Page 53 of No Time Off

She never failed to amaze me. “That’s excellent news,cara. Maybe we did get to press that easy button just once.”

“Maybe just this once. Good luck, Slash. I’ve got your back.”

“You always do.” I hung up and pocketed my phone, turning to Manny.

“Did she break into the network controlling the security cameras?” he asked.

“She did and also got control of the door alarms while she was at it.”

“Damn,” Manny said, shaking his head in disbelief. “Is there any information that’s sacred or secure these days? Or does the CIA have access to everything?”

“We’re not the CIA,” I said.

“Of course you’re not. Are you ready to go?”

I looked around. “No better time than the present.”

I took out my phone and called him. Once our connection was secure, he looped in Lexi. I left Manny perched behind a large bush with binoculars and a clear view of the front of the compound and the guard by the gate. My open and running laptop sat next to him.

While it was still dark outside, the sky had begun to lighten as dawn approached, helping me see without having to use a flashlight. The lights from the compound gave me a clear view of where I was going, but also meant I’d be visible to anyone who happened to look out a window once I scaled the fence.

“No sentries or patrols noted,” Manny whispered through the phone. “The one sentry we saw earlier is nowhere in sight. You can climb that fence anytime.”

“Roger that,” I said. “Lexi, bring down the cameras and alarms.”

“On it,” she responded.

I waited a couple of minutes to give Lexi time to do her magic before I headed for the fence. I double-checked to ensure it wasn’t an electric one—even though I hadn’t seen any evidence it was—and scaled it with ease. I passed directly in front of the security camera mounted nearby. I felt my pulse quicken as I jumped to the ground and slipped into the shadows.

No alarm had been raised.

“Phone silence from here on,” I whispered into my cell. “I’ll provide two clicks once I’m inside so you can put the cameras and alarms back on, and three clicks when I’m ready to exit again.”

“Got it,” Manny murmured. “Good luck.”

I didn’t respond, but I already knew what he was thinking: If my plan failed, we didn’t have many other options.

I surveyed the compound from my shadowed position against the building, pressing my body close to the wall. I was exposed here and needed to move, and fast.

I hugged the building until I got to the front right corner. A quick glance around the corner showed the area to the gate was empty and no one was around. The grass felt spongy beneath my feet, damp from the tropical humidity. I ducked around the corner underneath a security camera mounted under the eaves that I sincerely hoped had its image currently frozen. I did another check of the environment over my shoulder before slipping around the corner and testing the door.

It was locked. I dipped my hand into my pocket, where I had put the small lockpicking kit Manny had given me, when the door suddenly popped open.

Startled, I took a step back before realizing Lexi must have opened the door for me. I cautiously opened the door wider and peered in. The dim hallway was empty.

Mentally thanking my wife, I slipped inside, closing the door quietly behind me. I paused, hearing no noise aside from a low hum, which was probably the air conditioner.

I pictured the compound’s layout as Manny had described it to me. The closed door immediately to my right should be the chief of staff’s office, and next to that on the same side was a recreation room. To the left of me would be a gym—which I confirmed, since the door had a glass window through which I could see the darkened outlines of exercise equipment. Beyond the exercise room was a storage closet and, finally, the kitchen manager’s office. Straight ahead would be the large kitchen. The conference room, where I needed to plant the other device, would be on the same floor, but on the other side of the compound. I’d have to pass the kitchen, dining room, stairway, and other offices to get there. I would be the most exposed at that time, so I needed to hurry and get the devices planted and get out before the next staff change occurred.

I’d just put my hand on the chief of staff’s door when I heard a clunking noise coming from the kitchen area. I quickly ducked into the office, grateful the door wasn’t locked. It was another sign of lax security. To my relief, no one was inside.

I closed the door behind me and began to hunt for the best place to plant the recording device. I didn’t dare turn on the light, so I looked around using the dim light from my phone. I noted a metal statue on the desk with several holes in it, which seemed like a good fit. I quickly took the recording device out of my bag, turned it on, and slid it into the statue, where it was perfectly hidden.

The entire action took under a minute. Time to move on.

I had just reached for the door handle when I heard a sound in the hall outside, then silence. After a few seconds, I heard the unmistakable sound of a door closing.

I opened the office door slightly to exit and listened. It had started to rain, and I could hear the water pelting the window. The noise would cover any small sounds I might make, but it would also mask the approaching presence of others. I noticed that the light was now on in the gym across the hall. Someone was working out early.

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