The silence seemed absolute. It was as if even the house itself were listening, straining, preparing itself for the inevitable.
One second passed.
Two.
Five.
Ten.
Nothing happened.
Abruptly, Wilmer shouted: "It's all over!"
Flinn heard footfalls upon the stairs and the sound of excited voices.
Hayes burst into the room and turned on the light, the .357 magnum still in his hand. His face was pale; his mouth worked, but no sound emerged.
Flinn found that his muscles would obey him now, and he stood up and headed for the door. He felt numb, drained. He stepped out into the hall. Every special agent and security man on the premises was crowded there.