"Don't worry," Carter reassured Serena with a wry smile before sliding his frame partially through the window. "I'm an expert at unusual exits."
He tried not to flinch at an onset of vertigo, forcing himself not to look down. His fingers gripping the brick building so tightly his knuckles turned white, he eyed the distance to the roof worriedly. He would have given a lot for climbing equipment at that moment, for a comforting harness around his waist. Before the money had run out he had done a fair amount of rock-climbing in exotic locales. Surely, the principles were the same. He steeled himself, preparing to make the leap to the roof when a voice suddenly sounded. Shocked, he nearly tripped from his precarious perch.
"Nate Archibald?" Carter said in disbelief, struck temporarily dumb by the incongruity of seeing his former friend and protegee's calm face. Mayhem and violence were breaking out all around them, but Nate seemed oblivious to it all. Carter nearly laughed, relief washing over him.
"Be a pal and go open that door," he instructed almost cheerfully, having collected himself once more and edged back into the window. "There's a lady present and I'd rather not break my neck if not strictly necessary."