big man hit him with a stunning punch to the face that tore off the night visor. Gage collapsed against the wall and saw the big man's hand sweep up, a long knife, and Gage came off the wall, grabbing the man's knife hand to...
    In a volcanic effort behind a savage twist, Gage tripped them both. Locked together in the air, they rolled and smashed into the steps as they went down the stairs, the knife