Chapter 24
The bare lighting of Todd’s hotel room cast everything in a sickly yellow hue as he hunched over his laptop.
The early morning desert sun barely penetrated the heavy curtains he’d drawn for operational security.
His bitter coffee sat cooling in its Styrofoam cup, but caffeine was the least of his concerns as he established the encrypted connection to LSIMT.
His teammates’ familiar faces appeared on screen, and even though he knew they’d be there, his breathing eased just a fraction seeing them.
While glad for any present who weren’t on an assignment, seeing Dalton and Casper, who were working on overriding the spa’s indoor security system, sent another sliver of relief through him.
Even though it was appreciated, Todd felt the gnawing anxiety that came with being separated from his partner when one of their own was in possible danger.
He dispensed with pleasantries, his voice cutting straight to the operational heart of their crisis. “Are you going to be able to handle the camera systems between her room and the administrative offices?”
“It shouldn’t be a problem,” Casper replied, his tone carrying the quiet confidence of someone who always managed to rise to the occasion.
“Just before she’s ready to move, I’ll hack their surveillance network and verify the area is clear of personnel.
Then I’ll switch the video feeds to a loop sequence so that anyone monitoring will continue seeing empty corridors and offices while she’s conducting her search. ”
Dalton leaned forward. “And if someone approaches the area while she’s inside, we’re prepared to trigger a fire alarm diversion. That’ll give Sadie enough chaos and confusion to escape without being noticed.”
Todd nodded, not concerned that the plan was simple. No elaborate schemes or complex deceptions—just solid cyber warfare tactics and well-coordinated backup. The kind of straightforward operation that minimized variables and maximized Sadie’s chances of success.
“Have you talked to her this morning?” Logan’s commanding voice held authority, but underneath, Todd could hear the concern of a leader who genuinely cared about every member of his team.
“Not talked, but she sent a message that simply said she wasn’t feeling well.”
The words hung for a moment. After everything they’d learned about Dr. Selinski’s experimental compounds, about transdermal delivery systems disguised as therapeutic treatments, Sadie’s illness could mean the drugs were finally taking effect.
“Fuck.” Several of the Keepers cursed in perfect unison, their voices carrying the frustration of men who’d been trained to act but were forced to wait.
“Yep,” Todd agreed, his hands clenched into fists on the cheap hotel desk. The helplessness was digging into him while he sat powerless in a budget motel room. “My primary concern is Sadie’s health and safety, just like I know it is for each of you.”
“Hell, yeah,” the assembled Keepers chorused.
“We need to get you inside to assist if she needs backup,” Logan said. “Or take over the office infiltration if it comes to that.”
Todd’s response came without hesitation. “With Casper’s setup, I can slip onto the compound and reach her at any time. Daylight operations would be more challenging, but nothing will keep me from making sure she’s safe.”
“I know you’ve studied the facility maps and building plans,” Casper said, showing the architectural diagrams filling the shared screen. “Let’s review those again, in case we need to move fast.”
For the next several hours, Todd’s cramped hotel room became a virtual command center as they dissected every detail of Serenity Dunes’s layout.
Entry points, camera positions, guard rotations, emergency protocols, and every piece of intelligence were analyzed and memorized until Todd could navigate the facility blindfolded.
But even as his tactical mind absorbed the information, his eyes kept drifting to his phone, willing it to light up with Sadie’s contact information. Each minute of silence stretched like an eternity, feeding the growing dread that something terrible was happening to her.
By midafternoon, desperation drove him to reheat leftover pizza that tasted like cardboard. He forced himself to consume the meal, but it did nothing to allay his anxiety.
An hour of punishing exercise in the confined space helped burn off some of the nervous energy that threatened to drive him insane.
Push-ups, sit-ups, burpees. Anything to keep his body sharp while his mind spiraled through increasingly dark scenarios.
The cheap carpet abraded his palms, and sweat soaked his shirt in the over-air-conditioned room, but physical discomfort was preferable to the mental torture of waiting.
He’d tried to tell himself it was because he cared about her as a coworker. But the truth was, he was crazy about her. And maybe the others had known and accepted it long before he was ready to take that leap.