The question had Tony stopping, leaning his shoulder against the wall cool for support, just giving the kid a sidelong look. "Stop playing with that, it's not going to do you any good," he instructed, the sharp bite he intended just a weary mumble. He knew full well it would take some serious hardware to get a collar like that off, and the best luck they would have even with a chainsaw and high precision lasers would be taking Billy's head off. It was better to focus on what they did have.
He forced himself to slouch forward, keeping contact with the wall now, until he was interrupted by a doorjamb. Another sidelong long, and he was jerking his chin in mute instruction, reaching slowly to test the handle.
No response. Empty. But if that demanding bark from the hall they had first met was any indication, someone was coming up fast. Tony ducked into the room quickly, dragging the kid by his collar.