Page 18 of The Fixer

“It doesn’t appear to be,” Lyndsey replied, her fingers flying over the keyboard. “But if someone accessed the files, there should be a log.”

Jake nodded, his attention shifting to the hall. “Work fast. We don’t have much time.”

Minutes passed in a taut kind of silence, the only sound the soft clicks of Lyndsey’s typing. Finally, she froze, her eyes widening as she leaned closer to the screen.

“What is it?” Jake asked, stepping toward her.

“Unusual access patterns,” Lyndsey said, her voice trembling as she pointed to various data. “Someone’s been pulling encrypted files from the server at odd hours—files that shouldn’t have been accessed without my authorization.”

“Who?” Jake demanded, his tone sharp.

Lyndsey scrolled through the logs and pointed to a name. “I have no idea who that is.”

Jake leaned over her shoulder, his gaze narrowing. “Unfortunately, I do.”

“Who is it?” Lyndsey asked, her voice cracking.

Before she could finish, a loud crash echoed through the facility. Jake’s body tensed instantly, his gun snapping up as he moved to shield her.

“Stay down,” he ordered, his voice low but urgent.

“Jake, what...”

“Staydown,” he repeated, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Lyndsey hid behind the desk, her heart racing as the sound of footsteps grew louder. Jake positioned himself near the door, his gaze locked on the hallway, every muscle in his body coiled and ready.

The footsteps stopped just outside the office, and Lyndsey held her breath as a shadow passed under the door.

Jake raised his hand, signaling for her to stay silent.

The door handle turned.

CHAPTER SEVEN

JAKE

Jake pressed his back against the wall, his Glock steady in his grip as he kept his eyes on the office door. Lyndsey was partially hidden behind the desk, her breathing shallow, her hands gripping the edge of the wood as if it were the only thing anchoring her. The knob turned again, a slow, deliberate motion that sent a ripple of fear through the room.

Jake signaled for silence, his sharp gaze flicking to Lyndsey. She nodded, her eyes wide but locked on him, trusting him implicitly—at least in that moment. The murmur of voices reached his ears, low but unmistakable. More than one person. Whoever was at the door hadn’t come alone.

The knob stopped turning, and the footsteps outside shuffled. Jake heard a muffled curse, followed by the sound of retreating footsteps. He listened intently, catching the faint hum of engines and the telltale flash of lights spilling through the narrow blinds of the office window.

Lyndsey shifted, her voice barely above a whisper. “Did they leave?”

Jake didn’t answer immediately, his focus remaining on the door. A few more moments passed before the sound of tireson gravel signaled their departure. He moved to the window, peering through the slats. Two vehicles sped off, their taillights disappearing into the distance. A moment later, a black SUV appeared, its headlights chasing after the retreating cars.

“Security,” Jake murmured, lowering his weapon.

Lyndsey stood cautiously, her hands braced on the desk for support. “They’re gone?”

“For now,” Jake said, his tone grim. “But we’re not sticking around to find out if they’re coming back.” He crossed the room, taking her by the elbow. “Come on. Back hallway. There’s another exit.”

Lyndsey didn’t argue, letting him lead her down the dimly lit corridor. Jake moved with precision, his steps silent on the polished floor as he guided her to the rear exit. He paused at the door, listening for any sign of movement outside. Satisfied it was clear, he opened it just enough to slip through, pulling Lyndsey close behind him.

The night air was cool and still, the hoot of an owl overhead the only thing breaking the silence. Jake herded her into the SUV they had taken from the lake to the lab and worked his way back to the small dock where they’d tied up. Stopping the vehicle, they got out. The faint sound of waves lapping against the shore was the only noise. Jake kept Lyndsey close, his grip firm but not harsh as he led her toward the dock where their powerboat waited.

“You sure this is safe?” Lyndsey whispered, glancing over her shoulder.

---