Read Into the Devil's Underground for Free Online

Nathan made his move.
    The deafening boom of Joe’s gun firing stalled Nathan’s progress. The bullet whipped past him, shattering the glass in the tellers’ windows. Ears ringing and head swimming, Nathan dropped to his knees. His vision blurred. He could barely see Emilie struggling with the partner.
    “Stand down.” Johnson’s hard voice rang through the lobby. “Cease fire and lay down your weapons.”
    Joe fired again.
    Pop, pop, pop! The clatter of gunshots, breaking glass, and the firecracker-like noise of assault rifles screamed through the lobby. More shouting, someone screeching his name.
    Something thudded to the floor behind Nathan. Fighting against the clamor inside his head, he twisted to see Joe lying face down on the floor, blood rapidly pooling around him.
    “Suspect down,” Nathan called out. He turned back to the teller counter. Two SWAT members were pulling Mollie and the customer out of the bank. Emilie and the partner were gone.
    Nathan hauled himself to his feet. “Where are the other two?”
    “In pursuit.” The beta team member pointed toward the east hallway. “You need to come out with us, Madigan.”
    Nathan ignored them, sprinting to the hallway. He flattened himself against the wall.
    Ahead, Johnson and Chris crouched behind a stairwell. “He’s trapping himself,” Chris said. “He’s going to start firing.”
    “Chris.” Nathan shimmied down the wall and crouched next to them. “He’s got something planned. We’re missing it.”
    “Jesus Christ, Madigan,” Johnson snapped. “You don’t have any gear on. Get outside.”
    “I can’t, sir. You didn’t see how that guy acted with that woman. He’s not going to stop until he has her.”
    “He’s got no way out,” Chris said. “We can wait all night.”
    Another gunshot soared up the stairs, sounding like canon fire. Nathan snapped his head back and forth. “Wish you’d brought another helmet.”
    “I didn’t expect you to continue being a dumbass,” Johnson said. He pressed the mic on his vest. “Kenner, get Madigan’s gear in here, and bring Randall with you.”
    Johnson shifted on his heels so that he faced both men. “This sneaky bastard has no way out. But he does have the advantage, and we’re not taking any more risks. We’ll set up here and cover the stairs. If we have to wait him out all night, then fine. He’ll crack. Madigan, you need to start negotiating for her release.”
    As the gun smoke cleared, a new sound came from downstairs: dull, heavy hammering, a loud crack, and then the rumble of something falling.
    “What’s he up to?” Chris said.
    “Help me!” Emilie’s shrill cry fed Nathan’s adrenaline. “He’s taking me! Nathan!”
    Without thinking, Nathan lurched forward in front of Chris and shouted, “Emilie, I’m here. We’re going to get you out, I promise.”
    He felt the searing rip in his arm first, followed by the grisly sound of the shot, like thunder. White-hot pain lit his left bicep, and he fell back into Chris.
    “Ah, damn! Madigan’s hit,” Johnson shouted. “Get the paramedic down here.”
    Fighting to get the air back into his lungs, Nathan gingerly examined his bleeding arm. The bullet had caught the outer muscle and gone out the back, ending up somewhere in the drywall. “Flesh wound. I’m good.” He pressed his hand against the wound, biting his teeth against the pain.
    Another scream tore through the stairwell.
    *   *   *   *
    E MILIE WOULD DIE fighting. Jamming the burning end of the gun in her neck, Creepy dragged her through the basement, plowing over boxes and anything else in his wake. The dark didn’t seem to hinder his path. She tried to twist out of his grip; he slammed her against the wall. The air in her lungs belched out of her mouth as agony tore across her back. Creepy started pounding at something that smelled chalky, the dull thuds clanging in her throbbing head. She grasped blindly for her wits, but the sheer darkness in the