Lou cried out as he dropped to one knee, but his momentum carried him flailing into Stone, who was bowled over backwards. The pistol went clattering across the catwalk and slid under the railing. Lou pounded the cop in the face again and again. Blood gushing from Stone’s nostrils flowed into blood streaming from the hole in his neck. Still, the man was able to shove Lou off and make it to his feet, pulling Lou up by the shirt and squeezing the air and life out of him with the strength of a python.

Quickly, Lou’s strength began to fail. Stone swung his hips to the right, lifting Lou’s feet off the catwalk and slamming him against the railing. Lou, now nearly helpless, tried and failed to drop down to avoid being thrown over the edge. The pressure of Stone’s thick arms was unbearable. His face, teeth gritted, was a bloody mask.

Lou pushed against Stone’s chest with all his strength, but failed to put any distance between them. He was now aware of a burning pain from the muscle where the bullet had torn through. At that instant, Lou’s knees went slack and he experienced the horrific sensation of his feet leaving the catwalk. Before he could make another move, he was over the top of the railing. Frantically, he forced his fingers through the steel chain link of the catwalk wall and gripped it as tightly as he could.

Every breath was an agonizing effort. His feet dangled down, precariously close to the hordes of termites milling below him. His palms stretched until they burned. His arms quivered from exertion and utter fatigue. Grateful for the hours of training under Cap’s tutelage, Lou managed to stretch up with his right foot and slip it over a support beam beneath the walk. At that instant, Stone appeared above him, his face a hideous mask of gore. Blood, dripping down into the pit below Lou, sent the colony clicking and scurrying about. Grinning ferociously, Stone tapped the toe of his heavy boot against Lou’s fingers, sending electric pain shooting down his arm.

“Fast or slow?” Stone asked. “Your choice.”

He emphasized his question with another light tap. Though he tried, Lou failed to keep himself from crying out. His left hand fumbled to improve his grip on the metal. The tightness in his palm intensified.

Emmy, I’m so sorry, baby. So sorry.

Lou tried to will himself to hold on, but felt his grip starting to release. Perspiration was stinging his eyes. His left hand was about to let go when he heard a scream from above, followed by the sound of running footsteps that shook the catwalk.

“No!” Edwin shouted as he charged the police chief.