Chapter 10 #3
He took a chance and made a beeline to the counter.
Hopped up then shuffled to the edge, using one hand on the ceiling to balance as he quickly unscrewed the overhead bulbs enough they wouldn’t work.
Managed to jump down and plaster his back against the wall just as the door opened.
That beam of light dancing around the room, again.
He tried to press himself harder against the wall, make himself as narrow as possible as the door brushed his chest, threatening to out him. He didn’t move, just stayed perfectly still, praying they wouldn’t peek behind it. That he wouldn’t end up in a fight.
A click as one of them tried the switch, then a curse. Half of the first guy shifting into view beyond the edge of the door. He swung the light up to the ceiling—illuminated the fixture Phoenix had just disabled—before he was cursing, again. Flipping that switch a few more times.
“Fucking shitty wiring. We’re lucky the whole damn place hasn’t burned down.”
A snort, then what sounded like a punch to the first guy’s arm. “It’s just some faulty bulbs. I’ll get that maintenance asshole to replace them.” A grunt. “We done?”
The first jerk turned, and Phoenix swore he looked directly at him before addressing the other man. “I don’t know. I thought I heard footsteps.”
“Of course, you heard footsteps. Parker’s coming from the other direction. I heard them, too.”
No. That guard did not just say that Phoenix finally had a chance to grab that asshole, Parker, but couldn’t risk it.
Not with two more men in the fray, while being in one of the most secure sections of the facility.
No way Phoenix could knock them all out, hike Parker up on his shoulder, and walk out without being caught on every damn camera.
Bloody Murphy’s Law. The one that never seemed to go Phoenix’s way.
“Come on, Jackson. If there was someone stupid enough to break in, they wouldn’t hide in here. There isn’t even a stall.”
The other man turned, stared at where Phoenix had told Olivia to crouch, when an alarm sounded in the distance.
A hand appeared beyond the door, grabbing the first guy’s jacket and yanking him sideways. “Shit. That’s the control room.”
Two seconds, and they were gone. Boots pounding the floor as they ran down the hallway toward the far end.
Where Olivia had disappeared earlier. Had they discovered she’d been in there?
Had she left a body behind? Or had someone gone back over the video feed?
Caught one of them moving down the hallways?
Didn’t matter because they were bugging out. Olivia was already at his side when Phoenix opened the door. Took a look down the hallway. Ensured they wouldn’t run into a squad of men.
Then, his right hand in hers as they exited the washroom.
A few steps to the corner, another glance, and they were off.
Sprinting down the corridor. He tried to keep them to the shadows on one side, but he wasn’t sure if they’d get all the way to the door before the camera panned back.
Put them on display. It would only be their backs, but if a security guard was paying attention, he’d see the movement.
Would know someone was running down the hall.
And with that alarm still echoing through the lower area. ..
They reached the door and were out in record time, pushing hard as they raced up the stairs. He didn’t know if whatever Olivia had done to the cameras in the stairwell was still working, but he didn’t have time to care. Shouts sounded from behind the closed door, the muffled voices getting louder.
Phoenix paused at the top. Took another look, then headed out.
They’d never make it across the main area before the men had busted through the door—not if they wanted to avoid more CCTV.
Instead, he angled right. Kept them against the wall.
Out of sight of the cameras sweeping the room.
Or, at least, hide their identities. No alarm up here, though, that could change at any moment.
They’d just reached a hallway when the stairwell door bounced open. Three men pouring out. No time to study them—figure out which was Parker. Maybe find a way to isolate the guy. Finally get some answers.
There were more men heading their way. Footsteps on the stairs leading up to the second floor. Coming in from the kitchen area. All converging on them in record time. Severely limiting possible escape routes.
Phoenix kept moving, pausing at the corner until the next camera panned away, then headed for the service stairwell. He opened the door enough to lean in—had planned to shoot out the light and camera—but Olivia shoved him out of the way. Pointed something at the lens.
He raised a brow, but she merely smiled, then bounded up the steps, checking the next hallway before rushing out.
He followed, watching her repeat the process with the camera up the hall.
He wasn’t sure if she’d destroyed them with some kind of precision EMP—with the electromagnetic pulse only disabling whatever it sighted—or something else. Didn’t care as long as it worked.
Olivia nodded, and they were out and running. Heading for a small lounge on the right. It was empty, only a faint light from the adjoining hallway casting any kind of glow. He made for the balcony, glad it opened without having to break anything. Leave another tangible link behind.
One of the stairway doors bounced open behind them. The accompanying thud echoing through the corridor. But Phoenix was already closing the balcony doors. Was at the railing. A good twelve-foot drop onto a concrete walkway. Everything shaded in black.
He looked over, thankful it seemed deserted. That they might actually catch a break. He motioned for her to wait, then climbed over, lowering himself until he was hanging off the ledge, feet dangling in the air. “Climb down me, then drop.”
A snort. The kind that suggested she thought he was nuts, which was crazy considering all she’d done tonight, but she vaulted over the rail—carefully shimmied down his back. Dropped silently to the ground.
He let go, grabbing her and ducking under the overhang just as the balcony doors opened, footsteps sounding above them.
A man grunted, a muffled thump suggesting he’d kicked at the balcony. “This is bullshit. We’re chasing ghosts.”
“Parker swore someone had been in the main control room. That they’d messed with the camera feed. Erased all the footage in the section for several minutes.”
“Half the damn cameras in this place blackout at some point during the night. It’s the damn wiring. Or is someone erasing all of them?”
“He seemed pretty sure.”
“The guy’s a loose fucking cannon. With conspiracy theories coming out his ass. There’s no one out here, and there wasn’t anyone down there. No way we missed that.”
“Maybe they jumped?”
“Maybe. Or maybe Parker’s overly paranoid.” A few steps. “Come on. The asshole can go scour the damn snowbanks if he’s worried. It’s colder than shit out here, and I need a drink.”
Phoenix waited until they’d left before exhaling the breath he’d been holding, staring at Olivia when she turned to face him.
He placed a finger over her lips when she looked as if she was going to say something, then leaned in close.
“Your room. Then, we’ll talk. And sweetheart, don’t even think about trying to ditch me. ”