Simultaneously, they fell silent with their ears ringing from each other’s shouts and their own echo. Once again they strained to listen.

“They had to have heard us,” Laurie said.

“It probably depends on how much background noise there is outside,” Jack said.

Next they heard the faint but definite sound of glass breaking. A moment later, there were faint sounds of footsteps across the floor above.

In a chorus Jack and Laurie again yelled for help. Jack groped for the door, then began pounding on it. Suddenly the light went on. Then they could hear muffled voices of people descending the stairs to the basement. A few minutes later there was the sound of splitting wood followed by a thump. The sound of the voices increased in volume. Whoever it was had gained access to the entry room to the lab.

Jack knocked against the door. “We’re in here,” he called.

No one answered, but there was a scraping sound as if a crowbar or some other implement was being forced behind the hasp. Again, there was the sound of wood splitting, only this time it was louder.

“I have no idea who this is,” Jack whispered to Laurie.

“You don’t think it’s...”

Laurie didn’t have time to complete her sentence. The harsh, creaking noise of the hasp being pried out of the door was followed by the door’s being pulled open. Surprised but grateful, Jack and Laurie found themselves looking into the face of a not-so-happy Warren. Behind him was Flash.

“Oh, thank God!” Laurie said. She lunged forward and threw her arms around Warren.

Warren peeled Laurie’s arms from around his neck while glaring at Jack. “Having to rescue you from weird situations, especially ones involving dead people, is starting to get to me.”

Laurie pulled herself away while wiping tears of joy from the corner of her eyes.

“What time is it?” Jack demanded.

Warren looked at Flash and shrugged. “And this is the kind of thanks we get! The man wants to know the time.”

“It’s important!” Jack said urgently. “What time is it?”

Warren consulted his watch and told Jack it was quarter after ten.

“Oh, God!” Laurie said. She pushed Warren aside and headed for the door out of the entry room. Jack was right behind her.

“Watch out, up there,” Warren shouted up the stairs. “It’s not a pretty sight.”

Laurie reached the top of the stairs and went directly to the kitchen phone. Jack came up behind her.

“Who should I call?” she demanded.

Jack thought for a moment. “Let me,” he said. Laurie gave him the receiver. He punched in 911 and immediately asked for Stan Thornton, the director of the Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management. He said it was a matter of extreme emergency. Knowing Stan Thornton’s elaborate communication setup, Jack was confident he’d get him quickly.