Page 74 of Addicted in Blood
A couple of seconds went by before he replied, “Roger.Tell them to take a left out of the yard.”
Then he was gone, and Roxie relayed the message.
“Harlow, go.I need to concentrate.”
“Please, baby.”Trudy’s voice had softened to that tone she got when she wanted Harlow to take her home.From what she’d told me, those were their best sex nights.If it didn’t do the trick now, nothing would.
“You’d better bring her up in one piece, vamp.”
“Understood.”Devon bent lower and blew dust away from the device.
Harlow stopped next to her and gave her the lightest of kisses before he was running up the stairs.He stopped at the top and turned, but the camera only picked up part of the stairwell.
The only video from the basement was on Trudy’s vest, and it showed the cement floor, the tips of her steel-toed boots, and the occasional glimpse of either Devon’s head or the explosive device.
“Five minutes.”Roxie’s voice continued to remain at an even keel.I would never have pulled that off.
Devon’s fingers pressed a ring that circled the device and lights flashed blue.The light illuminated the ring then extinguished.A rainbow color of lights lit up, revealing multiple sections.Each section was equal in size and produced a different color.Devon paused and lifted his arm.Based on the motion, he appeared to be rubbing his head.Not a good sign.
Another minute ticked, and when he spoke, his words were steady and confident.“When the device turns a solid yellow, run.Do you understand?”
“Solid yellow, run.Wait.Does that mean the ring is a solid yellow?Could it be a flashing yellow?”
He chuckled.“Excellent question.No flashing.Just a solid yellow circle.Don’t hesitate.I’ll be right behind you.”
“Got it.”
He pressed a section and the entire ring changed to green for several seconds before returning to the multicolor.He repeated the action, the colors changing to white, then multicolor, another tap, and then a solid yellow.Trudy was on the move, her camera bouncing as she took the steps two at a time.
A loud pop.
“Devon?”I swallowed my hysteria.
No response.
Trudy turned to look down the stairs.A couple of nerve-racking moments later, the light went out, then Devon was racing up the stairs.Trudy turned, and Harlow could be seen at the back door, waving her on.
At the same time, I heard the distant sound of a car door slamming.
I might have been imagining it, but when I glanced at Roxie, she nodded.“I heard it, too.”
“Run.”Devon’s voice echoed in my ears.Did they have enough time?
Harlow waved them through the door, then he locked it and quietly closed it behind him before running after Devon and Trudy.Devon had her by the arm and was dragging her past the back gate that had been opened for them.They turned left.
Harlow was several paces behind, but he stopped to shut the gate then took off.Jamal was a block down, waving his arms.He stood next to a dumpster.
When Devon got there, he lifted Trudy, giving her a second to realize where she was before he dropped her in.He waited for Harlow and boosted him over before jumping in behind them.A large tarp had been waiting for them, and they scrunched together underneath it.Then the lid came down, and the previous gray darkness turned completely black.
“Jamal.Can you tell us what’s happening?Over.”Roxie tapped her pen with a steady staccato rhythm, the only sign of her nervous state.
My leg bounced a hundred miles an hour, and I gnawed on a fingernail.
“I’ve moved back toward the mark’s house.My box is all set up, and I’m tucking myself halfway in.No more contact until I give the clear.Over.”
“Roger that.”Roxie turned to me.“Now we wait and listen.”
I figured I had a minute, and I switched the mic.I whispered for no apparent reason, “Sergi?”
