Splashing down the passageway, Jess skidded to a stop at the first intersection. The narrow, water-filled passage made it difficult to maintain a steady pace but they reached their goal. A large light was positioned in the center of the intersection. She observed the power cord stretched to the right and leading to the main entrance. She motioned for the other man to go to the left and she continued to the right, following the power cord.
Jess continued down the watery passageway, trying to keep the splashing sounds to a minimum. A large doorway appeared on the left side where the water and power cords freely flowed inside. She quietly approached the side of the door with her gun sights up and ready. A few seconds later, the other man approached from the opposite direction, indicating that the perimeter had been cleared. She waited until he was in position on the other side of the door. She then leaned around and immediately noticed two men kneeling to the side of a stone platform that once held the bomb. They were focused on what they were doing. She glanced at the other man and nodded. They both entered the space and made a rapid analysis. Two men working by a podium; two more men climbing a ladder a short distance behind the podium. She followed the ladder up with her sights observing the lighted hole in the ceiling leading to the White House lawn. She turned and gestured for the other man to kill the men by the small platform. Turning back, she again focused on the two climbing the ladder.
Jess then stepped to the left of the platform, out of view of the two kneeling men. She heard two muffled pops, a gurgled cough, and a splashâknowing that they were now dead. She aimed at the lowest man on the ladder; they were now halfway to the ceiling. They looked to be elderly men and they were talking to each other as they climbed. As she watched, both men stopped climbing, but did not turn to look down. She began to pull the trigger and then hesitated when she realized who they were.
Ed and Alex were both in her sights and easy targets. This time she could finish them both off. She aimed at Alex and began to squeeze the trigger when she stopped. She saw another person, a younger man on the second level looking down. He was speaking to them, waving them up. If she pulled the trigger, it would alarm the soldiers on the surface. She lowered her weapon, accepting that they will live for now, and continued her mission.