Chapter Twenty-Two
Her heart pounding, Iris gripped the tablet tightly. “Where is she? Can we intercept them?”
Mina shook her head. “Not unless you know what they’re driving, which we don’t.”
“How far out are they from Sinlis Park?” Cal asked, grabbing his phone and texting someone while he waited for her answer.
“That’s assuming they aren’t coming here,” Cal said, and Mina tipped her head in agreement.
“That seems less likely as they have to know that by now, the research center has been locked down and the cops have been called.”
“Walter’s,” Iris said, slowly turning to address Cal. “She’s taking them to Walter’s.”
“Why would she do that?” Mina asked as Cal pointed at the tablet in agreement.
“Think about it, Cal. You found a lab in Walter’s basement. They took her so she could create a virus, but the samples here at the lab were already dead. Now she needs more samples.”
“But the ones at Walter’s are dead, too,” he pointed out. “She had me turn off the freezer.”
“But they don’t know that,” Iris said with a grin. “Bec knows if anyone walks into Walter’s, they’re not getting back out until Secure One arrives.”
“You could be right,” he said, grabbing the tablet from her. “Mina, don’t lock that house down once they’re inside.”
“I thought that was the point,” she said in confusion.
“It was the point when the plan was to trap terrorists, not scientists. If they think for any reason that she set them up, they could kill her. I won’t risk that.”
“You’d better leave now then if you’re going to beat them there. I’ll patch you into her GPS so you can monitor their progress or in case they’re just passing through.”
Cal checked his watch. “We have a few hours until the board member arrives?”
Mina nodded. “I just checked, and his flight was delayed. Why?”
“I don’t have enough people here to save Bec and keep the research center covered. I’ll have to pull everyone over to Sinlis Park and hope it’s not a trick.”
“A trick?” Iris asked, more confused than ever. “What’s a trick?”
“You mean that they aren’t planning to return to the research center?” Mina asked, and he nodded.
“No,” Iris said adamantly. “She’s taking them to Walter’s.”
“You can’t know that for certain, Iris,” Mina gently said.
“I do know that because I know her!” she exclaimed, tears pricking the back of her lids. “Bec knows I’m here, and she would never endanger me by bringing those guys back here.”
Selina grasped her shoulders in comfort. “We believe you, Iris. Just take a deep breath.”
“Honestly, I’m with Iris on this one,” Delilah said. “She was in the room when Cal told them anyone going in wouldn’t get back out. She’s counting on it.”
Cal nodded once. “It’s decided. We’re headed to Walter’s,” he said, pointing at the camera. “Get that GPS patched in and shut down that security system. Call the cops and fill them in, then link them to my phone.
“On it. Whiskey, out,” she said, and the screen went blank.
Everyone started talking at once until Cal whistled, and the room went silent.
“I’m coming with you,” Iris said.
“Yes, you are, but only because we’re abandoning the center. However, you’ll be waiting at the motel with Delilah while the rest of the team heads to Walter’s.”
“Cal, no,” she started to say, but he slashed his hand through the air.
“Listen to me, Iris. You are not qualified in any way to be part of this operation, and I can’t be worried about keeping you safe while trying to save the woman you so obviously care about.”
“You can say it. I love her, and that’s okay.”
Cal held up his hand. “It’s wonderful, but that doesn’t change the fact that your only experience with criminals is from behind a keyboard. When I have Bec safely in hand, Delilah will bring you over. Okay?”
She could see no point in arguing, so she nodded once.
After grabbing her tablet, she followed the rest of the team to the elevator, which they rode in silence other than Cal barking orders into his phone as they descended.
There was no doubt in her mind that Bec was leading those guys back to Walter’s.
She had every intention of being there to take her in her arms when she was freed and then never let her go.
* * *
BEC WATCHED AS the lights of Sinlis Park came into view.
She was one step closer to making her way back to Iris.
She just had to hold on a little bit longer.
The car slowed as they pulled into town, and she took slow, deep breaths so she wouldn’t overplay her hand.
She had to get them into that house and get downstairs to the lab before they realized they couldn’t get back out.
“You better not even think about double-crossing me,” RL said from the driver’s seat as he turned right and drove down the block where Walter’s house sat. He drove around the block several times as all four craned their necks, looking for anything unusual.
“I have no reason to,” she promised. “The sooner I make the virus, the sooner we can part ways. No one wants that more than I do.” Bec said it like she believed they were going to let her go once she finished the virus.
She wasn’t naive. She knew they wouldn’t, so she needed to lead these guys to Secure One’s doorstep.
She could have hit the panic button much sooner, but she had no idea how long the battery lasted on them.
She needed to wait until Secure One had the best chance of finding her.
It still surprised her how well Secure One and Secure Watch worked together to protect their clients.
Whether you needed cybersecurity, personal security or both, they were up for the job.
Thank God for that, or this whole thing could have ended differently.
Still could, Bec. Don’t get ahead of yourself.
With the reminder fresh in her mind, she took a deep breath. Play it cool, Bec. “If you drive around this block one more time, it’s going to be you who looks suspicious,” she said, hoping not to rile him up but to make him stop and think.
“She’s right,” the guy in the passenger seat said. “We either commit or get out of here. I haven’t seen anything out of place.”
The ringleader slowed the car and parked at the end of the block with Walter’s house in the middle.
He turned to the back seat and pointed at one of the guys.
“You stay with her.” Then he looked at the other two guys.
“We do a sweep on foot. There’s too much light here for the night vision goggles, so stay alert. ”
They exited the vehicle quietly with the dome light disabled so no one could see inside.
When they disappeared, Bec worried her lip between her teeth as she waited.
What made her the most nervous were the deadly assault weapons they still carried.
If Secure One was waiting for them, someone could get hurt, and it would be on her conscience since she had led them here.
At least they were familiar with Walter’s house.
There was less chance of an ambush when you knew the property than when you didn’t, right?
“Bring her in,” the radio on her guard’s shirt squawked, making her jump. “Remind her if she tries anything, we know where her friend lives.”
Iris.
Bec swallowed around the lump in her throat. “I’m not going to try anything. I’m not in the mood to die tonight. I just want to make your virus and get out. I didn’t sign up for this when I took the job.”
The guard climbed out, making a show of slinging his rifle around as he walked to the back of the SUV and opened the hatch, motioning her out.
He kept his gun pointed at her as she climbed out, and then he prodded her along with it.
They stayed in the shadows, but she still couldn’t help but think they better hope no one was looking out a window.
Once they were around the back of the house, the ringleader let them in the back door while everyone filed in, guns pointed as they cleared the house.
It was empty, which relieved and distressed her at the same time.
Then again, maybe Secure One wouldn’t move in until they were locked inside the house, assuring them no one could get the jump on them.
“You,” RL said, pointing at her guard. “Outside on patrol. If you see any cars, report back immediately.” He reached for the door, and Bec held her breath. What happened next? Did an alarm go off when they tried to leave but couldn’t? Did the door refuse to unlock?
It took her more than a second to register that he’d not only opened the door and let the guy out, but no alarm had sounded when he opened or closed it. What the hell? Something wasn’t right, so she had to hope and pray that her panic button had transmitted her location.
“You. Downstairs,” RL said, motioning her down the stairs as soon as he flicked on his flashlight. It was treacherous, but she managed to get down the stairs.
“I’ll need light if you want me to create a virus.”
“Then you better hope that room doesn’t have windows, or it’s going to be by candlelight,” he growled.
Bec grabbed the lab coat next to the door and slipped it on. It was miles too long for her, but she had to play the part. She stuck her hand in the pocket and pulled out a key.
“You mean the key was in the coat the whole time?”
“I assume so,” she said, walking to the closed door at the end of the room.
He blocked her way with his gun, holding her back from the door as she put her hands up. “How did you know it was there?”
“I didn’t,” she said, her words wobbling slightly. “But it made sense. The first thing a scientist does is put on his lab coat, so I knew he’d have one here. Logic told me putting the key in the pocket meant he’d never lose it.”
Still somewhat skeptical, he motioned at the door with his gun, so she stuck the key in and turned it, pushing the heavy door open to reveal the lab Cal had shown them.
She was relieved when there were no windows in the lab.
Instead, the vent of the biosafety cabinet went out the side of the house in what used to be the window.
Walter really had her snowed. He cared so little about people that he endangered his neighbors with this setup.
Sure, the cabinet had a filter, but filters fail, and then what? Obviously, Walter didn’t care.
A small desk lamp sat on a table, and she snapped it on, taking in the room. She didn’t need PPE since the viruses she’d be working with were already dead, but the meathead behind her didn’t know that, so she had to make an effort.
There was a loud crash above their heads, and he turned to the door. Bec saw her chance.
“What was that?” she asked, feigning fear as she came up behind him.
“I don’t know, but don’t move,” he said.
Too bad he didn’t know she already had. There was one shot at this and one shot only, so she sent up a prayer and then grabbed the door and threw her body weight behind it, shoving him out of the room and locking herself in. She stumbled backward with a sigh and awaited rescue.