Shed expected an angry scream in response, but instead she heard something she had never expected to hear from Felix. Weeping. He gave a ragged sniff.

Maybe youre right, he said in a low voice. And maybe hell never love me the way Ive loved him. But Ill keep my word, even if he doesnt.

Harley held her breath, not daring to hope for the impossible. You can walk away, Felix. Youll be far from here by the time we get out. Youll have a head start.

Callaway drew the gun. Using Harleys body to shield him from Felixs view, he held the gun up toward Harley. His finger switched off the safety.

Felix sneered. Just so you can hunt me like a dog? No, I dont think so. I may have given Mr. Roth my word not to hurt those girls… He paused, his voice growing cold as ice. But he never said anything about federal agents.

Now! Callaway hissed.

Harley snatched the weapon from Callaways hand. She registered the sight of Felix night-vision goggles perched on his face, automatic weapon rising as he took aim for only a fraction of a second before firing. The flashlight blinded Felix, causing him to jerk the automatic as he squeezed off a burst, deafening in the confines of the tunnel. Then one of Harleys bullets struck him. His body twisted to the left and disappeared around the wall of the tunnel, his gun flying from his hands and landing on the ground.

Harleys ears rang painfully from the gunfire. She aimed at the automatic weapon a Kalashnikov sprawled in the dirt, waiting for Felix to make a play for it. Clumps of dirt struck her head and shoulders, but she did not look up.

Whats it gonna be, Felix? she shouted. How long do you want to play this game?

Keeping one eye on the assault rifle, Harley used the heel of her shoe to begin scooping dirt off Callaways arm. He stirred, groaning.

Suddenly she became aware of a loud thudding sound.

Hes collapsing the tunnel, Callaway murmured. He began to twist and grunt as he worked to pull his second arm free. Go take care of himI can get myself out.

Leading with the pistol, Harley moved along the tunnel until she glimpsed Felix swinging a pickaxe at one of the wooden supports holding up the ceiling. With every swing, a chunk of shattered wood burst out.

A cold sense of dread washed over Harley. Hes trying to collapse the tunnel and bury us alive! It made sense, after all. No bodies, no evidence, nothing to tie him to their deaths. The perfect crime.

Harley, however, was not about to play along. She squeezed off several shots, tracking him as he ducked.

Youre almost out of bullets! Felix called, his voice strained with pain. I hit him, Harley thought with grim satisfaction. Killing Felix would prove a Pyrrhic victory, however, if he managed to bury them alive.