Page 76 of Tango
Chapter 26
Alice
“Looks like your theory was right,” Tucker says as he offers me a pair of binoculars.
I take them and peer through the lenses as Web Safe’s janitors wheel out the dumpsters. It’s the one place where cameras don’t reach. Once inside, though, we’ll be under constant watch. Even sooner than that, really, since as soon as they start wheeling the dumpsters inside, they’ll be in full view of the cameras covering Web Safe’s back entrance.
“The trash trucks will be here within the hour. We’ll have maybe five minutes to get inside, and after that—” I take a deep breath. “We’ll be in the lion’s den.”
Tucker takes my hand and squeezes. Something he’s been doing a lot since the plane ride yesterday. Not that I’m complaining, I’m here for every single gentle touch because he has a way of calming the anxious storm within me.
“It’ll be okay. But if we really don’t have that much time, we need to get close enough so that we can move fast. What’s the closest we can risk before being spotted?”
I point toward the vacant lot behind Web Safe. “We can hide in the brush. It’s what I did before. I managed to make it to the dumpsters and get safely inside within a minute.”
“Perfect.” He sits up and tucks the binoculars back into his backpack. He’s dressed in all black, from his combat boots up to the tactical vest and T-shirt he’s wearing. The vest has a set of knives tucked in the front as well as a firearm, in addition to the one holstered at his waist.
He looks ready for war.
Which, I guess, is fitting, given the circumstances. That gnawing in my gut intensifies. What if this all goes wrong? What if I lose him too?
I can do this. I gently touch the front of my own tactical vest, which is not quite as armed to the teeth as Tucker’s but is complete with the thumb drive with my patch on it, as well as a secondary one Tucker wrote on the plane, using the laptop his brother packed in one of the backpacks. His version is a virus that will infiltrate the system, give him remote access, and also point out any vulnerabilities so we can trace what the hackers are actually looking for.
We install his, then mine, and then we get out.
He’d even given me a weapon, a 9mm handgun holstered at the front of my vest—just in case.
“Hey, Alice.” Tucker takes my hands in his. “Listen, if you want to stay out here and keep watch, you can direct me to the server room remotely.” I know he’s talking about the earbuds we’re both wearing. Our way of keeping in touch even when we can’t see each other.
“No. You’re not going in there alone.”
“I can do it.”
“I know you can, but you’re not.” Being away from him spikes a different kind of fear. One where I have to listen helplessly as he’s killed, just as I had to do with Logan. “No. I’m fine.”
“Okay. You’re sure?”
“Yeah. I’d rather die alongside you than listen and be helpless to do anything about it.”
Tucker grins and releases one of my hands to brush some hair behind my ear. “I might just swoon right here if you keep talking to me like that.”
It’s silly, but his playful attitude is helping ease some of my own issues. Especially when that playfulness comes with a side of flirtation that makes my heart flutter.
“Well, we wouldn’t want that.” I scoot out of view just in case anyone is watching in the distance before standing and shielding myself in the trees on the opposite side of the road from Web Safe.
“You’re clear on the plan?” Tucker asks as he does the same and stands in front of me.
“Yes. We get in. Once the dumpsters stop moving, we climb out and make our way up the back steps and into the server room. There’s basically constant surveillance throughout the building, so we need to stick to walls and disable cameras as we move.”
He withdraws a device from his pocket. “This will do the trick. It’ll isolate the network the cameras are on and freeze the panes momentarily. They won’t see us move and shouldn’t notice any interference. We’ll be ghosts.”
Poor choice of words. “Then let’s get this over with.” I start toward the small walkway that will take us down the side of the hill and to the truck parked below.
Once we’re in the truck, Tucker guides us away from the shoulder and heads out onto the street. As we pull into the convenience store on the other side of the field between us and Web Safe, my anxiety has hit an all-time high.
My hands shake, my heart pounds, and as though he can sense it, Tucker takes my hand again. “Lord, we ask that You watch over us. Lead us to the truth, God, and keep us safe as we seek it. Please place your protection around us, God. Above all, let Your will be done. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”
“Amen.”
