Marta spun back toward Crusher, frantically shaking her head. “No, Jack, he’s armed.”
“Just go!” he called out, turning to face the man in tactical gear.
As the guard pulled the gun from its holster, Crusher launched the mop like a spear, the mophead aiming straight for the guard’s face.
A shot rang out as the man swatted at the incoming mop. The bullet went wide.
Crusher rushed the man before he could aim again. He plowed into him like a linebacker going after the quarterback. He slammed into the guard’s midsection, knocking him backward so hard he hit the wall, the handgun flying from his grip. The man slid down the wall and fell onto his side.
Crusher grabbed the guard’s gun and left him struggling to sit up.
Just as he caught up to the others, an alarm screeched through the hallways and red, rotating lights flashed high on the walls.
As they reached the exit door, shouts rose from both directions. Armed guards rounded the corners and raced toward them.
Draco was first out the door. He flung open the passenger door, half-lifted, half-tossed Cate into the cab, then loaded Marta. He dove in after them.
Crusher ran for the driver’s side, leaped up into the seat and turned the key.
The engine rumbled but failed to start.
Shots rang out.
“Get down!” Crusher shouted and turned the key again, willing the engine to catch.
When it did, he shoved the shift into drive and jammed his foot onto the accelerator, sending the truck shooting forward.
After a glance backward in the side mirrors, Crusher knew he couldn’t slow, couldn’t stop. Half a dozen guards had swarmed out of the building with more coming.
“Phantom, if you can hear me,” Crusher said into his headset, “we’ve got the girls and are coming out hot.”
“On it,” Phantom said. “Once you’re outside the fence, we’ll have your back.”
Ahead, several guards lined up in front of the gate, weapons drawn, targeting the truck and driver.
Crusher ducked as low as he could while still seeing over the dash and blasted across the parking lot, aiming for the entrance.
The guards opened fire. Bullets slammed through the windshield, spraying tiny glass shards across the cab’s interior.
Cate and Marta sprawled on the floor with Draco’s body lying on top of them, shielding them.
The guards standing in front of the gate stood firm as Crusher aimed the truck straight at the gate. At the last moment, they dove to both sides.
Crusher drove the truck straight into the gate arm, sending it flying off its hinges.
A black SUV skidded sideways as it swerved out of the parking lot and chased after the truck. Armed men leaned out of the side windows, firing at the truck.
Crusher charged forward, barely slowing as he came to a corner.
The rental car the other members of the team had taken shot out of a side street, driving between the truck and the SUV.
The SUV driver slammed on the brakes and swerved onto the sidewalk to go around the vehicle but then struck the corner of a building. The gunmen who’d been hanging out the side windows went flying.
“Get to the airport,” Phantom’s voice sounded in Crusher’s ear. “We’ve got this.”
Draco sat up and helped Marta and Cate into their seats. He pulled up the address for the general aviation section of Zurich airport and helped guide Crusher through the streets of Zurich.
When they arrived, someone was there to open the gate for them. Once through, Draco pointed at the line of aircraft. “There’s Hammer. He’s waving for us to drive out to him.”
