The descender was designed to bring a falling person to a gradual halt without the sudden jolt and rebound of a bungee jump. The cable was slowing her – and now Eddie was rapidly catching up.

He opened his arms wide—

The woman rushed at him – and he tackled her in mid-air.

Her scream became a wail of pure terror at the unexpected impact. ‘Sorry, but I need a ride!’ he yelled, hooking his arms around her shoulders.

The buildings of Auckland’s CBD rushed towards them. Halfway down and slowing, but not quickly enough. The descender had been set for her weight; Eddie had more than doubled it. Her harness cables lashed at him as emergency brakes kicked in.

The landing zone was on a platform at the tower’s base, the tiny rectangle enlarging with frightening speed as they hurtled towards it. A red square appeared upon it, concentric white circles forming a target – a crash mat.

The name was appropriate. Even braking, they were going too fast. If he was still on the woman’s back when they landed, he would crush her, breaking her legs, or worse.

A hundred feet up, fifty, thirty – and he let go.

The woman shot away as the descender caught her. Eddie fell the final yards, bracing himself—

He hit hard, rolling as if making a parachute landing to absorb the impact. The mat was padded, but it still felt like dropping onto concrete. Searing pain shot through his left ankle. He cried out, bowling to a stop on the platform’s metal deck.

A shocked attendant rushed to catch the screaming woman. Another man ran to Eddie. ‘What the hell happened? Are you all right?’

The Yorkshireman staggered up, ankle on fire. ‘Yeah, I’m fine. Five-star experience, would recommend it to my friends. You’d better look after her, though.’ He limped as quickly as he could down the spiral stairs to ground level, leaving the bewildered attendant to help the crying woman.

Some tourists gawped at him as he reached the street, but his plunge had barely been noticed. Aucklanders paid only passing attention to screams from the Sky Tower. Eddie turned back to the complex of buildings at the landmark’s foot. Nina was still inside; he had to rescue her. He hobbled towards the entrance.

Wintz dragged Nina to the elevators, the panicked Miller following. ‘Get your fucking hands off me!’ she snarled, kicking and lashing at the mercenary. He grunted with the blows, but did not relinquish his hold.

Harhund ran out of the restaurant to join them, gun in hand.

‘Did you get him?’ Miller asked.

‘He escaped,’ was the frustrated reply.

‘What do you mean, escaped? We’re two hundred metres up!’

‘Where is he?’ Nina demanded.

‘He took the Sky Jump.’ Harhund jabbed at the already illuminated elevator call button. ‘Mr Miller, you stay here and make up a story for the police. We’ll get her to the car.’