Chapter 13
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Zain killed his headlights as he reached the parking lot, covering the last hundred yards with the only light coming from the red glow along the horizon.
He parked a fair way back from the building, rounding his truck then lowering the gate.
He opened a container — removed two ballistic vests along with a few other countermeasures.
Saylor turned over the vest he handed her, arching a brow at him. “Am I crazy, or do you just happen to have a vest that’s my size in your gear?”
He sighed. “I doubt you’re that surprised.”
“Actually, I’m touched.” She slipped it on, securing the straps. “I didn’t bring your spare…” She shook her head when he handed her a twenty-two. “Do I want to know how many weapons you actually own?”
He smiled. “After everything that’s happened since we moved here, not nearly enough. You good?”
He turned when she nodded, sizing up Jordan as she and Kash stopped next to his truck. “Glad to see you’ve made peace with wearing a vest, Jordan.”
Jordan huffed. “It’s the one downside of being a deputy instead of working Shadow Ops. I feel… burdened.”
“Burdened beats shot.” Zain motioned to Kash. “You and Nyx good?”
Kash glanced at Saylor’s boathouse. “I really hope we don’t need everything strapped to my vest, let alone yours.”
“You and me both, brother. We’ll check out the junction box, first. See if there’s a reason none of the other alarms went off, then clear the office before moving onto the boathouse.”
Kash waved Zain ahead, falling in behind the others, covering everyone’s six as they quickstepped across the lot and down the side of the building. Zain headed for the electrical box at the far corner, cleared the area, then flipped it open.
He cursed, grabbed his cell and snapped a photo of the device clipped to the wires. “That’s not a good sign. Jordan? Does the unit look familiar?”
Jordan huffed. “You mean other than matching the tech level of the drone? That’s military or agency spec, no question. I used something similar working for Scythe.”
Zain grunted. “Figured as much. We’ll start in the office. Have Nyx clear for explosives before we search every square inch. They didn’t bypass the alarm with that unless they planned on stealing something specific or leaving something behind. ”
They retraced their steps back to the door. It wasn’t ajar like Saylor’s loft had been the night before, but someone had definitely been inside, the door swinging open without him using Saylor’s code.
He cleared the doorway, allowing Kash and Nyx to take point.
Not that Zain liked giving up that control — surrendering the ability to face any threat first. Take a hit if the worst happened.
But Nyx needed room to work, and setting off a trip wire or other explosive just to soothe the scratchy feeling under his skin was a stupid way to die.
His buddy took point, keeping Nyx close. Giving her just enough leash to scent the room. Zain bounced his flashlight around the space, checking every corner. Nothing looked disturbed, a few papers still sitting on Saylor’s desk.
Kash circled his finger. “Clear.”
Zain nudged Saylor. “Sweetheart? Does anything look out of place?”
She checked her desk, rummaging through some items before shaking her head. “I don’t remember exactly where everything was, but it looks fine. Like I said. I don’t have anything worth stealing in here.”
“While it’s a consideration, I really don’t think they were looking to take anything.”
Saylor swallowed, hard, falling in behind Zain as he cleared the door to the boathouse before waving Kash and Nyx ahead.
Deep shadows filled the large space, only a hint of gray from a couple windows and the top half of a rolling door providing any relief.
Zain stepped inside, leaving enough room for Jordan and Saylor to move in behind him as Kash turned left.
It took a few minutes for him and Nyx to clear the room, his buddy shaking his head as he rejoined them at the door. “Nothing. Though, that doesn’t rule out everything. If they used an airtight container…”
Zain nodded. “Nyx might not detect it.” He motioned to the large rolling door at the far end. “That’s where the motion sensor is that went off. Bastards obviously thought the main system was their only concern.”
Kash grinned. “Looks like your paranoia’s paying off.”
“It hurts that you thought it wouldn’t.”
Kash shook his head in mock frustration as Zain picked his way over to the door, avoiding any direct sightline through the upper plexiglass. A couple muddy prints marred the floor, some pine needles and old leaves suggesting the door had been opened recently.
He crouched, illuminating the print in the small beam. Large, size twelve or bigger. Thick bands with equally thick spaces. The kind of marks combat boots left behind.
Saylor moved in beside him. “At least your failsafe worked. Do you think it was that same guy?”
He frowned, the hairs on the back of his neck prickling as a weight settled between his shoulder blades.
“I think this feels careless for the caliber of players we’re dealing with.
Why bypass the security system with some high-level tech, then leave muddy footprints behind?
And as much as I’d like to think I’ve outsmarted these assholes, I can’t imagine he or they didn’t even consider there could be secondary security measures in place.
Not when we already surprised them, once. ”
“Are you suggesting they left the prints on purpose? But why do that, unless…”
“They wanted us in here. Kash!”
Zain peered out the window, wiping a patch of the plexiglass in the hopes of spotting something beyond the layered grime from the endless parade of storms. Not that he’d wipe off the dirt, but it cleared some of the condensation. Gave him a bit more visibility.
Kash closed in on the other side, copying Zain’s stance. “Anything in particular we’re looking for?”
“A reason someone wanted us in here. Or at least Saylor.”
“Shit, you think it’s a setup.”
Zain muttered a few obscenities under his breath. He’d damn well done it, again. Put his teammates in harm’s way. And god knew, Saylor meant far more than that to him. “I think we just walked into a fucking ambush. Jordan? Was Greer heading here?”
Jordan nodded, gaze focused out one of the adjoining windows. “She was chasing down a lead but said she’d head back ASAP. I’d call her but…”
“Yeah, that could set something off.” Zain squinted, giving Saylor enough room to shuffle in beside him without presenting a full-on target to some sniper nesting along the pier. “Is there anything out there that doesn’t belong? ”
Saylor stared out the window, pausing a few times before leaning in closer. “Is that a boat?”
Zain scoured the waves breaking several feet off, continuing around the left side of the dock. “Where…”
He inhaled.
There. Just edging around the far corner.
No nav lights, but the last glimmer of light from the setting sun caught the port side — flashed off a small burst of light before it dimmed against the crushing darkness.
He grabbed the portable scope off his vest — zeroed in on the boat.
A lone silhouette moved out to the front of the bow, a long cylinder aimed their way.
“RPG!”
He grabbed the bottom of the door and sent the thing flying — rolling it up onto the ceiling before he snagged Saylor and took them both to the ground.
What he hoped might be their one chance at surviving the first attack by removing any surface the missile could impact — explode on contact.
Assuming the bastard had aimed at the door. If he’d targeted the roof, instead…
The damn thing would likely collapse half the building down on top of them. A death sentence. But he’d shield her as best he could.
Kash hit the ground on the other side, covering Jordan and Nyx as the rocket soared through, a dull whoosh following in its wake before it hit the far wall — detonated.
Chaos.
The wall blew outward, taking half the roof with it.
Smoke and fire shooting up into the air, debris following close behind.
Dust swirled around them, blocking out the room, the pier — every thought that tried to form.
Zain blinked, nearly blacked out, then managed to push onto an elbow.
Flames flickered amidst the shadows, a mind-numbing tone ringing in his head.
He gave Saylor a quick once-over, heart thundering in his chest until she coughed and gave him a shaky nod. Eyes looking more than a bit wild. Dirt and soot dulling the golden tones in her hair.
Voices.
Close.
Drowned out by the growl of an engine. Not a truck. This was louder. Rougher. Sputtering a few times before easing back. Idling.
Boat.
The word finally formed in his head, pieced together by the scent of diesel and brine — a memory playing in the background he couldn’t quite place. He pushed onto his knees, everything shifting left and right when Nyx growled.
The sound shook a bit of the fuzziness away — got him onto his feet.
Shaky, but standing. Kash staggered up beside him, tripping a few times before bracing his legs apart — fumbling with his weapon as Nyx tugged at the end of her leash, her hackles raised.
Teeth gnashing white amidst the smoke and shadows.
Zain took a step, lifting his Sig shoulder height. Praying his arms didn’t fall back down as boots hit the pavement a moment later. The smoke swirled, a single white light cutting a path through the gray as a couple silhouettes materialized out of the aftermath .
Zain fired a second before Kash, clipping the forerunner and sending the other guy diving for cover. Automatic rounds whizzed through the air as soon as the tango hit the ground, punching holes in the pieces of wall still standing.