Page 94 of Cruel Love

“What about the second floor?” Lilah asks.

“It’s coming…” I say.

The stairwell pops up and we watch as an agent slowly climbs the stairs. I click over to the next camera and see the agent as he enters the second floor hallway. Then, the first bedroom. A second bedroom. A bathroom. All empty.

Finally, the master bedroom. The angle shows the edge of an open en suite door. A woman stands before a mirror in black pants and a tight, white blouse. She slowly glides into the bedroom and sits down on the bed, leaning over to zip up her knee-high boots. Long, jet-black hair tumbles to one side of her head, giving us a full view of her face.

Myra.

A rock settles in my gut.

“Boxcar.” Lilah’s eyes twist into angry slits. “Get me into that house.”

“Lilah,” Archer says. “Calm down.”

I shake off the chill in my spine. Four digits found. Just need two more.

“Give me thirty seconds,” I say.

Lilah leans in. “Either you find me a way inside right now or I’ll climb through the Boxcar-shaped hole I make in the wall.”

“Still gonna need thirty seconds.”

Archer grabs her wrist. “Lilah, please don’t—”

“Don’t what?” she spits at him. “Don’t kill the bitch who murdered my brother? You can’t be serious.”

“Don’t lose your head,” he says.

Lilah yanks her hand free. “Archer, do not get in my way.”

He takes a defeated step back.

“You got thirty seconds,” she growls at me.

“Only need twenty,” I murmur.

“You said thirty.”

“Ten seconds ago.”

She seethes with impatience but goes quiet, anxiously staring over my shoulder as my key does its job. It usually doesn’t take this long. They obviously put in place a few extra layers of security after the last time I broke in here but it’s no more sophisticated than before. Either they’re getting lazier or I’m getting smarter. I know which one I’d prefer.

The last digit lights up and the panel glows a bright green.

I lean over and reach into my bag.

“What are you doing now?” Lilah asks.

I grab a mini black pouch from the inner pocket. “I can guide you through the house from here,” I say, pulling out two over-the-ear receivers. I turn them on, and they pair quickly to my laptop. “Put it in and say something.”

Lilah takes the receiver from my palm and slides it over her right ear. “Something,” she says.

The volume bar jumps on my screen.

“Perfect.” I point to the side door. “I’ll keep an eye on the agents. You can get in through there.”

She pauses. “Right now?”

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