Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 36597 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 146(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36597 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 146(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
“No. We were waiting until two a.m. local time. Millie won’t be leaving here for another hour.”
“Well, hold up. You’ve got company.”
Shadow put his field glasses to his eyes and gazed hard at the building before them. He could just make out two cars circling the drive. Both appeared to be the big, ostentatious luxury kind, signaling whoever was in them either had money or represented someone with money.
“Any idea who?”
“No. But it’s a good bet they’ve come about the girl inside. I’ve been watching this place since you first came to me with it. No one’s been in or out. Until now.”
“You think they’re taking her now?”
“This visit is likely about her, but I’m not sure they’ll actually be taking her yet.”
“Set up before the meet? Everyone feeling each other out?”
“Probably. Once they get inside I’ll know more. I’ve tapped into audio as well as video on the inside.” Giovanni’s confident, clipped voice was oddly soothing to Shadow as he continued to gaze at the compound.
“Keep me informed. I’ll tell Millie to hold up. She was getting ready to start her descent to the entry point. It’s a long way down. She needs time to get in place.”
“If they’re really here for the girl now, you’re going to need to track that son of a bitch.”
“You send us something?”
“Yep. Got three smart trackers. They’ll be in the box you set aside because you have no idea what to do with the stuff in it.”
“Bastard,” Shadow muttered as he moved to the back of a truck to look through the boxes. Sure enough, he found the container Giovanni was talking about. “Found them. How do we use them?”
“Just get one of them on each vehicle. They’re magnetic. Only try to get them on a part of the car no one can see because they won’t let go once they’re attached. I’ll do the rest.”
Shadow snagged all three trackers and moved to where Millie was still watching the compound with her own field glasses. “Change of plan,” he growled. “We need to get these devices on those two cars down there.”
“I was just getting ready to leave for compound. What’s going on?”
“Giovanni thinks whoever is in those vehicles may be here for Katya. If they are, we need to be able to track them. Either way we have to change our plans. You can’t go inside and risk getting trapped in that maze with an unknown element inside the compound.”
Millie looked like she might argue with him, then let out a breath. “Can’t argue with that logic. Even if they aren’t here for Katya, we need to know if is someone we need to hunt down later.”
Shadow raised his eyebrows and grinned. “Bloodthirsty little thing, aren’t you? I like it.”
Millie rolled her eyes, but Shadow could see a grin tugging at her lips. “You’re more than a little crazy. Most men would run screaming from me.”
“Because you’re a little bloodthirsty?”
“Because I can kick their ass and not bat eyelash. Or break nail.” She smirked, referencing her earlier comment to Venus.
Shadow chuckled. “Much as I hate to admit it, the fact that you can kick my ass turns me on.”
She gave him a wicked grin. “Much as I shouldn’t admit it, your muscles and size turn me on.”
“Not sure that’s a compliment since I had nothing much to do with my size, but I’ll take it.” He tossed her one of the trackers. They were small and round. About an inch in diameter. “Giovanni says to stick them someplace not easily seen, but to be careful. Once they stick, they’re stuck. And they’re magnetic.”
“OK. Stick round thingie on car. Meet around back of house?”
“Hum… not sure, babe. I don’t want to get caught inside the perimeter if we have to wait long. I think it would be best to wait until their guests leave before going inside, and if they do leave with Katya, I want to be able to follow them. Giovanni will have the tracker and won’t lose them, but we still need to be close.”
“Good plan. What about if we meet on that ridge line, just above property?” She pointed out the spot she was talking about. It was dark, but with the infrared goggles, Samson could see what she meant.
“I think that would do. We should scout it first. If there’s not enough cover, we can come back here. Might have to postpone a rescue until tomorrow. I don’t want to take a chance we get caught. Not only would we be in danger, but they’d move Katya, and we might not have an opportunity to rescue her.”
She thought about that. “I don’t like waiting another day.”
“Me, either,” Shadow said quickly. “But I’d rather take a little extra time and make sure we’re not compromised. Giovanni has eyes on her either way. If the guests take her, we’ve got the car tracked. If they move her, Giovanni can still track her as long as she has those chips in her.”