Ferris’s arm had barely moved before his opponent stepped inside the intended blow, his own arm thrusting upwards. Ferris had no time to think. No time to question. A long knife appeared in the intruder’s hand. It found its way expertly to the underside of Ferris’s chin.

Any resistance there was overcome by momentum. The blade entered Ferris’s brain before he could blink.

*

Shock and disbelief combined as Kevin Tennant watched Ferris fall. His oldest friend and the most dangerous man he had ever known, killed in a heartbeat. No warning. No fanfare.

Tennant’s mind could not quite accept what he had seen; it tried to reject the impossible. The others seemed to do the same; all three seemed to freeze. Just for a moment, but it was a moment they did not have.

Because the intruder was not in shock. And he moved fast. A second knife appeared in the same hand. Pulled from its hiding place in the same swirl of movement that brought the small man closer to Ellis and Tennant, via a rigid Leach.

It was Leach who fell first. His murderer hardly glanced at him as the knife slashed across Leach’s throat. Blood hit the wall six feet away, making a second blow unnecessary. Only a severed carotid artery fired blood so far from its source.

Less than a second had passed.

Ellis was next in line. Tennant behind him. Less than a yard apart, but Ferris’s killer was closer still. The distance gave Ellis no time to think, removing his only natural advantage.

If Ellis had been a natural fighter he would not have reached for his gun. There was no time to pull and aim; the intruder was too close for that. The best course was to attack with fists and feet, with Tennant at his side. Two against one. Ellis’s instincts told him none of this. His mind resorted to a simple equation: gun versus knife.

Tennant could do nothing as Ellis reached for his holstered weapon just as his attacker reached him. Without a free arm to strike or to block, Ellis was defenceless as the second blade was thrust deep into his exposed chest.

Maybe two seconds had passed. Certainly less than three.

All resistance left Ellis’ body as the knife pierced his heart. He slumped forwards. His murderer span aside as Ellis fell. It avoided an impact with Ellis’ body but it also checked his momentum, bringing him to a standstill.

Face to face with Kevin Tennant.

Tennant stood at six foot three inches tall. Weighed north of two hundred and thirty pounds. He looked like a bear in comparison to his opponent. But Tennant had thrived in this world for reasons other than just size. It took more than mass to win a fight. It took skill. It took speed. Most importantly, it took a ruthless capacity for violence. Tennant had all of these and more.

The past seconds had shown that the intruder had them, too.