"What was that?" she whispered, fear settling into her voice.
Michael cursed under his breath. "They must have broken through the door. We don't have much time."
Xavier tightened his grip on Amelia's hand, his eyes scanning the dead end. Fear was about to consume them, but then a deep, authoritative voice boomed from the other side of the tunnel.
"Stand down! This is Victor Hawthorne. You're trespassing on private property."
A collective gasp escaped Amelia's lips. Victor? Her uncle? What was he doing here?
The pounding on the metal hatch ceased, replaced by a tense silence. Then a rude voice replied from the other side.
"Mr. Hawthorne, with all due respect, these people are wanted criminals."
"Criminals?" Victor's voice boomed again, dripping with humorous "I haven't seen any crimi
