Chapter Six

"Hey!" Jaime called, still ducked out of sight in the 7th floor stairwell. It had the desired effect, as the intruder's attention was diverted at the last possible moment. He spun around, looking for her, just as his finger squeezed the trigger and the shot careened wildly off of the wall....and into his own foot.

"Dammit!" He was enraged and in pain but shockingly stayed upright, diving toward the stairway to avenge his injury (and eliminate the potential witness). Jaime ducked as another bullet whizzed just past her head.

She called to her husband but he didn't react. (Was he dead?) Jaime was entirely on her own – and in no shape for a fight. She had her full strength but not the balance or coordination needed to use it. She had less than a split-second to consider her options. There was a fire ax on the wall but her aim would have to be perfect because she'd only get one chance. Normally it would've been her first choice....but not today. The fire hose was iffy, too – if a bullet to the foot didn't slow him down, Jaime doubted how effective water would be.

The only thing remaining was the extinguisher. Desperately, she tore it from its holder, opened the nozzle full-blast and turned it on her attacker, covering him – especially his face and eyes – with the foam. Two more bullets ricocheted into the ceiling and the wall as he continued staggering blindly in Jaime's direction. Thinking as quickly as her sedated brain would allow, Jaime opened the 7th floor door just in time for the gunman to slam into it. He was stunned but still on his feet.

Hoping her attacker would believe she'd taken the hallway, Jaime fled down the stairs to the next level. He wasn't fooled and, wiping the foam from his eyes and sputtering it from his lips like a rabid dog, he stayed right behind her.

Two security guards, alerted by the sound of gunfire, came running out onto the 7th floor landing, hollering "Freeze!" They were instantly cut down by one shot each from the intruder's gun. Jaime had gained a few precious seconds when her attacker turned back to fire, but her whole body felt like rubber and she was rapidly losing steam. Then she heard a welcome sound: the hollow click-click that told her he was out of bullets.

She couldn't run anymore and the intruder was quickly gaining on her, but without ammo to back him up, Jaime thought maybe she could outwit him. "Get over in that corner," he ordered, motioning to the far end of the stairwell with the barrel of his gun. "Now!" Jaime defiantly stood her ground. "Lady, I'm not joking – I will blow your head off -"

"No you won't," Jaime argued softly. "You can't. You're out of bullets."

The attacker glared at Jaime, flipped the gun around in his hand....and slammed the gun butt viciously into the side of her head. Since she was already dazed to begin with, the single blow sent Jaime sprawling. "I don't need bullets to take care of you," he growled, descending toward her with his fist raised in a clear and obvious attack position. "I'll kill you myself!"

Jaime was down – but she wasn't out yet. She had enough reflex left to grab his fist before he could strike a blow and, pushing him off-balance, she kneed him in the stomach with all the strength she had left and pushed him down the stairs.

"I'll be damned," he muttered as he began tumbling down toward the 5th floor, "Wells went and made another one."

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