Page 81 of Duplicity

“I’d rather shoot him and then you,” the man said.

Simon winced, not just because of what he’d said but also because of the harsh press of the gun against his temple. Peter couldn’t fire. There was too much risk that he would miss even just a fraction and hit something other than the target. Putting a bullet in this guy might cause a reflexive squeeze of his finger on the trigger aimed at Simon’s head.

His brother’s gaze shifted. Just a fraction. Maybe not even visible to anyone else.

Simon blinked once slowly.

Two seconds later, he went limp, flopping down and narrowly missing hitting his chin on the desk. The gun glanced off his skull. The grip on his arm pulled his elbow up.

Before his butt hit the floor, Peter’s gun went off.

The man who’d been holding him jerked, and his gun went off, too. The round embedded itself in the computer monitor.Simon flinched. The guy dropped to the floor with a hole in his head.

“You okay?”

Simon didn’t answer right away. He was busy trying to catch his breath, and he wasn’t going to waste air on answering a dumb question. He wasnotokay.

He lifted his hand and managed to point at the computer.

“It’s toast. The screen is smoking.”

“Hit Enter. Pray you didn’t mess the whole thing up.”

Peter hissed out a quick puff of air. “As if that would be my fault.” He jabbed the Enter button. “Up?”

Simon lifted his hand, and his brother grabbed his wrist. Simon did the same, and Peter hauled him to his feet.

“Is this when we hug it out?”

Simon said, “We need to shut down the system first.”

“No time for hugs?”

Simon slapped him on the back. “I can’t believe you choose to do this for a living.”

Peter grinned. “It’s great.”

The guy looked like he was high on adrenaline. Simon said, “We need to get to the server room. I have no idea where it is.”

Peter said, “Someone must’ve found it. We’re raiding the whole place. Vanguard, a bunch of cops—but don’t tell Russ they’re out of their jurisdiction—and some Northwest Counter-Terrorism agents.”

“Talia?”

“Yep. Liam, and two guys as well. Cat brought them.”

Simon stopped. “She’s here?”

Peter stuck his head out of the door and looked both ways. “Clear!”

Someone out in the hall yelled back, “Clear!”

“Someone get Cat down here!” Peter stepped into the hall. “And find out where the server room is.”

Simon left the room where they’d held him and looked both directions. To the right was a wall at the end, no window or decorations. Rooms on both sides. To the left was a set of wooden stairs they’d used.

Peter’s phone rang. “Olson.” He glanced at Simon. “Got it.” As soon as he hung up, Peter said, “The server room is on the other side of the house. And Cat’s in trouble. She ran into North, and Romeo can’t get to her.”

“Let’s go.”

---