It didn’t take long until shuffling steps and heavy breathing came from outside. A tall, thin man entered below, dressed in full black riot gear—stun baton in one hand, shield in the other. Alice let him walk a few feet into the space and check the door. The guard pushed open the door, looked outside, then reentered and closed it behind him. The alarm shut off, and his shoulders dropped an inch as he relaxed, so she took her chance and jumped. She landed hard and knocked him to the ground with an oomph . He tried to right himself, but the shield was trapped under his body so he only had one hand free. Alice got her left elbow under his chin and lifted his head in a choke hold. He struggled and kicked, feet slapping against the concrete floor, but it was obvious he had no combat training, that he was just some dope pulled from the line and given a day’s wage. Within a minute, he was unconscious.