Page 48 of Todd
When she was certain the area was clear, Sadie emerged from her hiding place and slipped toward the housing area. She tried to shut down the fears that every shadow hid watching eyes, every sound carried the potential for discovery.
She had found an entry that Casper had easily overrode the security and slipped inside. With soft steps, she hurried to her room. Only when the door clicked shut behind her did she allow herself to breathe properly, leaning against the solid wood as relief and terror warred for dominance in her chest. She fired off a message to Todd, letting him know she was back, but alerting him to the groundskeeper checking into where they’d met.
Tomorrow night. She touched the lighthouse pendant at her throat.I get into those offices tomorrow night, gather the evidence we need, and then this nightmare ends.
The assignment had stretched far beyond anything they’d anticipated when she’d first agreed to pose as a wealthy spa guest. What had seemed like a straightforward investigation into a missing person had evolved into something darker and more personally threatening than she’d anticipated.
She couldn’t wait for it to be over. Couldn’t wait to be back in Montana, surrounded by people who cared about her safety, working behind the scenes on cases that didn’t require her to sleep in the heart of enemy territory camouflaged as luxury. She knew she was better at providing the Keepers with their backup in planning and when they were actively on assignment.
As she prepared for bed, Sadie noticed heat beginning to bloom across her skin, accompanied by a subtle wave of nausea that made her stomach clench unpleasantly.It was just nerves, she told herself, moving to the bathroom to splash cool water on her face. The stress of the overheard conversation, the terror of nearly being discovered, the mounting pressure of tomorrow night’s infiltration attempt.
But as she stared at her reflection in the marble-framed mirror, noting the slight flush in her cheeks and the way her hands trembled almost imperceptibly, a darker thought crept into her consciousness.
What if it isn’t nerves? What if whatever they put in those massage oils is finally taking effect?
The possibility sent fresh fear cascading through her already overwrought nervous system. If the transdermal compounds were beginning to affect her cognitive or physical function, tomorrow night’s mission would become exponentially more dangerous.
She had one chance to get into those offices… one opportunity to gather the evidence that could expose Serenity Dunes’s operation and bring justice for its victims. If Dr. Selinski’s experimental drugs were systemically compromising her body, that window of opportunity was closing faster than she’d anticipated.
Hold it together, she commanded her reflection, gripping the sink’s edge until her knuckles went white.Just hold it together long enough to finish this.
But as she finally crawled into the luxurious bed that felt more like a trap than comfort, Sadie couldn’t shake the feeling that time was running out and that tomorrow night might be her last chance to escape Serenity Dunes alive.
24
The bare lighting of Todd’s hotel room cast everything in a sickly yellow hue as he hunched over his laptop. The early morning desert sun barely penetrated the heavy curtains he’d drawn for operational security. His bitter coffee sat cooling in its Styrofoam cup, but caffeine was the least of his concerns as he established the encrypted connection to LSIMT.
His teammates’ familiar faces appeared on screen, and even though he knew they’d be there, his breathing eased just a fraction seeing them. While glad for any present who weren’t on an assignment, seeing Dalton and Casper, who were working on overriding the spa’s indoor security system, sent another sliver of relief through him. Even though it was appreciated, Todd felt the gnawing anxiety that came with being separated from his partner when one of their own was in possible danger.
He dispensed with pleasantries, his voice cutting straight to the operational heart of their crisis. “Are you going to be able to handle the camera systems between her room and the administrative offices?”
“It shouldn’t be a problem,” Casper replied, his tone carrying the quiet confidence of someone who always managed to rise to the occasion. “Just before she’s ready to move, I’ll hack theirsurveillance network and verify the area is clear of personnel. Then I’ll switch the video feeds to a loop sequence so that anyone monitoring will continue seeing empty corridors and offices while she’s conducting her search.”
Dalton leaned forward. “And if someone approaches the area while she’s inside, we’re prepared to trigger a fire alarm diversion. That’ll give Sadie enough chaos and confusion to escape without being noticed.”
Todd nodded, not concerned that the plan was simple. No elaborate schemes or complex deceptions—just solid cyber warfare tactics and well-coordinated backup. The kind of straightforward operation that minimized variables and maximized Sadie’s chances of success.
“Have you talked to her this morning?” Logan’s commanding voice held authority, but underneath, Todd could hear the concern of a leader who genuinely cared about every member of his team.
“Not talked, but she sent a message that simply said she wasn’t feeling well.”
The words hung for a moment. After everything they’d learned about Dr. Selinski’s experimental compounds, about transdermal delivery systems disguised as therapeutic treatments, Sadie’s illness could mean the drugs were finally taking effect.
“Fuck.” Several of the Keepers cursed in perfect unison, their voices carrying the frustration of men who’d been trained to act but were forced to wait.
“Yep,” Todd agreed, his hands clenched into fists on the cheap hotel desk. The helplessness was digging into him while he sat powerless in a budget motel room. “My primary concern is Sadie’s health and safety, just like I know it is for each of you.”
“Hell, yeah,” the assembled Keepers chorused.
“We need to get you inside to assist if she needs backup,” Logan said. “Or take over the office infiltration if it comes to that.”
Todd’s response came without hesitation. “With Casper’s setup, I can slip onto the compound and reach her at any time. Daylight operations would be more challenging, but nothing will keep me from making sure she’s safe.”
“I know you’ve studied the facility maps and building plans,” Casper said, showing the architectural diagrams filling the shared screen. “Let’s review those again, in case we need to move fast.”
For the next several hours, Todd’s cramped hotel room became a virtual command center as they dissected every detail of Serenity Dunes’s layout. Entry points, camera positions, guard rotations, emergency protocols, and every piece of intelligence were analyzed and memorized until Todd could navigate the facility blindfolded.
But even as his tactical mind absorbed the information, his eyes kept drifting to his phone, willing it to light up with Sadie’s contact information. Each minute of silence stretched like an eternity, feeding the growing dread that something terrible was happening to her.
