by R. D. Brady
As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he realized the stupidity of them. Henry wouldn’t be hurt by a few stray bullets, at least not seriously. This superhuman thing was going to take a little getting used to.
A security guard peeked out from behind a crate ten yards ahead, taking a shot. Jake took him down. He kept moving forward, his eyes glued for any movement and any possible holding spot. He heard other shots across the warehouse. But no calls came over the radio. His team had been ordered to only contact him if there was a problem or they found Henry.
Slowly, they made their way through the space. Jake was surprised by how easy it was. The security was sizeable but not enough to offer much resistance. Ten minutes and they had the area cleared. Ten security guards were rounded up. But no one had seen any sign of Henry.
Jake reached the back wall and saw Jordan and Mike to his right. Mike caught his eye and nudged his chin towards a door in the back. A large window was built into the wall of the room, overlooking the warehouse floor. Jake glanced in.
A few of the crates had been taken inside and opened. A bronze folio sat on a lab table. Other instruments, brushes, a camera, and high-powered lights, gave the space a laboratory feel. In the back corner was a desk with a man cowering underneath it.
Jake flattened himself on the left hand side of the door and nodded at Jordan. Jordan grabbed the handle, flinging the door open. Jake went in high, scanning the room for any threats. None.
He glanced at Mike, who’d followed him in. Mike put up one finger. Jake nodded and called out. "You, under the desk, come out with your hands up."
Hands appeared above the desktop. "Don't shoot me. I'm unarmed."
The man stepped into view, his hands still raised.
Jake recognized him. "Dr. Devereaux. We've been looking for you."
Deveraux nodded, his eyes on the floor. "I'll cooperate."
"Good. Now tell me, where's Henry?"
Deveraux looked up, his confusion clear. "Henry? Who's Henry?"
CHAPTER 84
“Should we call the strike team?” Jen asked.
Laney shook her head, her eyes on the canyon road ahead of them. They’d followed the signal twenty minutes outside the Strip to Red Canyon. They were close, but the signal was still bouncing in and out. “No. Not until we know for sure this is worth following. We’ll just take a quick peek and then call in the cavalry if we need to.”
“You’re going to take a right up ahead in about two hundred yards,” Danny said from the backseat of the Wrangler.
Laney nodded, noting the road.
“How about calling Jake and just telling him what we're doing?” Jen pressed.
“Absolutely not,” Laney said. “He’ll tell us to come back. Look, we’ll just check it out. Nothing dangerous.”
Jen sighed, leaning back in her seat. “If there’s nothing dangerous, why’d you pack the arsenal in the back?”
“Well, it never hurts to be prepared.”
Jen shook her head.
Laney turned onto the road Danny indicated and they entered Red Canyon. The crimson red walls of the canyon glistened back at them. It was like driving onto Mars.
“I’ve got the signal!” Danny yelled from the back.
Laney hit the brakes. “Where?”
Danny pointed up and to the left. “There.”
Laney stared at the rock façade, not noticing anything different about where Danny was pointing. Just more red rocks. Then slowly, the structure came into a view. It was a house, built right into the canyon walls. Its walls were the same color as the canyon. The thing was massive, easily six thousand square feet.
Most of the side was made of glass. The reflection back from the canyon made it almost impossible to see. It was like something out of Star Trek.
“Holy cow,” Laney said.
"Who on earth would build a house there?" Jen asked.
"Guess we're going to find out." Laney drove carefully up the winding road that seemed to head towards the cliff house. It looked as if it was cut right out of the rock itself. She turned, incorporating both Danny and Jen in her glance. “Remember, we’re just tourists looking for an interesting climbing spot, okay?”
“Yup, just tourists,” Jen agreed, but her nervous tapping on the dashboard gave away her fear.
Laney glanced in the rearview mirror at Danny. “You still up for this?”
Danny’s head bobbed up and down. “If it helps us get Henry, yes.”
“Okay.”
They drove on for another few tense minutes before Laney pulled off to the side of the road. There was a large rock with a decent-sized pocket behind it. She pulled the Jeep into it, grabbing her bag from the backseat. “All right, everybody. Let’s go for a little climb.”
CHAPTER 85
The climb hadn’t been as difficult as Laney had feared. Although the rock looked sheer, there’d actually been plenty of hand- and footholds. She led the climb, placing her cams and carabiners in every twenty feet or so, and looping the rope through.
After a hundred feet, she set an anchor into the rock wall. She waved down at Danny. “Okay, Danny. Come on up.”
He began his climb and Laney let out a breath. He was doing great. Watching him, she said a silent ‘thank you’ for forcing Danny to go rock climbing with her last summer. He made the entire climb with only one fall. Then she pulled up the weapons duffel. Jen brought up the rear, carrying an extra rope and pulling out the cams and carabiners as she reached them.
Then they did it all over for the second pitch. Usually, they’d pull up the rope and remove the anchor before beginning the second pitch. But both she and Jen agreed that they should leave the rope in place, just in case they needed to make a fast getaway.
The second pitch was a little more difficult than the first. Holds were less obvious. Laney chalked each one thoroughly to make Danny’s climb a little easier.
At the top of the second pitch, there was a plateau, hidden from the house by a wall of rock. Once all three of them were up, they carefully made their way around the rock. They had a perfect view of the house from here. The plateau angled up, allowing them to crawl up and lie flat. The house was a hundred yards ahead and to their right.
Laney put down her binoculars. “I don’t see any movement.”
“Me, neither,” Danny said lowering his own. “But that’s where the signal’s coming from.”
Jen patted him on the back. “You did good, Danny. We’ll call the guys and let them know about it. But it looks like the other site is the bigger priority.”
“Doesn’t that look like a path?” Laney pointed to a trail that seemed to cut through the rock and towards the house.
The words were barely out of her mouth before a male voice was heard to their left.
“Never seen a guy that big. He’s like NBA big.”
“And did you see him take a hit? I swear I thought the boss was going to have to take out a mallet to get a reaction from the guy.”
The other man laughed. "Barton’s really enjoying himself."
Laney felt Danny begin to tremble next to her. She grasped his hand in hers and gave it a squeeze, hoping he stayed quiet.
The men passed only a few feet in front of them. Laney could just make out the top of their heads. Another few feet and they came into view. They were both wearing tan uniforms, guns holstered at their sides. Security.
She couldn't tell much from the back, except they both had dark brown hair, were about five-foot-ten, and they both looked like they were in good shape. They disappeared through a door in the side of the building that she hadn't noticed.
Laney let out a breath, trying to keep her tone calm. She pulled Danny's tablet from the weapons duffel. “Danny? Can you hack into the house’s security? See if you can find Henry?”
He nodded, his hands already flying across the machine. Laney caught Jen’s eyes above Danny’s bent head. She read the concern there.
“I’m in,” Danny said.
L
aney leaned into Danny, staring at the screen. Black and white images from the house flashed across the tablet. Hallways, bedrooms, kitchen, garage.
Laney fought down the urge to tell him to hurry. “Stop,” she ordered.
Danny’s hands stilled.
On screen, Henry stood, chained to some metal bars. His chest was bare and there were slashes across it where he’d been cut. Hugo was in the room with him, cleaning off a knife.
“Bastards,” Laney murmured.
A tear fell onto the screen. Danny wiped at his eyes.
Laney wrapped her arm around Danny. Jen did the same from the other side. “We’ll get him out of there, Danny. We’ll get him back,” Laney murmured.
“I think it’s time we called in the cavalry,” Jen said.
Laney nodded. “Agreed.”
Just then an older man who’d been out of frame, stepped into focus. Despite his bent shoulders, Laney had no doubt he was the man in charge. It had to be Sebastian Flourent. Sebastian shook his head, stepping towards Henry.
Trying to keep her voice calm, Laney said. “Is there audio on this thing?”
Danny nodded.
Seconds later, they could hear the man’s words. “- disappointment. I’d hope you could provide us with what we need.” He walked away from Henry and out of the room.
Laney's words came out rushed. "Can you follow him?”
Danny tracked Flourent from screen to screen, watching his slow progress. The man made his way down a long hallway and up a staircase. Pausing at the top of the stairs, he seemed to need to catch his breath. Then he was on the move again.
He passed through a den and down another long hallway. His steps grew closer together. Obviously, he was tiring. Finally, he walked through a doorway.
Danny flipped through camera shots, trying to find the right room.
Laney had to bite her tongue to keep from telling him to hurry.
Finally, Danny found Sebastian again. He was in an office. Hugo had joined him. Laney felt a mixture of anger and fear at the sight of him. Movement drew her attention to the other man in the room. Warren.
"Son of a bitch," Jen muttered.
At the same time, Laney said, “Audio.”
On the screen, Hugo pulled out his cell, putting it to his ear as he walked out of the room. The old man sank into his seat behind the desk. “Water.”
Warren moved to the bar and poured him a drink. The second man had his back to the camera. Laney felt a constriction in her chest. When he turned around and stepped closer to the desk his face became clear. Hugo.
“Has he said anything?” Warren asked.
The old man took the drink with a shaking hand and sipped. He took a minute to catch his breath before answering. “He either doesn’t know anything or is unwilling to tell us.”
Hugo stepped back into the room. “There’s been a problem at the warehouse. A group has infiltrated it. We’ve lost the Ecuador find.”
The old man’s face was furious. “Damn it. If they tracked it there, they can track us here. We need to go.”
“What about the prisoner?” Hugo asked. Even through the poor quality of the audio, Laney could hear the desire in Hugo’s voice.
The old man paused, looking away. When his eyes returned to Hugo, his voice was resigned. “He’s too big a risk. Get rid of him.”
CHAPTER 86
Laney grabbed the duffel they’d dragged up the mountain. She pulled on a holster, placing a Beretta in its sheath. She attached magazines to the holster as well. All the while, she barked out orders.
“Danny, call Jake. Give him our coordinates. Tell him to get here now. And then you hide. No matter what you hear, what you see, you stay hidden. Your job from this point forward is to stay alive, do you understand me?”
Danny nodded, his eyes growing wide.
Laney looked over at Jen, who’d also grabbed a holster and was stuffing extra ammunition into her pockets. “Jen?”
“I’m going with you.”
Laney nodded. “Thanks.”
“Any ideas how we get inside?” Jen asked.
Laney pulled a sawed-off shotgun from the bag. “I brought a door opener.”
The words brought a smile to Jen’s face. “Piece of cake, right?”
“Absolutely.” Laney turned to Danny. “Is there a map of the house on there?”
“Hold on a sec.” Danny fiddled with the tablet before turning it around.
Laney ran her finger along the hallways, retracing the old man’s steps back to where Henry had been. “Okay. Henry’s in the basement. I think I know how to get there.” She looked at Danny. “You need to find a crevice to hide in.”
Danny nodded, but hesitated. “I can open the doors for you.”
“How?”
He nodded to his tablet. “The whole system’s computerized. I’m already in. I can follow you like we did the old man and open the doors as you come to them. I can also disrupt the security system so they can’t see you.”
Laney leaned over and kissed him on the forehead. “You are one in a million. But you need to hide first. If you can’t do that from your hiding spot, then you don’t do it. Okay?”
Danny nodded, but his eyes shifted away from her.
Laney grabbed his arm, forcing him to meet her eyes. “I mean it, Danny. I’ll smash this tablet right here if you even think of putting yourself in harm’s way.”
“But you’re doing it.”
“Yes. I’m doing it. And if something were to happen to me, Henry would be incredibly sad. But if something were to happen to you, his world would end. And it wouldn’t matter if we saved him or not, he would never forgive himself. So promise me, for Henry, promise me you’ll stay hidden.”
Reluctantly, Danny nodded.
Laney handed him the shotgun. "Only as a last resort, okay?"
"Okay."
She gave him a hug. “I’ll see you soon.” She stood up and Jen stood with her.
Jen looked at the house and then back at Laney. “Into the breach once more?”
Laney nodded. “So it would seem.”
CHAPTER 87
At the warehouse, Jake slammed his cell shut. He pulled a security guard from the floor, holding him up by the front of his shirt. “Where are the keys to the helicopter?”
"Wh – wh - what?" The man stammered.
Jake shook him, lifting the man onto his toes. "Keys for the chopper!"
With a shaking hand, the man pointed to a gray cabinet on the wall across the room.
Jake flung the man to the ground and sprinted for the box. “Yoni!”
Yoni came at a run. “What’s happened?”
The box was locked. Jake ripped off the door. “Laney. She’s found Henry.”
Yoni grinned. “Great.”
“And she’s going to rescue him.”
“Shit.”
Jordan jogged up to them, overhearing their exchange. “Damn it. She’s going to get herself killed.”
Jake grabbed the keys for the chopper, handily labeled, and gave Jordan a baleful look. “Well, she's not alone. Apparently your sister’s helping her.”
Jordan paled and grabbed the keys from Jake’s hand. “I’m a better pilot.”
CHAPTER 88
Laney sprinted down the path, Jen behind her. The keypad next to the door ahead of them glowed red. Then with a beep, it switched to green. Laney grinned. Danny strikes again.
She grabbed onto the handle and glanced at Jen.
Jen nodded, her Beretta clasped in front of her. They’d agreed that the weapons were a last resort. They needed to get in quietly if they were going to free Henry.
Laney pulled open the door. Jen went in first. The hallway was lit, but there was no sign of life.
From the schematic Danny had pulled up, Henry should be to the left and one flight down. Taking the lead, Laney ran towards the end of the hall.
A door to her right opened as she reached it. A guard stepped through, shock on his face as he saw them. He
started to pull his gun.
Laney elbowed him in the face, kneed him in the groin. She spun him around, wrapping one arm around his chin, placing the other in the opposite direction around his head. With a quick movement, she yanked. He slipped to the floor, his neck broken.
“You good?” Jen asked from behind her.
Laney nodded, although the ease with which she’d just ended the man’s life left her a little stunned. “Let’s go.”
Pulling open the door, she stepped into the kitchen, Jen right behind her. “Oh, crap.”
It was dinnertime. Five guards rose from the table as they caught sight of them.
Laney dove to the right and Jen dove to the left. Two guards started shooting at them while the other three sprinted across the room.
Laney returned fire, hitting one of the guards in the leg. Unfortunately, his hand seemed to be fine and he kept returning fire. She saw another guard speaking into his radio. So much for surprise.
A blur of motion caught her attention. Jen was now behind the guards. She took out the two shooters. The third guard paused, hearing the gunfire behind him.
Laney aimed and took out the remaining three. Keeping her gun extended in front of her, she approached the guards, kicking their weapons out of reach.
Jen joined her. “Not bad, for cheerleaders.”
“Hell, that was pretty good for commandos. But one of them warned the others. We need to move faster.”
Jen nodded with a grin. “Faster I can do.”
Laney gestured at the door across the room. “Let’s move.”
They ran for the door. With a quick glance at Jen, Laney pulled it open to reveal the stairs to the basement. She started to head down when Jen grabbed her. “I’ll go first.”
Laney nodded and tried not to look astonished as Jen all but disappeared as she sprinted down the stairs. Laney whirled around as the door to the kitchen flung open. Guards poured into the room.
Throwing herself through the doorway, she yanked the door closed behind her. She reached up and turned the lock, knowing it wouldn't hold them back for long.
