Page 71 of Addicted in Blood
Then I was all alone.Devon had already climbed in the van.I gave a slow perusal of the neighborhood, and once satisfied, I followed him in.
Devon sprawled on a bench seat with a clear view of the two tech stations that ran along the opposite side.Roxie was in the chair closest to the driver’s seat, where a curtain had been drawn across the front windshield as if she were camping overnight.
She pointed to the second seat, and I dropped into it, picking up the earbud lying on top of the ergonomic keyboard.I stuck it in my ear, then grabbed the mouse and activated the screen.
The display showed a street with houses, the movement jittery.
“Where you’d get the vest cams?”I was totally impressed.
“I had them provided.”Devon put on a set of earbuds so he could listen to the communication.
“So, you’re the sugar daddy.”She gave him a rather seductive grin for a techie.“I should have known when I got a look at those baby blues.”She hit buttons and swiped screens, then, in a voice any squadron commander would be proud of called out, “Test.Test.One, two, three.Come in, Hummingbird.”
“Shit.How do I know if these are working?”Static hit our ears as Harlow did god knew what with the ear pieces.
“Stop hitting them,” Roxie yelled.
“Yeah, yeah, luv.Hold your britches.”A minute went by, and the screen changed on the display.They stood in front of a house, and based on the distance, they must be in the yard across the street.“Are you seeing anything?”
“Yes.Can you hear me clearly?”
“Yeah, and Trudy’s giving a thumbs-up.”
“Hold your position until I give you a go.”She flicked a switch then turned to me.
I nodded and looked at the keyboard and screen in front of me.Roxie pointed to a button on the display, and after selecting it, the phone rang once before a familiar voice answered.
“Testing.One, two, three.Come in, Twilight.”When there was no response, I tried to smother a laugh and thought I heard a snort from Bella.I turned around and saw Devon’s lips twitching.The silence continued, and I sighed.“Fine.Are you there, Sergi?”
“Yes.”The one-word answer said everything.
“What’s the word?”
“We have two eyes on Gheata in the club.It’s crowded; I’m sending in two more.The club’s front and back entrances are secure.”
“Roger that.”I nodded to Roxie.
“Hummingbird.The mark is in place.Give me five to cut the security.You can get in place.”
While Roxie started breaking down the electronic security systems, the vest cameras started moving closer to the house.The team moved calmly, and when they reached the driveway, they split up.Harlow would enter from the front and Trudy from the back.
It had proved simple for Roxie to trace the security system, and though she’d been impressed by the sophistication, it wasn’t anything she hadn’t dealt with before.Devon and Sergi had both advised Harlow and Trudy to keep their eyes open.Gheata had been around a long time, and he probably had other surprises for an unsuspecting thief.
“Hummingbird.The net is down.Keep your eyes open for conventional systems.”
“Roger.”
I focused on Harlow’s cam first and shook my head at how adept he was at picking a lock.I was fast; he was faster.I glanced over at Trudy’s cam.She waited for her signal.Harlow wanted to go in first and get a sense for the place.
“I’m clear.”Harlow’s voice was a whisper.
Trudy worked the lock.She was equally good, though a few seconds slower than me.But she was in, the cam vests giving off a green glow of the room as she turned left then right.She was in the kitchen.Her movements were hesitant as she turned on her flashlight and swept the floor, the ceiling, and any other place where a wire or some other trigger might be.
“I’m clear.”Then she moved around the kitchen, opening drawers, cabinets, the fridge, and freezer.
Harlow worked his way through the living area.Fortunately, Gheata was a bit of a neat freak, and it didn’t take Harlow long to clear the room.The house wasn’t large.The kitchen, a utility room for the washer and dryer, living space, and a small study.Harlow spent most of his time in there while Trudy waited by the stairs, checking them, the walls, and ceiling for trip wires.
“Nothing.”
