A hand clamped around Evan’s ankle, dragging him down. He reached for his knife and started a summersault.
Shah kicked around Evan, yanked on his regulator hose, and took off for the surface.
Evan kicked after him, taking a breath. No air.
Shah had cut Evan’s hose. He reached for his alternate air source and clamped his lips on the mouthpiece. Took a breath. Nothing. Shah had cut both hoses. Without oxygen, Evan had a couple of minutes at best.
He shot toward the surface, thankful they hadn’t gone deep enough to require a safety stop to prevent decompression sickness. He might be exceeding today’s recommended ascent rate, but not the Navy’s table.
He shone his light ahead. Spotted Shah’s fins.
Evan kicked harder. They rose toward the surface. The dam’s light shone above and cut through the water, illuminating Shah.
Lungs burning, Evan gained on the terrorist. Evan grabbed the man’s leg. He kicked free.
Evan moved faster. Faster. His whole body fighting the strain of zero air and extreme movement. He surfaced. Gulped in air. Searched around. Zeroed in on Shah by a DWFA.
“Evan!” he heard Kiley scream.
His gut tightened. She hadn’t left.
He couldn’t think about that now. He crawled in Shah’s direction, a parallel swim to the dam. Arm over arm he carved through the water, pain cutting through him like a repeated stabbing. He lunged for Shah. Grabbed his arm as he was reaching for the igniter pin.
His fingers mere inches away, Evan jerked the guy back. He was strong and fought. Breaking free.
Evan didn’t want to kill the guy, but he had to end this. He got hold of him and slashed at his arm with the knife. Didn’t stop the man. Again he surged toward the DWFA.
Evan lunged onto Shah’s back and pulled him under. He still had his regulator in his mouth and would survive, Evan not so much.
Shah squirmed free and faced Evan.
He aimed his knife at Shah.
The man clamped his hands around Evan’s throat. Evan brought the knife home in Shah’s belly. Surprise flashed on his face, and his hands went slack.
Evan burst to the surface to breathe. Adrenaline coursed through his body. He swam to the DWFA and removed the ignitors.
He put them in a pouch and turned to give Kiley a thumbs-up.
Her eyes opened wide and she screamed.
CHAPTER 31
“BEHINDYOU!”Kiley shouted to Evan, but her warning came too late.
Shah lunged forward and got Evan in a chokehold. They tumbled and threw punches. She had to help Evan, but how?
Get closer. Now!
She ran along the slippery walkway.
The pair went under the water. She reluctantly pulled her gaze away to watch the ground before she slipped and fell. She heard a splash. Looked to her left.
The pair came up. Evan was coughing and sucking in great gulps of air. Shah still had his respirator.
Evan whipped around. Faced Shah. The terrorist lifted an arm, water cascading down his wet suit. A knife glinted in the dam light.
“No!” She ran faster and drew her gun.
