“We ready to rock ’n roll?” Kairo asked in a low but happy tone.
“We’re locked ’n loaded. Get us to the promised land, gingerbread man,” Ed replied in a rough whisper.
Will looked over at Kairo, who grinned and shrugged as if that kind of weird talk was just normal among them. It probably was. These guys had worked together for years. Even sitting in on their planning meetings had left Will’s head spinning. He didn’t understand half of what they were saying and even when they explained it, so much still went over his head.
But this was Charlie’s world, as he was eager to understand as much of it as possible.
For now, though, the priority was getting Charlie and the others safely back to him.
“East, two hundred feet, stick to the trees. Go now!” Kairo instructed.
All at once, the three men surged forward, weaving between the trees and sticking to the shadows. There was only the faintest whisper of their clothes rubbing, but even that was barely heard above the steady wind that was cutting through the city tonight. Will prayed that worked in their favor.
“Hold,” Kairo said calmly.
Will’s eyes snapped to the other cameras in time to see two guards, each holding a gun with both hands, approaching the guys’ position from the north and south. His heart stammered in his chest, and he couldn’t draw a breath. His entire body froze as if he were crouched among the trees with Charlie and the others. Seconds ticked by so slowly. There was only the crunch of twigs and leaves underfoot as the guards crossed by the men in their path along the wall.
“All right. You’re clear. Continue five hundred feet east to the edge of the light. Go…now!” Kairo instructed.
Will’s heart felt like it started again and his lungs expanded. The three men in the compound didn’t say a word, but they moved along the course Kairo skillfully plotted for them across the yard to the house. Kairo seemed to make it look so easy as he coordinated their trek while blotting out cameras here and there to mask their movements.
Maybe what they’d been telling him for the past few hours was the truth. They had this all under control. It was clear with every step they took that they had done this many times in the past.
Will managed a few easier breaths until the house came into view on Charlie’s video screen. Crossing the yard had begun to feel like the easy part. Inside the house was more complicated. There were several guards patrolling the interior of the house. There were lots of security cameras for Kairo to handle. And then there was their ultimate goal.
Actually, they’d worked out three possible targets before Charlie, West, and Ed had even left the van.
The first and easiest was a glass Benicio had been drinking out of during the later part of the night in his office on the second floor. He’d worked at his desk, made calls, and shot off emails while drinking what looked to be scotch from a beautiful crystal tumbler. That alone should have enough DNA on it for Will to run his test.
However, if they couldn’t get the tumbler for whatever reason, the backup plan was Benicio’s toothbrush and/or hairbrush. Unfortunately, those would be located in the private bathroom off the master suite, where Benicio was currently sleeping.
And if things went all to hell, they were each equipped with a tranquilizer that they could give to Benicio. He would be knocked out in a matter of seconds, allowing them to swab the man’s mouth directly. It would give them the best DNA sample out of all their options, but Will was hoping they’d be able to avoid a direct confrontation.
After nearly a half hour of stop-start moving across the lawn, Charlie and his friends climbed the curving stone steps to the front door. The men waited crouched under the bright lights in front of the house. They were in view of any guard who happened to walk by, but Kairo had timed it perfectly.
The man’s fingers flew across the keyboard, keys clacking loudly in the silent van as he worked on hacking the biometric lock on the front door. Will squeezed his eyes shut and tried to get his heart to slow. The wind outside the van howled and buffeted the metal side for a moment before settling again. It felt like seconds stretched on into forever as he waited for Kairo to work his special brand of magic.
Just as Will’s hold on his patience was cracking, Kairo hooted. Will’s eyes shot open in time to see Kairo slam his index finger down on one last key. “Got it! You’re unlocked. Hallway is clear for the next thirty seconds.”
Will watched as Charlie opened the fucking front door. Yes, they were going in the front door. These guys had freaking balls for days.