More and more voices could be herd circulating around the compound. Jack was certain they were in the south side of the building, not too far from freedom, but not close enough either. The shouts died down as Jack led them down a deserted corridor, he felt a ping of hope as he recognised the room it led into, so did Heller.
It was where Jack had been captured and Heller held with his daughter earlier, before they separated. Jack signalled for Heller to fall back and they took cover behind one of the many stacks of crates. Jack wanted to form a plan of action and allow Heller to catch his breath, he was taking deep wheezing gasps as he struggled to keep up.
"We take this corridor down to the next large room," Jack whispered, indicating which door would lead them to the corridor with his hand. "Then just keep going straight. That will lead us outside, but we need to find a phone or something to contact CTU, we need a team to pick us up, once we're out were in open land for too long, even outside the perimeter. We'd be sitting ducks no matter where we went."
Heller nodded, like Jack wondering how they were going to make the contact. Jack suddenly had an idea.
"When were out we need to take the left corner, there's a fire escape and a small wall, it will provide us cover. There should be a body there, I didn't take his cell or radio, so we can use them."
Heller nodded again, his breathing back to normal, hoping like Jack that the body had been left undisturbed. It was there only choice.
Jack wanted to wait a moment longer so Heller wouldn't have trouble with the pace he was setting, as the sudden silence struck him.
"Sir, if anybody converges on us I'll try lure them away from you-"
"Jack," Heller cut in, wondering where the sudden hesitation had come from.
"Listen," Jack urged, "we can't hear them no more, which means they know what they are doing. It was easy to escape through the chaos, but the search for us will be fast and precise. If they find us, you have to let me try distract them. Sir, they can't take you, do you understand?"
"Yes," Heller sad weakly, hoping it wouldn't come t this.
"What about Audrey," he asked suddenly, wanting confirmation that she would be safe.
"She got out okay," Jack started, "I saw her most of the way, of course we can't be certain… She'll be hiding in the brush near the fencing on the outer perimeter if everything went to plan; I told her not to leave the grounds, there's more chance of being spotted out there."
"Thank you Jack," Heller sad, taking advantage of the short rest, hoping Jack understood the sincerity of his words. It appeared he did, Heller knew how hard Jack took praise and took his response of confirmation that he understood.
"We need to move."