26
An ominous scraping above them, on the outside of the trapdoor, took over from the silence where the voices had stopped. Someone was trying to wedge a lever in to prise the steel plate open.
Frank stepped back as far as possible to lessen whoever it was’s view of them, signalling McGavin to do likewise. Taking out his Beretta, Frank lined it up, readying himself for the intruder to poke his damn head in. As much as he didn’t want to worsen their situation, desperate as it was, by taking the guy out, there was no other option. There was no knowing how desperate the orders were for their arrest – if they were to be shot on sight, leaving questions last.
A narrow slit appeared first, pausing for a second, before widening slowly. Caution was tense on both sides of the steel plate. The ri
