Page 112 of The Last Kingdom

He was cold and the snowfall seemed to be increasing. But he did not want to do anything to spoil his newfound partnership.

Especially on such a trivial matter.

“Okay. Why not.”

Chapter 64

LUKE COULD NOT STOP CHRISTOPHE, WHO RAISED HIS WEAPON ANDfired two shots at the incoming police. The uniformed officers all dove to the vestibule floor, which bought them a few seconds to race off in the opposite direction.

“He’s going to get us killed,” Toni said to him as they ran.

“You think?”

The acolytes readying the high altar all fled in a panic toward the far end of the nave. Luke glanced back. Christophe lagged, alternating his attention between what lay ahead and behind. The police had returned to their feet but were not rushing ahead, conscious of the fact that at least one of their targets was armed. Luke quickly absorbed the local geography. The interior was divided into three sectors. Each appeared slim and confined due to their impressive height, but there was actually lots of room to maneuver.

Too much, really.

What he needed was another way out and he spotted that off to his left, a set of huge doors beneath a darkened stained glass window. Toni saw it, too, and headed for it. Christophe had yet to catch up. Which mattered not since that guy was radioactive. Sure, Fenn may not have known that the tomb was empty and the police just happened to show up here at precisely the right moment. But like his mother would say when he tried some cockamamie story on her to explain his way out of trouble.Coincidence is God’s way ofstaying anonymous.Bless her soul, but this was not God’s work. No. Fenn had set them up to take a fall. The police were here for a reason.

And it wasn’t good.

Toni reached the door and grabbed the heavy iron latch.

Which opened.

She rushed out. Luke followed.

Christophe caught up and exited with them. The side doors led to a small landing, then a few stone risers dropped down to a compact plaza ringed by dark multi-story buildings. Three breezeways led out through the buildings. Two police cars, blue and red lights strobing, motored through one of them and screeched to a halt. Officers poured out, reaching for their sidearms.

Crap. These guys were serious.

Christophe leveled his weapon and fired a round toward them. Luke knew what was coming and dove toward Toni, taking her down to the cold pavement as the officers sent a barrage of bullets their way.

Several found Christophe.

Thudding lead caused muscular convulsions.

A look of surprise filled Christophe’s face and he staggered forward a few paces, struggling to keep his balance, then toppled backward, hitting the pavement hard.

“Crawl. Fast,” he told her.

She seemed to know that staying low could work as the police were focused on the more immediate threat. They belly-crawled forward using a series of large stone planters for cover. Another of the breezeways opened to their right. Twenty feet away. The cops were a good thirty yards behind them. Darkness loomed, broken only by a few freestanding amber light fixtures. His Ranger training kicked in and he recalled the six steps to save your ass. First and foremost, keep out of harm’s way. Then, take cover fast. Don’t panic. Think clearly. Keep reassessing. And, most important, be smart before moving.

So far he’d adhered to the first five.

Time for number six.

“Stay flat and use that last planter as cover, then roll into the breezeway.”

Toni nodded, never hesitating or flinching. She was damn good under pressure. He risked a glance back and saw that the police were reassessing the situation, probably making sure Christophe was no longer a problem. Toni wiggled forward to the next planter. Luke followed, both of them trying not to make a lot of noise. The stone steps leading up to the cathedral’s side door gave them a bit of cover since the police were on its other side.

They both made it to the last planter.

He rolled onto his back and saw that the police had yet to advance.

“Do it. Now,” he said.

She came to her knees, crouched low, and bolted for the blackness of the breezeway. No shots came their way. She disappeared into the darkness. He rolled over and readied himself. Noise from behind caught his attention. He started forward, staying low. A shot rang out and a bullet pinged off the concrete. Real close.

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