35
Rowan
Infiltration
Rowan blasted through the stoplight while tapping the emergency code into his phone. Moments later, Mark rang through on the car’s call system.
“You just left,” said Mark. “What happened?”
“Vivian went to the Hoskins house. We were on the phone. I think Chucky is there. Get the fucking team to my location now.”
“On it.”
The line went dead. Rowan cut off three cars and went over a curb as he sailed through another intersection.
He reached Denny-Blaine Park and slowed to check the GPS for the second time. He cruised the block, saw the house, and forced himself to keep driving. Parking down the block, he got out and reached into the back for the bag that was always there.
It was cold, and a drifting fog shrouded everything in damp droplets even though it was nearly noon.
The neighborhood was quiet and Rowan didn’t see anyone out for a stroll, but he wondered how many people peeping at him through the blinds.
He trusted the Ferrari would buy him some time before anyone called the cops.
People in expensive cars didn’t commit crimes, right?
He yanked open the bag, his hands clammy. Focus on the job, asshole. He knew the steps. He knew what to do. Vivian needed him to keep it together, but the very fact that it was Vivian was making his brain spin.
Rowan had barely strapped on his vest when a silver Ford Leaf sped by him, screeched to a halt, and then backed up.
“I got the code!” yelled Doc, rolling down his window. “What do I do?”
Rowan wanted to say go find someone helpful, but didn’t.
“What equipment do you have?”
“I was testing the land drone, so I have the land drone. And… lots of tools?”
“Go park,” said Rowan. “I can use the land drone.”
A black Dodge Viper pulled up and whipped into a spot ahead of Rowan. Tyrique got out as Viper’s trunk began to raise.
“I’ve got side arms, two assault rifles, and three vests.”
“Slap one on Doc. We’re using the land drone for infil. I only know about Chucky. I don’t know who else is in the house.”
“Should we be calling the cops?” asked Doc, as he began to unload equipment from the car.
“Mark will take care of that,” said Rowan.
A charcoal gray Ford truck sedately rolled down the street and eventually pulled to a stop in front of Doc’s car.
“I cruised the residence,” said Jake, climbing out. He made descending from the jacked pickup look easy. “There’s a Beamer in the drive way, but I didn’t see anything else stirring. So, I tried the alley. There is a van and a Porsche parked in back.”
“The Porsche is Chucky’s,” said Rowan. “Delacroix said Viv left in Alison Hoskins BMW. I saw it parked out front. I was on the phone with her when she cut off. She was able to confirm that Chucky was there, but nothing else.”
“The van says he’s not alone,” said Tyrique, as he attempted to strap doc into a bulletproof vest. Doc didn’t want to let go of his gear long enough to get his arms through the holes. Rowan thought he’d had an easier time dressing Olly.
“Agreed,” said Jake, grabbing one of Doc’s arms and forcing it through a hole. Tyrique slapped the Velcro home before Doc could move again. There was a minor struggle over the second arm but they got the job done.
“OK,” said Doc, turning around his arms full of land drone.
“If they’re parked there, then they probably entered from the back.
If you can get me to the edge of the property.
We can deploy the drone. I’ve added a telescoping arm that can lift the camera up to window height and a heat vision lens.
So either way we can confirm the number of perps.
I shouldn’t use perps. I’m not that cool.
There are probably people. We will see people. ”
“OK, Jake, you’re with Doc. I’ve got two com sets. Jake gets one. Tyrique gets the other. Doc, you tell Jake whatever you want. Jake, you tell Tyrique what we need to know. You and Doc only advance when Tyrique or I give the go ahead.”
“Right,” said Jake, putting the com earpiece on and attaching the rest of his set to his belt. Tyrique did the same.
“Oh,” said Doc, hoisting the land drone higher in his arms. “We’re really doing this. OK.”
“Well, they’re doing this,” said Jake reassuringly. “You and I are just going to take a walk and test the new toy.”
“Right,” said Doc, fixating on Jake. “Just like other tests. No big deal.”
“Right,” agreed Jake, leading Doc away.
Rowan watched them go. His arm throbbed, but he didn’t have time to pay attention to it. He waited until they were further away before pulling the assault rifle out of Tyrique’s trunk.
“Tyrique,” said Rowan. “We’re going to have this conversation and then you’re going to forget it. If Vivian doesn’t make it out, then they don’t make it out. If that’s a problem, I need to know now.”
“No, sir,” said Tyrique. “Not a problem. But we’re going to make sure she’s home in time for dinner.” He put his hand up to his ear. “Coms are online. Doc and Jake have reached the alley. They’re launching Doc’s souped up RC car now.”
“OK,” said Rowan nodding and slamming down the trunk. “Then let’s do this.”
It took a few minutes to work their way close to house. Ahead of them, the land drone moved slowly along the base of the house on its chunky wheels.
“Doc says that we’ve got four individuals in the room on the other side of that wall.” Tyrique paused. “Say again.” Tyrique’s stricken glance at Rowan, said everything that needed to be said.
“Just say it, Tyrique.”
“Doc says there’s a fifth person lying down and judging from the heat signature…”
“It’s a body, not a person,” said Rowan. “Got it. We’re going to approach the south corner and come in through the French door.”
Tyrique nodded. They hurried forward and then paused against the wall.
Rowan risked a quick glance through the glass panes of the door.
He could see a dining room on the other side and beyond an archway the kitchen.
He realized that although the door was closed, that it had previously been kicked open.
The handle and lock dangled at an awkward angle.
“Doc says we have movement,” whispered Tyrique. “Two individuals leaving the kitchen.”
“You don’t have to push!” Vivian’s voice was faint through the door, but it was still clearly her voice and Rowan breathed out a sigh of relief.
“Doc visually confirms two individuals remaining in the kitchen. Guns on the table. They’re going through the fridge.” Tyrique whispered.
“This is our window then. We’ll go in as quiet as possible and get Vivian.”
Tyrique nodded as Rowan swung the door silently open.
“On my signal,” said Rowan, readying himself.