His work had put his son in danger, and now he had to find a way to eliminate that threat permanently. Downstairs, he found one of the security agents making coffee in the kitchen. Any activity overnight? Jonathan asked. All quiet, sir, the agent reported.
Perimeter is secure, Jonathan nodded, then stiffened as he noticed something through the kitchen window. A small red dot moving across the wall behind the agent. Without hesitation, he lunged forward, tackling the man to the ground just as the window shattered, and a bullet embedded itself in the cabinet where. The agents heads before. "Sniper!"
Jonathan shouted. Get down. More shots followed, precise and methodical, targeting the house's first floor windows. From outside came the sound of the security team returning fire, shouting into their radios for backup. Jonathan crawled to the hallway.
Secure the upstairs. Malik's up there. Two agents raced up the stairs while Jonathan pulled his own weapon from the ankle holster he always wore. The barrage of gunfire continued, pinning them down inside the house. Where are they firing from?
Jonathan demanded into the radio. Rooftop across the street came the tur's reply. East side. We can't get a clear shot. A panicked shout came from upstairs.
Sir, the boy's not in his room. Jonathan felt his blood turn to ice. What? His bed's empty. Windows still locked from the inside.
He must be somewhere in the house. Relief flooded through Jonathan, followed immediately by renewed concern. Malik, he called out. Where are you, Dad? Malik's frightened voice came from somewhere nearby.
I'm in the panic room. Jonathan let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. The panic room, a reinforced closet off his home office that he'd installed years ago, but never expected to use. He'd shown it to Malik only once, explaining it was for emergencies. Smart boy, Jonathan murmured.
Stay there, he called out. Don't come out until I tell you it's safe. The gunfire had stopped, the sudden silence almost more unnerving than the chaos moments before. Jonathan's radio crackled. Sir, the sniper's gone.
Looks like it was a diversion. A diversion for what? Jonathan muttered, then realized with sudden clarity what was happening. Check the back of the house now. Even as he gave the order, a tremendous crash came from the direction of the kitchen, followed by shouts and more gunfire.
Jonathan sprinted toward the sound, weapon ready to find two blackclad figures had crashed through the back door. One was already down, shot by the security team, but the other was exchanging fire from behind the kitchen island. Folk is coming for Malik, Jonathan shouted to the nearest agent. This is just the first wave. Get everyone inside the house.