Chapter 12
Allie selected Twist and Shout and pressed play. She wasn't sure it was the best choice, but she had no idea what the ideal soundtrack was for breaking a window.
She cranked up the volume on the Bluetooth speaker, and within five seconds, the first of the two warehouse guards exited the front door and made a beeline for her position on the side of the building.
Earlier, Rowan confirmed from Henrik's footage that the Byron warehouse guards rotated in teams of two. And on most evenings, the two off-duty guards left for an hour or so, presumably to eat dinner.
Allie and Jason had waited on a side street until they saw two of the guards leave. Distracting two guards would be easier than trying to distract four.
The concierge had come through for them with flying colors. Not only did he procure the size truck they needed, he also managed to have 'Island Party Rentals' emblazoned on the side of the truck, as promised. Allie was impressed.
So far, so good.
Twist and Shout blared across the parking lot, but Jason stood next to her and pumped a thumbs up.
She turned up the volume as far as she could stand it.
The first guard stomped out wearing a scowl that contorted his goatee in a comical expression. He marched toward Allie until the forty-seven helium-filled balloons tied to a surfboard snatched his attention.
There had been fifty balloons when they started loading everything into the box truck at The Mandeville, but two balloons escaped and one popped. Corralling helium balloons had provided more of a challenge than any of them had expected.
But, as it turned out, forty-seven was an effective number of balloons to halt Goatee Guard in his tracks. And enough to completely obstruct the only security camera facing the west side of the warehouse.
Jason played his role flawlessly. Smiling ear to ear, he stepped past Allie, hand out-stretched toward the guard.
Goatee Guard froze, eyes narrowed at the speakers and balloons.
Jason grabbed his hand and started shaking it like he was thrilled to make his acquaintance—which was probably close to whatever he was saying to the guard, but Allie's speaker was blaring The Beatles so loud that she couldn't hear a word.
The guard yelled something at Jason and pointed to Allie's speaker.
Jason cupped his ear, pretending not to understand. He could feign confusion for only so long though—Goatee Guard would get suspicious in another few seconds.
Allie started thinking through plan B just in case.
Thankfully, the front door of the warehouse opened again, and guard number two joined the party.
Jason took his cue and finally communicated that he understood the guards wanted him to turn off the speaker.
He nodded and opened a music app on his phone.
But instead of turning off Allie's speaker, he turned on the second Bluetooth speaker—blasting Jailhouse Rock at the same ear-piercing decibel level.
Allie took her time pretending to help Jason figure out how to turn off the speakers while the guards yelled at them. Their comments likely weren't very polite, but she couldn't hear a word over the dueling speakers.
Phase two was going well.
Good luck, Knox.
When Knox heard Jailhouse Rock, he grinned and used his crowbar to pop open the window on the west side of the warehouse.
As he suspected, when he jarred it loose, the glass cracked.
But the blaring cacophony near the front doors covered any sounds he made opening the window, even when a pane of glass hit the concrete floor of the warehouse.
He raised the window, slipped inside, and shut it behind him.
The warehouse was mostly empty and quiet, unlike the racket in the parking lot.
He pulled out his cell phone and started recording everything he saw.
Opening every door, he found two rooms with couches, one bathroom, an office, and a closet.
It was the closet that kept his attention—or rather, the disturbing contents of the closet.
Knowing the diversion out front only had a few more guaranteed seconds, he hurried to the office, copied as much information as possible, and darted back to the window.
A second too late.
Both speakers went silent.
He needed to hurry. Quietly.
He nudged the window, but it was stuck. Not locked, but jammed. Apparently, when he broke the window, he really broke it—or didn't break it enough. Because now he wasn't sure how to get back out without breaking the glass at the top. Which would make a lot of noise.
He laser-focused on the window and his options for escape, which was why he didn't immediately notice motion in his peripheral vision—until whatever it was caused his heart to jump into his throat.
A figure appeared outside the window. His hand flew to his gun, holstered in the small of his back—until he realized it was Allie.
His relief craved a deep breath, but there wasn't time. He pointed to the bottom of the window, hoping she could work it loose from her side.
She nodded and pushed on the window a few times, constantly eyeing the front of the building. Finally, it gave way, and she shoved it open.
At the same moment, Jason's voice drifted close. Way too close. "Oh, man, that's nice of you guys, but I can put the speakers into the truck. You don't need to help."
He heard their shoes crunching on the gravel. Jason and both guards were walking around the side of the truck. In about three seconds, they would have a clear view of Allie holding open the window.
Knox didn't think. No time. He clamped his hands on her waist and yanked her through the open window. The window fell back into place, but it barely made a sound.
He'd pulled her through so quickly he lost his balance, and they both hit the ground. "Are you okay?" he whispered.
"Yeah. Now, what?"
He peeked out the window, hoping Jason had found a way to distract the guards long enough for Allie and him to escape into the back of the truck. All hope evaporated when he saw Jason moving the balloons away from the camera and wrangling them into the truck.
The guards offered a few departing comments as Jason climbed into the driver's seat. Why weren't they wondering where Allie was? One of the guards said something that made the second guard laugh. Then they waved Jason on toward the parking lot exit.
Adrenaline surged through Knox's limbs. "We need to hide. Now. Jason will get us out later." He scanned the area. "Follow me." He darted to a staircase. "Up here. Fast. Go!"
Allie flew up the steps with Knox on her heels. The second level consisted of an open loft area and one enclosed room with windows overlooking the first floor. Knox opened the door to the room just as the guards' voices entered the warehouse.
He pressed his hand on the small of Allie's back and slowly, silently, guided her into the room. Once inside, they both lowered themselves to a seated position on the floor, out of view of the windows. Knox heard muffled voices, then a door shut.
"They're not looking for us," he whispered. "You okay?"
"Fine. What's the plan?"
Knox checked his phone. A text from Jason popped up. He showed it to Allie.
You guys okay?
Knox replied with a thumbs-up emoji.
Where are you?
Hiding upstairs. I don't see a way to sneak out unseen. First floor is wide open except for the three rooms they use.
I'll be back with a plan. Sit tight.
Knox sent another thumbs-up emoji.
He squeezed Allie's hand. "They don't know we're here. And Jason will get something figured out soon. We're safe for now."
They sat shoulder to shoulder with their backs against the wall. She left her hand resting in his. "How do you know they won't come up here?"
Knox glanced around the room, barely illuminated by the diffused light from the first floor and filtered sunlight from one exterior window covered in peeling tinted film.
"I can't guarantee it." He leaned his head closer, keeping his voice low.
"I didn't have time to run up here earlier.
But the downstairs rooms all had lights on and looked lived in.
This was dark, so I hoped it wasn't being used.
" He scanned the area. A small desk and boxes covered in dust. "From the looks of it, they're not using this space. "
Allie nodded her agreement.
He pointed to the stack of dusty boxes. "Let's hide back there. If they happen to come in, there's a chance they won't see us." He squeezed her hand again. "If they do find us up here, there isn't a back exit. We—"
"We'll have to fight our way out. I know."
"You're armed?"
"You know I am."
Yeah, he did. But the thought of another shootout in a warehouse with Allie sent a painful pang through his heart that he wished he could compartmentalize.
But she was right next to him, so close he could feel her breath when she whispered.
The extra level of concern he had for her—a few levels beyond professional—was impossible to ignore.
And he wasn't going to try.
He just needed to keep his head and get them both out safe and sound. For a multitude of reasons.
He refocused on their next destination and pointed to the stack of boxes.
She nodded.
They crept the ten-foot distance to their hiding spot, crouching out of view of the windows.
Knox looked around from their new perspective. Their position obstructed their line of sight to the door and the desk. It seemed very unlikely someone would venture behind these boxes for any reason—unless they were searching for spies.
Allie tugged on his shirt and brought her face near his ear. "The other two guards will be coming back soon."
"That's Jason's problem." He tried to make it sound like a joke.
But it really was a problem. The bad guys downstairs were about to double in number.
He rubbed her arm with a sigh. "I know. We'll manage.
These guys aren't friendly, but they're not criminal masterminds either.
If we had to get out on our own, our chances wouldn't be terrible.
But the safest call is to wait and coordinate with Jason. "
"Okay. What did you find out downstairs?"
"Yeah, about that . . ." He pulled out his phone again.
He leaned closer to her ear, keeping his voice to a whisper.
"I need to send Jason and Rowan the video I took.
It'll help them to know the layout of this place.
And they definitely need to get a look at what I found.
" He waited a few beats for the video to send. No luck.
Allie pointed to the ceiling. "Metal roof. Texts are easier for a metal roof, but that video isn't going to get through." Her focus jumped to something behind him. "That's an exterior window. Set your phone on the windowsill. It might send from there."
He kissed the top of her head. "You're a genius."
"I know. Just don't make any noise crawling over there."
He shifted to the balls of his feet and gave her a two-finger salute. Even in the almost-darkness he enjoyed the gentle grin on her face.
He took his time easing himself to the window. The windowsill was too narrow to hold his phone, so after he hit send on the video for the second time, he held his phone within an inch of the glass.
Until new voices downstairs stole his attention.