Page 46 of Shadow Undercover

“Tea is a drink for sissies.” Ben glanced over his shoulder and grinned at Bridget’s scowling face.

When Trace reached the right address on Stratford, he slowed his speed and drove by, giving Ben an opportunity to scan the house and surrounding area. The F-250 was parked in the driveway. No other vehicles in sight. No garage. Several lights were burning in the house.

“Let me out at the corner.” Ben unlatched his seatbelt and checked his weapon. When Trace stopped, the other operative bailed from the vehicle and melted into the darkness.

“Where did he go?” Bridget asked a moment later. “I can’t see him.”

“He’s three houses away from our target.”

“What’s he doing?” Her hand gripped his shoulder. “You have to go back and help.”

“I will. He won’t breach the house until I’m on site.” Not unless it was necessary to save Ruth’s life. If she was there.

Trace circled the block, parked six houses away, and turned off the engine. He activated his comm system. “Sit rep,” he murmured.

“One man in the house. No one else.”

He sighed. “Copy. Position?”

“Back door. Kitchen’s dark. Truck boy is in the master bedroom.”

“Hold.”

“Copy.”

Bridget unlatched her seat belt and scooted closer. “What did he say?”

“Hoodie is in the master bedroom. No sign of another person in the house.”

She groaned and leaned her forehead against his seat. “That’s not what I wanted to hear. Maybe he knows Ruth’s location.”

“We’ll find out. Stay inside the SUV. If you see anything that spooks you, honk the horn.”

“I don’t want to disturb the neighbors.”

“Your safety is more important than their sleep.”

When she nodded agreement to his instruction, Trace exited and locked his vehicle. He approached the house from the west and circled around the side. “Coming up on your six,” he whispered. Trace joined Ben at the back door.

“No alarm system.”

With a nod, he pulled his lock picks from his pocket and went to work on the lock. Within seconds, the knob turned easily under his hand. Trace cracked open the door and slipped inside the darkened kitchen, Ben on his heels.

They checked the living room. Empty. Trace signaled Ben to take the first bedroom in the hallway while he took the second. The master bedroom was the only room with a light shining under the door now. As he entered the bedroom on the opposite side of the hall, the light winked out. Good.

Trace scanned the room. Spare bedroom. Bed, dresser, and a closet. No decorations or pictures on the wall. When he checked, the closet was empty.

He returned to the hall as Ben exited the first bedroom.

“Game room,” Ben whispered. “Dude’s a serious gamer. Has a couple of Zane’s games.”

His lips curved. At least Hoodie had good taste. Zane’s games were incredible. Every operative in Fortress had a copy in their possession.

“What do you want to do? Wait or go now?” Ben asked.

If Bridget wasn’t in the SUV, Trace would wait long enough for Hoodie to slip into a deep sleep. With Bridget along, though, he didn’t want to leave her on the street that long. “Go.”

Ben grasped the door knob and slowly turned it. He opened the door a crack and waited. No movement. Ben signaled Trace that he would take the left side of the room. That left Trace to cover the right. His teammate counted down and breached the room in silence.

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