Page 92 of Switch
Wes has a spare key.So does PJ.
My pulse kicks up.Could it be PJ?
Thinking of the time he sent a text telling me to answer the door, I can’t see PJ not announcing himself.I wake up my phone again, opening the security app Everett set up for me.Except when I click on every single camera image, I’m met with nothing but a blank screen.
Either there’s a glitch, or someone’s disabled all of the cameras.Better safe than sorry.I dial 911 and hit Send.The call doesn’t connect.
Someone might be in the house who shouldn’t be, and I can’t call for help.
ChapterTwenty-Nine
PJ
IgnoringBrennan’s directive to stay in the car, Ravi and I approach the canning factory on foot.
“Is it just me, or is there a whole lot more security than there was before?”
“How would I know?I wasn’t here before,” Ravi whispers.
“Talking to myself.”But seriously, there were, like, a couple of guys with guns who frankly looked bored out of their minds the night I came here with Fallon.Now, there’s at least a dozen guys.
Lights flood from every window and door.Somewhere in the distance, machinery beeps and hums.I could swear I smell burning oil.
We catch up with Brennan and his crew, who are closer than Fallon and I ever got to the main building.Everyone’s clustered behind some sort of electrical shed so they’re not visible from the factory itself.
“Thought I fucking told you two to stay in the car,” Brennan growls.
Ravi’s the one who answers.“Honestly, did you think that was going to happen?”
Brennan scowls, adjusting the grip on his gun.“I had hope.”Then he rubs at the skin above his right eyelid.I think it might be twitching.
“We can’t stay here long, boss.They’ve got a couple guys walking the perimeter.One of ’em will be back this way before too long.”Jalen’s like a buzzing fly, moving from one place to another.He scans the area, goes back to checking his weapons, and then scans the area some more.
“Okay, here’s the deal.”Brennan checks the clip in his gun and screws on a suppressor.“I managed to get some intel on the factory layout.The main floor’s where the equipment is located.Or was, at least.Then from the pictures it looks like there are two more levels going up around the edges of the building.Administrative offices and whatnot.There could be people shooting from above, so keep an eye out.Might not be a lot of places for us to hide.”
“It would be good if we could draw people out,” Jalen agrees.
“We need a distraction,” Ravi says.“I’ll do it.”And then he starts taking off his clothes.
“Little man, what the fuck are you doing?”Brennan is clearly regretting the decision to let us tag along.
“We need a distraction to draw out the bad guys,” Ravi explains.Slowly, as if we’re all simple.Then he shucks his pants like it’s no big deal.
I’m beginning to think he might have an actual death wish.
“What are you planning to do, go streaking?”Oh shit.I think that really is what he’s planning to do.
“That’s fucking suicide,” Brennan mutters.
“It’s really hard to get a good aim on someone when they’re running,” Ravi says, almost breathless.“And I’m pretty fast.”
Once he’s stripped down to nothing but a pair of briefs covered in anime characters—which I did not need to see, by the way—he gives us all a wide grin.“Don’t worry.It’ll be fun.”
Then he takes off, screaming, before the rest of us are prepared to react.
“Fuck.”Brennan raises his gun, stepping out from behind the shed.“That kid is certifiable.Good thing he’s going to make me a lot of fucking money.”
Then he shrugs and starts shooting.Without a weapon that fires projectiles, I’m left looking for an alternate plan.Until I see what must have been one of the guys checking the perimeter running toward the building, and another running out the large main doors.
