Page 56 of Mastermind

I weigh the option of sitting still and waiting for more men with guns to arrive. The problem is that if the chimps get smart and attack, it’ll all go down in seconds. There will be no chance to buy more time.

I can see the outline of Jessica’s body in the distance as she gets closer to the exit.

Hopefully she’ll survive. She seems really good at that.

I’ve already decided that when I have one bullet left, that one’s for me . . . if I can get the gun to my head. You don’t survive a chimp attack like this without immediate help, and I don’t want Jessica trying to save me.

Scratch.

Scratch.

Bam!

Dust falls into my eyes as a chimpanzee smashes at the tile. Bam!

The whole floor rattles.

The chimp can feel it giving way. Now he knows he can smash his way through.

Bam! Bam! Bam!

A crack of light shines through the gap between the tile and the frame as the flooring bounces from the force being thrown at it.

Bam! Bam! Crack!

I’m bathed in light as the tile is thrown free. Three sets of chimpanzee eyes peer down at me. They stare at the metal object in my hand, trying to comprehend.

I fire a bullet an inch to the left of the one closest to me. He flees, and I fire another over the sloping forehead of his companion before the third moves out of the way.

I pull myself backward. Bam!

Another chimp strikes the floor directly over me.

BAM!

A chimpanzee fist punches through the tile over my stomach.

Just as quickly, it disappears.

I aim at the hole. Before I can fire, a fast-moving hand rips the tile free, exposing another section of the floor. I crab-slide backward, keeping my gun aimed at the openings.

A chimp drops into the gap and comes at me faster than I can imagine, a nightmare of fangs and fury.

I fire.

I fire again.

Another chimp drops into the crawl space. I fire near him.

Again. And . . . click.

I lost count of my bullets, and now I’m out. I didn’t have a chance to steal a spare clip when we were in the police station. I curse myself for not being prepared.

I hear, but can’t see, another chimp drop into the crawl space. His frightened brothers are waiting for the right moment to attack.

My hands scrape around, looking for a weapon. All I can feel is cable and electrical conduit.

The chimpanzee starts loping toward me.