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Bryson pushed it and it lit up Michael had been working at his screen and finally slipped past the firewall protecting the ca would think it’d been caused by a power malfunction, maybe spurred by the crash of the police hovercar

"Cameras are down," he said, filled with relief as he clicked off his NetScreen They didn’t knohere the caood to have one less thing to worry about A loud crack sounded with the latest io hide," Sarah whispered, already on the move Michael and Bryson followed her into the hallway, turning right into the red-tinted darkness The elevator doors closed behind theonna wipe it out completely once it stops on thirty With that and the cameras shot, they won’t have a clue where we are"

Michael was just about to ask her how long she planned for the, metallic crash shook the air, followed by shouts and a rush of footsteps

"We need to hurry," Sarah said flatly, an understatelow of Sarah’s NetScreen lit the way as they scurried through a spooky world of cubicles and desks and potted plants--the e since evacuated The sounds of pursuit echoed throughout the floor, shouted directions and the rustle of footsteps on carpet People were spreading out until it beca from where Michael could feel every thump of his escalated heartbeat in his throat and ears, the blood pue breakroom, where a full kitchen and several tables had been set up Michael knew they couldn’t risk going any farther--there were toothem, and they were too spread out

"Under those cabinets," Bryson whispered, pointing at so kitchen counter, where a toaster and coffee machine were tucked away

"Perfect," Sarah replied "I’ll keep throwing them off" She opened a cabinet in the ht, crouched down, and opened one of the wooden doors There was plenty of space, just a few paper plates and plastic utensils scattered along the botto to sit and face the door He pulled his knees as close to his chest as he could and reached out and closed the cabinet The sudden darkness teain, just for the co on slowing his breath and heartbeat and listening for activity

Soon there was silence Michael didn’t knohen it had happened, but at so It showed how anxious he’d been that he hadn’t noticed Besides the soft sound of his own s was quiet and still And dark

Several et comfortable in the small, cramped space, no matter how much he shifted His back ached and his muscles were stiff He knew Sarah was in the next cabinet over, her NetScreen probably diet out of there There had to be a way And if there was, Michael had no doubt that she’d figure it out

Still, he hadn’t stopped sweating His nerves were a jumble of frayed cords, ready to snap People were out there, in the halls, throughout the building, looking for hiht he was a terrorist, a kidnapper, an accoitive Once the police had the before Kaine knehere they were And then his people--who he guessed were forents like Michael--would come next

There was a sound soh or clearing of the throat Michael froze and listened

The shuffle of footsteps, more than one person Theythe area bit by bit, going from one spot to the next He couldn’t tell if the people were in the hallway or the kitchen But then came the voices, and it sounded like they were just a few feet away

"Call in downstairs," a ht whisper "Get the latest"

"Just a sec," came the reply A woman

Michael felt his heart almost leap out of his chest--they were so close He steeled hi move or sound and they’d be on him

There was a chirp and a tinny sound of static that was barely audible Then the woain