CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Aramis walked cautiously down the corridor in the West Wing, keeping to the right, his shoulder to the wall. As he approached the elevators, he noticed something interesting. The light was on over the top of one of them, but not on the other, the doors of which were standing open. There was obviously a back up generator powering the left one as an emergency exit, for those people who could not walk down the stairs in the event of an emergency. Luckily, he did not count himself as one of those, even though he struggled to walk up them.

Just then, there was the sound of boots at the top of the landing. It couldn't be Athos, as he would be equally as cautious about moving around as him. He stepped into the dead elevator, irrationally wondering if the doors would close and if they did, would they open again, trapping him inside? Looking up, he noted the trap door above him. A grab rail ran around the cubicle and, at a pinch, he reckoned he could climb up and release the trap door. What he would do once he was in the lift shaft was another matter. For now though, he was content to keep to the inner corner and wait for whoever went past. They needed to eliminate some of these thugs.

He eased in a breath as the figure came closer, their shadow falling on the floor. With only a letter opener as a weapon, he needed to be quick and thorough and hope he could take this man out. Closer, closer. Aramis curled his fist around the silver handle of the letter opener, ready to strike.

The figure passed the open elevator and, far from attacking, he hesitated. Again.

/

Athos slid down the wall of the storeroom, resting his arms on his drawn up knees. He was aware he was breathing hard, and also aware he had no weapons. He was caught between a possible solution in the kitchen and the restaurant but, outside the storeroom, a masked man was stalking him. He had evaded him on the stairs and was not sure he had been seen but it was imperative he found a weapon of sorts. Aramis had Kramer's key and was trying to find a gun cupboard, if indeed, that was what the key fitted. He looked down, realising he had been picking at his bandage.

He had barely settled when the door was quickly and quietly opened and Martina slipped in, a horrified look on her face. She closed the door and stared down at him;

"There's a man," she gasped when she recognised him, "With a gun!"

"There are several," Athos replied, recovering quickly from the sudden intrusion, lifting his arm and waving her in. She allowed herself to be ushered further into the store room and sat down on the floor, next to him.

"What do they want?" she whispered, after a moment to catch her breath.

"I believe they want us," Athos replied. "Aramis and I. And, I am sorry to tell you that Dr Kramer is dead." It was blunt, but he needed her to understand the situation.

"What!" she cried, her hand flying to her throat.

Athos reached across and let his finger hover gently over her lips to quieten her. "I am sorry," he said, once again. "He was a good man."

"I can't believe it!" she said, her voice now a husky whisper. Her eyes were swimming with tears, which she quickly dashed away.

"May I ask," Athos ventured. "What are you doing here? It seems you are the only member of staff we have come across."

"I live in during the week," she managed. "There is supposed to be a skeleton staff on for two days for the renovations."

"So I understand. Well, it seems they have been cancelled and a new force has come in their place."

"Why do they want you?" she whispered, trying to make sense of it all.

"We have history," Athos explained. "Aramis and I are part of a security force in Paris and they seem to want to destroy us. I can't tell you much more than that."

"Where is your friend?" Martina asked suddenly. "He's not …?"

"No!" Athos replied, quickly, his voice low. "We split up to look for weapons, I was heading for the kitchen when I came across one of them on the stairs. He didn't see me." he added.

"Weapons?" she frowned.

"These people are armed, Martina," he explained "and we don't have our phones, they are in the safe," he added, pointedly.

"Dr Kramer has the combination, on his computer," she said, hopefully.

"They cut the power. And, we cannot go back there, they would surely be waiting for us."

"What about the gates?"

"If they are any good, they will have locked the gates behind them, to cut off any escape," he replied. "I believe they are good, so far. Is there any other way out of the grounds?"

"No," she replied, after a few moments thought. "The trees are dense and follow a steep gradient up into the mountains. There is no way out that way. Only …"

"What?" Athos said, searching her face.

"The ravine," she replied, tucking her dark hair behind her ears.

"How?"

"There is a path, it winds down. It is very steep though," she added. "But once at the river, you can follow it and bypass the entrance."

"Have you ever done it?"

She shook her head regretfully;

"No-one has. It's dangerous. I only know because if you are beside the river and look up, you can see the trail, and the roof of this building. I think the trail must have been more substantial at some time, but it has degraded over time."

Athos remembered looking over the barrier on their first exploration of the grounds. It seemed so long ago. The river was far below. He had dismissed it at the time.

"Then I doubt either Aramis or I are fit enough to attempt it."

"But I could try," she said.

"Not if it is as dangerous as you say," he said, gently, which earned him a glare.

"I am a reservist in the Swiss Army," she stated, tersely. "In Switzerland, our men are conscripted into the army, but the women can volunteer." She pulled out the locket that had been tucked inside her uniform shirt.

"My partner and I both volunteered when we were eighteen," she murmured, as she put the locket to her lips. "We have both completed several training courses, including mountain hiking and abseiling."

Athos leant forward intently. "Then you will be missed if he cannot contact you?"

"She," Martina replied imperiously, before heaving a heartfelt sigh. "And, no, we broke up a month ago. Over my job here, actually. Lena said it was 'boring and beneath me.'"

"A pity," Athos murmured. "On both counts. She may see it differently, when we get out of here."

"Do you think we will?" she said, turning wide eyes to him. "Get out?"

"We've had worse," Athos replied, with a small smile of reassurance. Even if he did not quite believe his own words at the moment. But, she needed hope, so he was willing to play along.

"So what now?" she said.

"Now," he replied firmly, "We see if there is anything useful in here we can use. And then, we find Aramis."

Although the last thing he needed was a civilian to look out for, no matter how capable or prepared she thought herself. However, there was nothing he could do about it.

/