Page 102 of Shadow Redemption

“Two cameras mounted in the trees at the front,” Alex murmured. “Ten and two.”

Silence, then Trace said, “Copy. Same in the back. I missed them.”

“Focus, Trace.” The short reprimand came from Nico.

“Yes, sir.”

“No extra surveillance on the east side,” Quinn said.

“Same on the west,” Josh added.

“Copy that,” Nico said. “Ben, give us as much intel as possible without alerting Davidson or his cronies.”

Ben slowed as he approached the gate. “Anybody have a fix on Ruth?”

“Possible location,” Rio murmured. “East side, large building lit up light a Christmas tree lot. Thermal imaging shows someone seated in a chair near the back wall. Two other figures inside. One smaller figure standing close to the seated one. The second appears to be a guard near the door.”

“Copy,” he whispered and stopped less than a foot from the glowering guard. Ben kept his hands in view as the guard moved toward the driver’s window.

“This is private property. Turn around and go back.”

“Davidson is expecting me. Tell him I’m here.”

The man sneered. “He’s selective about granting an audience, especially when he’s...busy.”

“Don’t let him provoke you,” Josh murmured. “Trust your gut, not your heart.”

His gut said the guard knew who Ben was but enjoyed throwing his weight around. His heart wanted to tear apart this man and the rest of the human traffickers in Eden with his bare hands. “Call him. Now.”

The guard frowned, but pulled out his cell phone. He spoke briefly into the instrument, listened a moment, eyes narrowing at what he heard. The guard’s jaw clenched as he slid the phone into his pocket. “You’ll be met inside the gates and searched before you’re allowed to see the prophet. If you resist, the guards will shoot you.” The man retreated to the guard house and a moment later, the gates opened.

He drove inside the walls and the gates shut behind him. Ben scanned the compound and pinpointed cameras on various buildings. He informed his teammates of the camera locations as well as the positions of guards. Once Fortress disabled the power grid, the cameras would go down.

As he exited the SUV, he glanced at the building where Ruth was likely being held. Soon, she’d be free, and he and Ruth would plan their life together. Ben looked forward to their Zoo date and a host of others as he courted the woman he longed to marry.

Two large, well-armed men walked toward Ben. One pointed a weapon at Ben’s chest. “Hands away from your sides, legs spread. If you move, I’ll kill you.”

“Get on with it. I have business with Davidson.” He widened his stance and held his hands away from his body. “How long have you been part of Eden?”

“Long enough to not give you information.” He grinned. “The prophet has several things to say to you.”

The second thug searched Ben for weapons. He remained motionless, waiting to see if the thug detected the weapon secured in one of his tactical boots.

Not detecting anything suspicious, the guard glanced at his buddy. “He’s clean.”

“Take me to Davidson. Now.”

A smirk from the dude holding the weapon on him. “You shouldn’t be so eager to see the prophet. He has painful plans for you.”

“Tell me something I don’t know.”

The second guard shoved him toward the large building to his right. “Move.”

Keeping his hands visible, Ben followed the hooligans’ directions to a dimly lit hallway with light streaming from one room. Knowing Davidson, he was in his office. Conducting business in that room always gave Eden’s leader a sense of power and control. No matter where Eden relocated, the prophet’s office was always the same. Plush, decadent, and private.

One of the guards knocked on the door. A moment later, a man opened the door and stared at Ben with hatred in his eyes as he addressed the two flunkies. “You searched him for weapons?”

“Yes, sir. He’s clean.”

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