Page 20 of Double Shot

“We use the drone, and scout it from the air,” Grant said. “I’ve got IR on this, so we can see where people are, and more importantly, the places they actually use. Old buildings like those, they only worry about keeping the parts they use comfortable. A few months ago, when it was cold as shit, this would have been a walk in the park.”

Scouting the Mont Saint Chauvignon grounds took the better part of two agonizing days. The worst parts were when we had to bring the drone back in and wait for the battery pack to recharge. But it was worth it. Between the drone and Grant’s computer wizardry, he built us a map of the grounds, and using night flyovers, he picked out what buildings were occupied and which were just there, and how well guarded the place was.

Another point in our favor, there was almost no security, but there were a large number of people present. Mont Saint Chauvignon was an active vineyard, and they made wine on the grounds. There were also a number of horses, and some other livestock that seemed more recreational than being raised for meat. The place reminded me of the parts ofBeauty and the BeastI vaguely paid attention to.

We laid out a plan. There were three potential buildings that had constant heat signatures that were human. The easiest to get to was attached to the main house, but it looked like a recent addition. The others were an apartment attached to the stables, and then there was an old stone building that Grant said had been a jail from when the keep was a local seat of government. And then he mentioned a bunch of stuff about French monarchies and musketeers.

“We should check the old jail building first,” Sadie suggested.

“Why?” Grant asked.

“If it was a jail, it should already have bars and cells, right?” I nodded in agreement. “And Roan is a wizard. That means they won’t let him anywhere near electronics or internet stuff.”

“That’s true,” Grant said.

“And why in the hell would they be doing anything in a place that inconvenient to the main estate? Look at how far from the main building it is. That’s where I would keep him. Away from other people, away from modern tech, and in a place with bars and stuff.”

“I think that’s the first place we should check,” I agreed.

“So just the three of us are going to break into this place and get Roan out?” Sadie asked.

“No. I’m going in alone. I won’t put you in harm’s way and I don’t think deejay skills are useful in a break out attempt. I want you guys to work the drone for me and be my air support.” They both nodded.

“That works for me. I’m not a fighter. Well, I am in the MMO, but that’s not real and I’m not a dragon man either,” Grant said.

“Oh, I know who you are,” Sadie said, perking up. “You play that gold lizard guy with the giant sword.” He nodded and looked confusedly at her. “I watched Roan play some, too complicated for me to keep up with, since you guys are all super good at it.”

“It’s just a game,” I said.

“This is going to go just like a game too,” Grant said. “You’re going to be my Player One, and I’ll guide you through this like it’s any other dungeon raid.”

“Like hell, mate.”

“I’ll use the headset,” Sadie offered. “And he can fly the drone?”

“That works,” I said. “What works better for you, daylight or night?”

“Night, because all of the employees will go home,” Grant suggested.

“Good plan,” I nodded. “Let’s walk through it first, and if we have time, see if we can find any of their security systems.”

“They have a basic electronic system on the main house, cameras at the front gate, and three points around the main house,” Grant said. “Here, here, and here. I can get you around them by following this hedgerow. You cut under it here behind the stables. From there it should be a covered approach down to the stone jail.

“Perfect. I run into trouble, you spot for me, and I handle it.” I left unsaid that if something went wrong, they should leave. Hopefully, they would have that level of common sense.

* * *

“Can you hear me?”Sadie asked.

“Copy that,” I said, checking the bolt of the AK. What a piece of crap, and not for the first time, I missed all of my guns. An AK and a cheaply made Makarov were no replacement for even the cheapest and worst of my old firearms. I had to work with what I had, though. I could hear a distant murmur of words and knew they were talking; we didn’t have the time or patience to do any practice runs with the drone, and her running comms.

I hoped I wasn’t relying too heavily on how good I thought I was. I hadn’t been rolling into any action in over half a year, and the last time I hadn’t fared all that great. But this was different, thank God, this was going to be different.

“It looks like you can go that way, toward the tree,” Sadie spoke in my ear.

“That way isn’t a direction,” I said softly.

“Yes, it is.” She was curt.

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