Page 15 of Wired Courage

Much of getting through other people undetected was moving with confidence, as if you belonged there.

Rhinehart padded down a hallway lit by a flickering torch, eventually reaching a large hall. Tables and benches down the middle of the room showed the room’s purpose. “Planting final camera. Target will likely come through at some point,” Rhinehart whispered.

“Affirmative,” Jake said. “Now get out of there.”

Rhinehart jumped up to attach the tiny camera to the lip of the door, and then made his way back through the sleeping quarters. Several close encounters later, the Security Solutions man was on the move, back through the jungle.

Jake frowned. “Seems too easy.” He glanced at Hamilton.

The CEO’s brows were drawn together and his glasses had slid down his nose. Hamilton took them off with an impatient gesture. “Seems too easy to me, too.”

“We’ll just have to wait and see, boss.”

Hamilton gave a brief nod. “Call me Connor. It’s what I go by with my friends.”

Friends.In the week that they’d been sharing a tent, meals, and uncomfortable jungle trekking, Jake had found himself respecting Hamilton. The man was cool under pressure, a strategic thinker, and uncomplaining in the physically challenging circumstances of the jungle setting.

“We need to monitor these cameras twenty-four hours a day, Connor. I’ll take the first shift. You should get some rest.”

Connor gave a brief nod and went to his pallet, sliding into his light sleeping bag.

Jake arranged the different views into a grid and watched the grainy feed.This was going to get old fast.

As Rhinehart reached the camp, Jake emerged from the tent he shared with Connor to meet him.

“Got it done.” Rhinehart tore off the NV goggles and concealing hood, clearly eager to be rid of the hot and uncomfortable gear.

“Good job, man.” Jake clapped him on the back, suppressing his concerns about the ease of the op.

So far, they hadn’t seen or detected high tech surveillance equipment in or around the stronghold; a likely reason being the damp conditions that would quickly ruin most electronics. Yes, it felt too easy—but likely the Yam Khûmk?n were getting complacent in their isolation. Would they really have detected Rhinehart and allowed him to roam their base as he had? And then allow their fortress to be bugged?

The answer was simple: they wouldn’t. Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth, Jake.

“Get some rest, Rhinehart. We’ll meet tomorrow to review a plan for when we have confirmation that the target is on the grounds,” Jake said.

The other man nodded and headed for his tent. Jake watched him go thoughtfully, and switched off the small LED perimeter light providing minimal illumination to the campsite. Sentries at their perimeter provided an extra layer of protection.

The target. Jake couldn’t afford to feel all the love and worry that churned within him: the utter lack of anything soft or nurturing in the motives of the black-hearted woman who’d stolen her own grandchild, worry about the environmental threats to a tiny newborn in that dank-looking stone fortress, the many unknown germs. Calling Momi “the target” helped him shut all that out and just think of the objective.

There had to be more to the interior of the stronghold than what they’d seen so far. He couldn’t imagine a pampered woman like Pim Wat tolerating the primitive conditions of the barracks, practice courtyards, and spartan dining area they’d been able to get a look at.

There must be somewhere softer and more civilized, and someone other than Pim Wat to hold his daughter close and keep the baby warm, fed, and nurtured, physically and emotionally. Hopefully, that person was the mysterious nanny, Armita, that Sophie had referred to. Sophie clearly felt betrayed by the woman’s involvement in the baby’s disappearance, but trusted her to take care of Momi better than her mother would.

Jake watched the grainy surveillance video of the interior of the fortress until his eyes were burning. His muscles cramped as he continued to do isometric exercises to keep his body busy and awake.

A hand grasped his shoulder, startling him. “Time for shut-eye, Jake.”

“Thanks.” Jake handed over the tablet. “Something is bound to show up soon.”

“We won’t stop looking until it does.” Connor’s dark hair was mussed and his glasses were back in place. Even wearing jungle camo, the guy managed to look like he was modeling for a clothing catalog.

Warmed by his friend’s words, Jake went to his bed and fell into a depthless sleep.

Chapter Thirteen

Day Twenty-Two

Connor rolled his shoulders back and tightened his abs, raising his feet off the ground as he pushed up with his arms, lifting his feet out in front of him, parallel to the ground. Ahead of him, he watched the surveillance feed of the interior of the Yam Khûmk?n stronghold on the tablet.

---