Chapter 7 #2
“Now, with that out of the way, please handle this situation so we can get Ava back into commission. At least she has a brain.” The line clicked, cutting off the robotic voice, and Alex’s heart dropped as he lost his connection to Ava.
Hearing her voice had bolstered him a little, but the moment that was taken away, he worried all over again.
“Well, looks like we need to get to work,” Grant said.
“I’m almost done working out the details for the ballistics report to swap out tying this to the Russians. As soon as Doc has the weapon in hand, I’ll swap them and destroy the other one. With no evidence, they’ll never be able to tie this to Ava.”
“Who’s Doc?” Grant asked.
“Same question,” Sierra said.
Kyle stretched his hands out to the sides. “Are you serious? I’m Doc.”
Grant frowned, his expression skeptical. “You got a nickname?”
Kyle raised his chin. “I did. I’m a permanent member of the team.”
Alex squeezed his eyes closed as he tried to concentrate as the Harringtons yammered on in the background.
Julia heaved a sigh. “Maybe we should stop yapping about nicknames and help Alex finish whatever he needs to finish so we can get Ava home.”
Alex waved a finger at her. “Thank you, Sunshine. Yes, I’d very much like to get this plan underway and get Ava back tonight.”
Alex’s heart clenched, the thought of Ava in Raven’s clutches, afraid and alone, was almost too much to bear. He wanted to hold her, to know that she was safe. The fear of failing her gnawed at him.
“I agree. The faster she’s back here, the faster we can move on with finishing this craziness with The Board, and the faster they can move on with their lives.”
“Which I would very much like to do,” Alex said with a bob of his head. “Okay, I think we’re all good here. Now, we just need to grab that weapon.”
Kyle slapped his hands together and rubbed them. “I’m ready. I’m good.”
“Wait, wait, how in the world are you getting to this evidence?” Grant asked.
“Good question,” Julia said.
“I’m going to go into the police station, down to the evidence room–”
“Where I will set off an alarm to make the attendant leave,” Alex filled in.
Julia waved her hands in the air. “Whoa, no, no, no. That’s not going to work. An alarm? It’ll look so obvious that something is happening.”
“I don’t care. I just want that gun so we can keep Ava safe.”
“Alex,” Julia protested, “we need a better plan than that.”
“There isn’t one,” Alex said, leaping to his feet and running a shaky hand through his hair. “We just need to get that weapon.”
“Okay, well, I think we can do better than some random alarm that may or may not draw the attendant away.”
“Like what?” Kyle countered.
“Ohhh,” Sierra said, snapping her fingers, “Daddy and Julia pretend to be cops from New Orleans, they go and ask for evidence from some case. Julia pretends to faint, draws the attendant away, Kyle slips in.”
Alex stared at her, his brows furrowing. “That’s not half bad, Peak Princess. It could work and is far less obtrusive.”
Grant and Julia shared a glance, and Julia shrugged. “It works for me.”
“Fine. We can easily pull this off. Just make sure you get that gun,” Grant said to Kyle with a jab of his finger.
“I will have no problem doing this. I’m all over it.” Kyle crossed his arms.
Alex eyed them all. “Are we ready?”
With nods between them, Alex collapsed onto the couch. “Then let Operation Rescue Ava proceed.”
The Harringtons outside of Sierra left him in the living room. “I’ll ride shot gun with you, Brainy.”
Sierra plopped next to him with a groan.
“How are you feeling?” he asked as he waited for the rest of his team to arrive at the police station.
“Like crap, but this helps.”
He gave her a wrinkle-nosed glance. “Huh?”
“I feel awful. I’m in pain, and I don’t like it. But being your wingwoman on Operation Rescue Ava is helping.”
“Oh, right. Yeah, cool,” Alex said.
They waited a few more moments until the other Harringtons reported in.
“Awesome, earpieces in so I can hear all of this, please.”
Alex rested his fingers on the keyboard, ready to offer technical support if needed.
Minutes later, Kyle's breathy voice came through. "I'm in position, waiting for Julia to put on a show.”
Grant’s voice sounded next. “Hi there. I’m…Brant Carrington, detective with the New Orleans PD. This is my partner…Julie Cranton, and we’re here to pick up some evidence that relates to a case we’re working.”
“I haven’t heard anything about this.”
“Well, I don’t really care if you have or haven’t. I need to work my case.”
“Yeah, tell her, Daddy,” Sierra said with a fist pump.
“Well, I need to see–”
“Oh,” Julia cried out. “I don’t feel so good.”
“Julie?” Grant shouted in Alex’s ear. “Julie? Get some help!”
On the cameras Alex had hacked into, he spotted the woman race into the hall, calling for help.
“Go, Doc,” Alex whispered.
“On it.” Kyle darted past the camera into the evidence room as Alex unlocked the door.
He directed him to the correct evidence box.
“Got the gun,” Kyle said, breathlessly. “Now, I just need to get out.”
“Oh, you know, I’m feeling a lot better,” Julia said as the woman returned with another officer. “Water, maybe?”
“I’ll get you some.” The officers disappeared, and Kyle hurried from the evidence locker, disappearing down the hall as Grant pulled Julia to her feet.
“And now for the grand finale,” Alex said as they all left the police station behind. “There goes the evidence against Ava including her arrest warrant, and here goes the new evidence.”
With a loud slap, he smacked the enter key and made the swap. “I hope you’re impressed Raven.”
He snatched his phone and texted his aviary ally that the job was complete.
A knock sounded as he sent it on its way. His brow furrowed. Was that Raven dropping Ava off already?
“Hang tight, Harrington Heiress,” Alex said as he rose. “Someone’s at the door.”
He shuffled to the foyer, pleased that they’d pulled off the coup and would soon have Ava back.
With a sigh, he pulled the door open, but his heart sank the moment he saw who was standing on the doorstep.
Things were about to change—and not for the better.