Chapter 33 #2
Hunter continued, “The water line is functional. I patched the old underground electrical feed and tied it into an off-grid relay that won’t show on the main property pull. It isn’t elegant, but it gives you lights, refrigeration, basic comms, and enough juice to keep your equipment running.”
“You did all that alone?”
“I like a challenge.” Hunter stripped off one glove.
“It’s not Stingray caliber. No full perimeter mesh, no thermal coverage, no drone net, and I’d rather have three more days and twice the hardware.
But for a location nobody is supposed to know you’re using, it gives you the basics without turning the mountain into a Christmas tree. ”
A distant buzz rose from below.
Hunter turned toward the trees.
The sound grew louder, rough and fast, engines climbing hard through the jungle.
Rocco sighed. “That better be friendly.”
Two dirt bikes burst from the trail at the edge of the clearing, kicking up red dust and shredded leaves. Adonis took the turn first, leaning low over the handlebars, but the second rider cut tighter and shot past him at the last second.
She braked in a dramatic skid, sending dirt spraying toward the steps.
Everett lifted one arm against the dust.
The rider pulled off her helmet and shook out a fall of dark hair with the practiced ease of a woman who knew how many eyes were on her.
Tatiana Williams.
Adonis killed his engine and muttered something Everett couldn’t hear.
Tatiana grinned, swung one leg over the bike, and held out her hand without looking at him. “Pay up.”
“You cheated.” Adonis dug into his pocket and slapped a wad of cash into her palm.
“Sore loser.” Tatiana tucked the cash into her bra with enough drama to make the gesture a performance, then slung a backpack over one shoulder and sauntered toward them.
Everett looked past her to Adonis. “I can’t believe you got her involved in this.”
Adonis removed his helmet. “Don’t worry. You know thieves don’t snitch.”
Tatiana stopped cold.
“Only because you’re family,” she said, “I won’t take that personally enough to ruin your afternoon. But you know better than to use the T word toward me.”
Hunter’s gaze sharpened with interest. “You’re a thief?”
Tatiana turned toward him, and Hunter’s attention sharpened fast enough for everyone to notice.
She gave Hunter a slow once-over, obvious enough that everyone in the clearing could follow it, then smiled like she had already found something worth stealing. “I’m a procurement specialist.”
Hunter’s brows lifted. “Is that what we’re calling it now?”
“I liberate assets and deliver them to people with demonstrated need.”
Adonis snorted.
Tatiana pointed at him without looking away from Hunter. “You are already in debt. Do not add emotional damages.”
Everett almost smiled.
With Kane out of reach, Adonis had brought the next best resource: his cousin, Kane’s best friend, and a woman with the exact skill set Everett needed.
Hunter leaned one shoulder against the doorframe. “Liberate is a very specific word. Last time I heard it used that way, it was connected to the North American Liberators. International crew. High-end thefts. Private collectors. Very impressive résumé, if you believe the rumors.”
Tatiana smiled slowly. “You don’t think I could be part of that crew?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“Your face did.”
“My face is being cautious.”
“No, your face is wondering if I’m trouble enough to be dangerous or dangerous enough to be fun.”
Rocco made a sound that might have been a laugh.
Hunter’s smile widened. “And?”
Tatiana stepped closer, close enough that Hunter’s amusement sharpened into something else.
“Looks can be deceiving,” she said.
Her hand moved once.
Hunter looked down.
Tatiana held up his wallet, flipped it open, and pulled out his license.
“Hunter Quaid,” she read.
Hunter stared at the wallet, then at her.
She slapped it against his chest. “Try not to look so impressed. It’ll go straight to my head.”
Adonis groaned. “Do I need to hose the two of you down?”
Tatiana turned away from Hunter as if she had already won whatever game they were playing. “How is Remi?”
Everett glanced toward the guard house, imagining Remington there instead of trapped in the Lowlands, and the thought steadied him.
“Better now that we have a chance to prove she didn’t do it.
She’s going stir-crazy in the Lowlands. The community is small, but there are still too many eyes for her to move around safely. ”
Tatiana glanced toward the guard house. “Up here, she can breathe.”
“That’s the idea.”
“She’ll have space to hike without being seen, and this place is a hell of a lot better than Seby’s tiny bungalow.” Tatiana shifted the backpack on her shoulder. “Most of the furniture inside was salvageable. I only need to replace a few pieces. It’ll be done before you move in tomorrow.”
Rocco looked at her. “Tomorrow?”
Adonis came up beside them. “It wasn’t easy considering we’re shorthanded, but it’s getting done.”
Everett’s gaze dropped to the backpack. “What’s in there?”
Tatiana slid it off her shoulder and handed it to him. “Everything you need to do what you do best.”
Everett unzipped it.
Inside, packed with care, was enough equipment to make his pulse steady for the first time all morning.
A hardened laptop. Signal tools. Encrypted storage.
Portable routers. Compact surveillance gear.
Two suppressed pistols, extra magazines, a folding rifle broken down into a padded sleeve, and enough ammunition to make the bag heavier than it looked.
Tatiana watched him take inventory.
Everett looked up. “I appreciate this.”
“You can thank me by giving Remi her life back.”
“I intend to.”
Hunter pushed away from the doorway. “I have intel you’ll appreciate more.”
Rocco looked at him. “Did your contacts uncover a better suspect for the double murders?”
Hunter’s expression shifted.
Everett felt the change before Hunter said another word.
“Not just a suspect,” Hunter said. “I know who killed Bobby and his mistress.”