Judgment Night [BUREAU 13 Book One] by Nick Pollotta Page A

chest straps and a belt about the waist. Whatever it was, must be pretty heavy. An enclosed metal belt extended from the top and curved down to enter the stock of a stubby machine gun with an oversized maw. From the grin on his face, I wondered if the weapon launched atomic missiles, or a disintegrator beam.
    Father Donaher returned carrying an arm load of crosses, Holy Water pistols, wooden stakes and a Bureau standard issue shoulder bag that I knew held garlic powder, communion wafers, a Bible, wooden stakes and a scapula.
    Jess appeared toting a Quija board, Tarot cards, candles, a crystal pyramid, a bolt-action taser rifle and a box of Bureau sunglasses. Then and there, I decided to marry the woman.
    I added a stack of gold and silver coins and we were ready.
    Under Richard's adroit direction, the team started securing everything into position with canvas and rope, making damn sure the wheels were free to turn. Having an ex-Boy Scout in the group sometimes came in handy.
    "That everything?” Mindy asked, finishing off a clove hitch knot.
    George jerked a thumb towards the wire cage. “There's still a Dragon missile system and a semi-portable, 40mm, Vulcan mini-gun in there."
    "Why didn't you take them?” Richard asked surprised.
    "The Dragon is too heavy and takes a trained four man crew two hours to assemble,” George explained. “And the Vulcan can empty a truck full of shells in less than a minute. Its a weapon for established ground fortifications, not field units."
    The mage nodded, as if understanding the military babble.
    "There's also an Atchisson, but I figured Michael would already have one."
    The father straightened with a groan. “What is it?"
    "An assault rifle system that fires 12 gauge shotgun shells,” George said impatiently. “ROF, 800."
    "ROF, rate of fire,” the priest translated. “Eight hundred shotgun shells a minute? Can it handle stun bags?"
    "Of course."
    "Sounds mighty useful. Is there room on the cart?"
    "No,” Richard stated, tucking in a flap.
    Donaher pouted, then grinned. “Well, let's get another cart!"
    The building shook again just then and the lights dimmed, returned, then died away completely leaving us in pitch black.
    "Time to go,” I announced, clicking on a flashlight. The brilliant white beam illuminating half the team and only a chunk of the piled supplies. More flashlights came to life brightening the darkness. On the floor, a series of pale yellow arrows flickered into life indicating the direction of the elevator.
    "And how do we find the transport tube,” Mindy asked, coming closer. As she spoke those words, the arrows changed direction and pointed towards a different wall.
    "Come on,” I said glancing at my new watch. “The plane leaves in fifteen minutes. Let's skidaddle."
    Richard had done a fine job of balancing the loads on the carts, and it was relatively easy for us to push the wheeled mountains along the path of the arrows. After about a hundred feet, they ended at a blank cinder block wall. Searching about, Jess found a card slot in the wall and tried inserting her FBI card. There was a hum, a click and a section of the wall disengaged and swung away on hidden hinges.
    Inside was a well-lit cubicle of burnished metal, just barely large enough to take us and the piles of stuff. We had to hoist Mindy on top of a cart to make room, but the gang made it inside and I pushed the sole button on the wall. The doors closed with a soft hush and locked tight.
    A steady rumble started below us and then suddenly we were floating in the air, the floor of the lift inches below our feet. There was an odd feeling in my stomach, and George looked as if he might toss lunch. Stretching an arm, Richard touched him on the head and the fat man visibly calmed, color returning to his cheeks.
    "Thanks,” he croaked.
    "No problem,” the mage smiled.
    The rushing, falling, sensation continued and after a minute our feet returned to the floor in time for it to tilt slightly on