Page 154 of Missile Strike

and froze.

Talia’s shoes weren’t the only ones echoing through the cavernous space.

Bending, she slipped out of hers and tiptoed as fast as she could without making noise.

Talia’s steps picked up speed, getting louder. Overhead lights flared across the lofty ceiling, lighting her way.

“Izzy!”

Adrenaline surged hot through Isabella’s limbs. She broke into a run.

More overhead lights popped on, giving away her location.

Shit, shit.

It wouldn’t be her heart, or her shoes that gave her away. It would be the lights.

“I know you’re here. We don’t have time for this.” Talia’s voice grew nearer.

Another turn to the left. No end in sight. Too long. Each junction she passed led to more corridors.

Which way to the elevator?

Click. Click. Click. Every strike of Talia’s heels sounded like a death knell.

Talia didn’t run or bother to mask her approach. She just followed the lights as they flared to life with every corridor Isabella entered.

She forced her nerves back and focused on what Danny had taught her. She hadn’t taken all those escape and evasion lessons to die now.

Finally, an opening up ahead.

The elevator lobby.

Isabella jabbed at the down button. The elevator whirred to life as it rumbled upward.

Slowly. Too slowly.

“Come on. Come on.” She stared at the painted steel doors.

The sound of Talia’s shoes grew closer. “Stop running, Izzy.”

The light on the button went out.

Crack!

Isabella threw her hands over her ears at the sharp retort.

Something stung her cheek. There was a nick in the painted concrete block next to the elevator that hadn’t been there a second ago.

She whirled to face Talia.

Holding a gun.

Pointed at her.

“I won’t miss again.”

Danny rounded the corner of the two-lane highway that went from high-density retail to wooded residential. The two storage companies came into view on opposite sides of the road. The one nearest him had three buildings surrounded by an eight-foot-high black steel fence. Several moving trucks for rent sat parked behind the fence, next to the main building.