Page 68 of Montana Manhunt

Grant motioned to the laptop. “Zane sent satellite images?”

“Violet hasn’t stepped foot in Morrison since she joined the Army. She doesn’t know the neighborhood or Cami’s apartment building layout. Since Violet couldn’t sleep, we opted to use the time to plan our approach.”

“Show us.”

For the next few minutes, Noah pointed out the various approaches they’d considered to the apartment building.“Camilla’s apartment is on the second floor at the front of the building.”

The operatives debated the pros and cons of each route. Grant shook his head at one option presented. “Too risky. Look.” He pointed at three places along the route. “The chance of being seen is too high. Yeah, I know Morrison isn’t the size of Nashville, but the town doesn’t roll up the sidewalks at midnight, either. Camilla’s neighborhood is only a few blocks from our first hotel. When I did a watch shift, someone was always coming and going at two in the morning.”

“He’s right,” Rayne said. “I noticed the same thing. Approaching from the front has too much risk of being seen, plus there’s the added problem of surveillance cameras from homes and stores along the street. If the police check the footage, we’re toast.”

“I don’t think we’ll have a problem whichever route we choose,” Violet said.

“The cops won’t be happy with our B & E activities.”

She smiled. “No B & E. I have a key to the apartment.”

Silence greeted her statement. “Why?” Grant asked.

“Cami wanted me to have access to the apartment in case I changed my mind and came to visit her.”

But she never had, and now the opportunity was gone. Noah squeezed her hand briefly. “I’m glad I won’t have to use my burglary skills. Let’s hope the Morrison police have removed the crime scene tape.” If they hadn’t and Noah and the others were caught in the apartment, they would have a long, uncomfortable interview in an interrogation room with irate detectives.

Noah looked at his teammates. “All right. Let’s take out the first approach. That leaves the other four options. Opinions on the second approach?”

They debated for a few minutes, then moved on to the other three. After evaluating the pros and cons of each, the team voted to go with the second choice.

That suited Noah. An approach from the back of the apartment building was the option least likely to draw attention to their activities. “We leave in ten minutes. Standard equipment.”

Noah and the others scattered to change into their standard Fortress attire. Black t-shirts, black cargo pants, and tactical boots plus side arms, backups, and knives.

They left the hotel by the stairwell and drove from the underground garage in Grant’s SUV. Noah rode shotgun, leaving the women to ride together in the backseat.

“Rest if you can,” Rayne murmured to Violet. “We have an hour’s ride ahead of us.”

“I’ll try.” She leaned her head against the seat and closed her eyes.

Noah glanced over his shoulder at Rayne and gave a slight nod of thanks. He doubted Violet would sleep much, but anything would help.

Noah monitored the mirrors, constantly scanning their surroundings for trouble, although he had spotted nothing suspicious during his watch shift.

“I’m not seeing a tail,” Grant murmured.

“Neither am I.”

“The back of my neck is tingling.”

“Same.”

Although he and Grant remained alert during the return trip to Morrison, they arrived two blocks from the apartment building without incident. Grant turned off the engine and glanced at Noah. “Orders?”

“Wait.”

They sat in the SUV for a few minutes. Nothing moved or changed in the area. Despite his trouble radar pinging, Noah saw nothing to delay their mission.

He twisted in his seat. “Violet, anything seem out of place or off to you?” She knew the area better than the rest of them.

She took her time surveying the area, then shook her head. “We should go, Noah. We’ll draw attention if we sit here much longer.”

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