Page 50 of Raven's Nest
Zain grunted. “Figured as much. We’ll start in the office. Have Nyx clear for explosives before we search every square inch. They didn’t bypass the alarm withthatunless they planned on stealing something specific or leaving something behind.”
They retraced their steps back to the door. It wasn’t ajar like Saylor’s loft had been the night before, but someone had definitely been inside, the door swinging open without him using Saylor’s code.
He cleared the doorway, allowing Kash and Nyx to take point. Not that Zain liked giving up that control — surrendering the ability to face any threat first. Take a hit if the worst happened. But Nyx needed room to work, and setting off a trip wire or other explosive just to soothe the scratchy feeling under his skin was a stupid way to die.
His buddy took point, keeping Nyx close. Giving her just enough leash to scent the room. Zain bounced his flashlight around the space, checking every corner. Nothing looked disturbed, a few papers still sitting on Saylor’s desk.
Kash circled his finger. “Clear.”
Zain nudged Saylor. “Sweetheart? Does anything look out of place?”
She checked her desk, rummaging through some items before shaking her head. “I don’t remember exactly where everything was, but it looks fine. Like I said. I don’t have anything worth stealing in here.”
“While it’s a consideration, I really don’t think they were looking to take anything.”
Saylor swallowed, hard, falling in behind Zain as he cleared the door to the boathouse before waving Kash and Nyx ahead. Deep shadows filled the large space, only a hint of gray from a couple windows and the top half of a rolling door providing any relief. Zain steppedinside, leaving enough room for Jordan and Saylor to move in behind him as Kash turned left.
It took a few minutes for him and Nyx to clear the room, his buddy shaking his head as he rejoined them at the door. “Nothing. Though, that doesn’t rule out everything. If they used an airtight container…”
Zain nodded. “Nyx might not detect it.” He motioned to the large rolling door at the far end. “That’s where the motion sensor is that went off. Bastards obviously thought the main system was their only concern.”
Kash grinned. “Looks like your paranoia’s paying off.”
“It hurts that you thought it wouldn’t.”
Kash shook his head in mock frustration as Zain picked his way over to the door, avoiding any direct sightline through the upper plexiglass. A couple muddy prints marred the floor, some pine needles and old leaves suggesting the door had been opened recently.
He crouched, illuminating the print in the small beam. Large, size twelve or bigger. Thick bands with equally thick spaces. The kind of marks combat boots left behind.
Saylor moved in beside him. “At least your failsafe worked. Do you think it was that same guy?”
He frowned, the hairs on the back of his neck prickling as a weight settled between his shoulder blades. “I think this feels careless for the caliber of players we’re dealing with. Why bypass the security system with some high-level tech, then leave muddy footprints behind?And as much as I’d like to think I’ve outsmarted these assholes, I can’t imagine he or they didn’t even consider there could be secondary security measures in place. Not when we already surprised them, once.”
“Are you suggesting they left the prints on purpose? But why do that, unless…”
“They wanted us in here. Kash!”
Zain peered out the window, wiping a patch of the plexiglass in the hopes of spotting something beyond the layered grime from the endless parade of storms. Not that he’d wipe off the dirt, but it cleared some of the condensation. Gave him a bit more visibility.
Kash closed in on the other side, copying Zain’s stance. “Anything in particular we’re looking for?”
“A reason someone wanted us in here. Or at least Saylor.”
“Shit, you think it’s a setup.”
Zain muttered a few obscenities under his breath. He’d damn well done it, again. Put his teammates in harm’s way. And god knew, Saylor meant far more than that to him. “I think we just walked into a fucking ambush. Jordan? Was Greer heading here?”
Jordan nodded, gaze focused out one of the adjoining windows. “She was chasing down a lead but said she’d head back ASAP. I’d call her but…”
“Yeah, that could set something off.” Zain squinted, giving Saylor enough room to shuffle in beside him without presenting a full-on target to some sniper nesting along the pier. “Is there anything out there that doesn’t belong?”
Saylor stared out the window, pausing a few times before leaning in closer. “Is that a boat?”
Zain scoured the waves breaking several feet off, continuing around the left side of the dock. “Where…”
He inhaled.
There. Just edging around the far corner. No nav lights, but the last glimmer of light from the setting sun caught the port side — flashed off a small burst of light before it dimmed against the crushing darkness. He grabbed the portable scope off his vest — zeroed in on the boat. A lone silhouette moved out to the front of the bow, a long cylinder aimed their way.
