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Jake had the advantage, the high ground. The stairs wound up in a spiral, the only light cast by the moon through occasional small windows. Tuc could see Jake’s shadow appear on the curved white walls as he moved quickly upward.
The air was heavy in the stairway and sweat ran into the big man’s eyes, behind his ears and down his neck. His large frame filled the stairway and was an easy target at every turn.
“Damn,” he cussed the whole event. Mopping his brow he continued his pursuit, climbing the three stories cautiously, listening for any change in Jake’s clamor, not knowing when the staircase ended or where it would ultimately lead.
Suddenly, the racing footsteps on the stairs ahead of him stopped. Tuc drew back.
Jake c****d his gun and fired down the stairwell. The bullet ricoch
