from anywhere.”
“Man up a little. Just tuck and roll when you hit the floor and try to land on your good shoulder. It’s either that or we get the prison doctor to stitch you up.”
“Have I ever told you how much I miss these conversations?”
Mary shot him a look.
“Fine, okay, so we’re jumping for it. Any idea which direction we need to go?”
“The west side of the building faces out to the alleyway,” she replied, examining her cell phone’s compass application. “Which is in this direction.” She stalked off toward one of the empty offices at the other end of the corridor. “Try to keep up.”
Leopold looked up at Sophie, who held out her hand.
“Better do as she says, non? ”
He nodded. “Just try not to use me to break your fall. I’m feeling a little fragile.”
She smiled and helped him back onto his feet and they set off in pursuit of Mary, who had disappeared into the empty office beyond. They rounded the corner and Leopold spotted her wrestling with one of the floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the street outside.
“Here, give me a hand with this.”
Between the three of them, they managed to wrench the large panel open, letting in the cool night air and the rumbling sounds of the city. Leopold looked down.
“We’re a good twenty feet up,” he said, turning to Sophie. “If we land properly, there shouldn’t be any problem.”
“And how do we do that?”
“Keep your feet and knees together to avoid twisting an ankle. Bend your legs but keep them firmly stiff. As soon as your feet touch the ground, collapse into a roll on one side. That will absorb most of the impact force and stop you from shattering your ankles.”
Sophie nodded, clearly not convinced.
“Don’t worry, you’ll be just fine,” he said, putting his hand on her shoulder and leaving a rusty smudge of blood on her jacket. “Sorry.” He pulled his hand away.
“So, are we heading for the car?”
“That’s not an option,” said Mary. “The police have the roads blocked off. Thankfully, there’s quite a crowd forming outside, so if we can get through to the other side of the alleyway, there’s a chance we can slip through unnoticed while they’re preoccupied. If we don’t get stopped, we can make our way on foot from there until we can flag down a taxi. How far is the apartment?”
“About three miles north of here,” said Leopold. “Assuming I don’t pass out on the way, we should be able to make it.”
“Is he always like this?” asked Sophie.
Mary sighed and nodded. “Comes with the territory, I’m afraid.” She turned to Leopold. “Time to get moving. After you.” She gestured toward the open window.
“I guess I had that coming.” He clutched his injured shoulder. Stepping forward, Leopold looked out of the window to the dark alley floor. Taking a deep breath, he clambered out into the night, one leg either side of the frame, and got ready for the jump. Despite the fears and uncertainties that played on his mind, he had no doubts about one thing – this was going to hurt like hell.
Chapter 23
THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS onboard The Thanatos were designed to simulate the passing of night and day. With most of the crew below deck and without access to natural light, the systems helped keep everyone’s circadian rhythm synchronized.
James Cullen’s quarters were housed near the center of the ship, where the movements of the waves were less disruptive. The senior operative lay on his bed, reading a book on his tablet computer. Inside the room, the temperature and lighting controls were set to night-time and the ship’s clock reminded him it was too late to still be awake. As he leaned over to turn out the lights, a gentle knock at the door made him look up.
“Come in.”
The door slid open and Rose stepped through, dressed in tight jeans and a fitted tee. She was carrying a laptop under one arm.
“It’s a little late for social calls,” said
“Man up a little. Just tuck and roll when you hit the floor and try to land on your good shoulder. It’s either that or we get the prison doctor to stitch you up.”
“Have I ever told you how much I miss these conversations?”
Mary shot him a look.
“Fine, okay, so we’re jumping for it. Any idea which direction we need to go?”
“The west side of the building faces out to the alleyway,” she replied, examining her cell phone’s compass application. “Which is in this direction.” She stalked off toward one of the empty offices at the other end of the corridor. “Try to keep up.”
Leopold looked up at Sophie, who held out her hand.
“Better do as she says, non? ”
He nodded. “Just try not to use me to break your fall. I’m feeling a little fragile.”
She smiled and helped him back onto his feet and they set off in pursuit of Mary, who had disappeared into the empty office beyond. They rounded the corner and Leopold spotted her wrestling with one of the floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the street outside.
“Here, give me a hand with this.”
Between the three of them, they managed to wrench the large panel open, letting in the cool night air and the rumbling sounds of the city. Leopold looked down.
“We’re a good twenty feet up,” he said, turning to Sophie. “If we land properly, there shouldn’t be any problem.”
“And how do we do that?”
“Keep your feet and knees together to avoid twisting an ankle. Bend your legs but keep them firmly stiff. As soon as your feet touch the ground, collapse into a roll on one side. That will absorb most of the impact force and stop you from shattering your ankles.”
Sophie nodded, clearly not convinced.
“Don’t worry, you’ll be just fine,” he said, putting his hand on her shoulder and leaving a rusty smudge of blood on her jacket. “Sorry.” He pulled his hand away.
“So, are we heading for the car?”
“That’s not an option,” said Mary. “The police have the roads blocked off. Thankfully, there’s quite a crowd forming outside, so if we can get through to the other side of the alleyway, there’s a chance we can slip through unnoticed while they’re preoccupied. If we don’t get stopped, we can make our way on foot from there until we can flag down a taxi. How far is the apartment?”
“About three miles north of here,” said Leopold. “Assuming I don’t pass out on the way, we should be able to make it.”
“Is he always like this?” asked Sophie.
Mary sighed and nodded. “Comes with the territory, I’m afraid.” She turned to Leopold. “Time to get moving. After you.” She gestured toward the open window.
“I guess I had that coming.” He clutched his injured shoulder. Stepping forward, Leopold looked out of the window to the dark alley floor. Taking a deep breath, he clambered out into the night, one leg either side of the frame, and got ready for the jump. Despite the fears and uncertainties that played on his mind, he had no doubts about one thing – this was going to hurt like hell.
Chapter 23
THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS onboard The Thanatos were designed to simulate the passing of night and day. With most of the crew below deck and without access to natural light, the systems helped keep everyone’s circadian rhythm synchronized.
James Cullen’s quarters were housed near the center of the ship, where the movements of the waves were less disruptive. The senior operative lay on his bed, reading a book on his tablet computer. Inside the room, the temperature and lighting controls were set to night-time and the ship’s clock reminded him it was too late to still be awake. As he leaned over to turn out the lights, a gentle knock at the door made him look up.
“Come in.”
The door slid open and Rose stepped through, dressed in tight jeans and a fitted tee. She was carrying a laptop under one arm.
“It’s a little late for social calls,” said
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