Chapter 5 - Siege of the Mercer Estate
BOOM!
A massive shockwave rattled the reinforced steel shutters of the study as a breaching charge detonated at the main conservatory entrance downstairs.
The power inside the estate died instantly, plunging the vast mansion into total, suffocating darkness. Emergency red LED strips flickered on along the baseboards, casting long, bloody shadows across the hardwood floors.
“Main breaker cut,” Nora said instantly, her eyes adapting to the gloom. She checked the chamber of her stolen sidearm. “They’re using night-vision equipment and suppressed submachine guns. They’ll sweep from the ground floor up.”
Declan grabbed an assault rifle from the concealed gun safe behind the bookcase, sliding three extra magazines into his vest. He looked at Owen, who was still strapped to the chair, whimpering in the dark.
“What about him?” Nora asked.
“Leave him,” Declan said coldly. “If his mother’s mercenaries find him, they can explain her collateral damage policy to him.”
Declan walked over to Hallie, dropping to one knee. “Hallie, we’re moving to the subterranean bunker through the service chute behind the pantry. I need you to hold onto my belt.”
“No,” Hallie said firmly.
Declan blinked in the dim red light. “Hallie, this isn't a discussion—”
“In the dark, you’re slow, Dad,” Hallie said, her voice completely calm, her senses fully heightened. “You and Nora are relying on emergency lights and shadows. I’ve lived in the dark for four years. I know every step, every floorboard that creaks, and every doorframe in this house.”
Nora looked at Hallie, a slow, grim smile spreading across her tactical face. “She’s right, Declan. In pitch blackness, your daughter has the home-field advantage.”
TAT-TAT-TAT-TAT!
Suppressed automatic fire chewed through the oak doors of the grand gallery down the hall. Heavy tactical boots stepped onto the upper landing.
“Move!” Nora whispered.
They slipped out of the study through a hidden pocket door behind the tapestry, entering the narrow service corridor built inside the thick stone walls of the mansion.
It was completely black—no red LEDs, no moonlight, no reflections.
Declan reached out blindly, his hands brushing against cold brick. He felt a light, confident hand wrap around his wrist.
“Follow me,” Hallie whispered.
She didn't hesitate. Hallie walked through the pitch-black corridor as if it were a sunlit park. Her small feet moved soundlessly over the narrow wooden planks. She reached out with her left hand, her fingertips barely grazing the wall, guiding her father and Nora through the labyrinthine framing of the estate.
“Stop,” Hallie suddenly breathed, dropping her hand.
Declan and Nora froze instantly.
Ten feet ahead, through the thin plaster wall of the corridor, the heavy stomping of two tactical operators echoed softly.
“Two men,” Hallie whispered into Declan’s ear. “One is breathing heavy through his nose—he has a cold. The other is shifting a heavy weapon on his right shoulder strap. They’re standing outside the linen closet.”
Nora closed her eyes, relying entirely on Hallie’s acoustic map. She held up two fingers to Declan in the dark, then pointed toward the thin drywall.
“Clear the hallway,” a muffled voice whispered through the wall. “Target might be in the master suite.”
Nora stepped forward soundlessly. She didn't use her gun. She pulled a long titanium combat knife from her boot.
Using Hallie’s exact spatial positioning, Nora drove the heavy blade straight through the thin plaster drywall.
THWACK!
A wet choked gasp sounded from the other side of the wall. The heavy operator collapsed against the plaster.
Before the second mercenary could react, Declan stepped up beside Nora, leveled his suppressed rifle at the wall six inches to the right, and fired three rapid rounds.
PUFF-PUFF-PUFF!
The second body hit the floor with a heavy metallic clatter.
“Both down,” Hallie murmured, her voice steady as iron. “Good shot, Dad.”
Declan felt a chill run down his spine. His daughter was navigating a war zone inside her own home with the cool detachment of a seasoned combat commander.
“Where to now, Hallie?” Nora asked quietly.
“The grand library,” Hallie replied. “Grandmother’s private server terminal is in the basement beneath the fireplace. If we want to stop her, we need the encryption keys.”
They continued down the dark passage, descending a narrow spiral staircase that led toward the library wing.
Behind them, deep inside the dark house, a voice bellowed through a bullhorn from the courtyard.
“Declan! This is Captain Vance!”
Declan froze on the stairs.
Vance. The syndicate boss Declan had blamed for four years for the death of his wife.
“Your mother paid my firm five million dollars to finalize the Mercer liquidation!” Vance’s voice echoed sinisterly through the halls. “Hand over the blind girl, and I’ll let you die like a gentleman!”
Declan looked into the blackness toward his daughter.
“Nora,” Declan whispered.
“Yeah?”
“Give Hallie your backup sidearm.”
Nora paused in the dark. She pulled a compact 9mm Glock from her small-of-back holster, checked the safety, and placed the grip gently into Hallie’s small, steady hand.
“Index finger off the trigger until you’re ready to destroy whatever is in front of you,” Nora instructed softly.
May you like
Hallie wrapped her fingers around the grip, her thumb sweeping over the textured frame.
“I know,” Hallie said, her clouded eyes staring into the dark. “Nora taught me that three weeks ago.”
