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“Won’t he recognize you don’t sound like her?” Graham’s skepticism was palpable, his doubt a palpable weight in the air.
Cody winked at Paige, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “Watch and learn, dude. This woman’s sharp.” The praise sent a jolt of electricity down her spine.
Heat bloomed in Paige’s cheeks at the compliment, but she fought to keep her expression neutral. The air between them crackled with unspoken tension, growing stronger by the minute, making it hard to breathe in the confined space.
As if on cue, her laptop chimed, the sound sharp and jarring in the tense silence. Paige took a deep breath, the scent of coffee and fear filling her lungs as she slipped into character. “Hello?” she answered, her voice pitched slightly higher than normal, the words tasting foreign on her tongue.
As she ended the call, Paige caught Cody’s admiring gaze. She allowed herself a small, triumphant smile. Maybe, just maybe, they could pull this off after all.
The van fell silent as they waited, tension building like a coiled spring. The only sounds were their collective shallow breathing and the faint hum of equipment. Suddenly, the comms crackled to life with the sound of the team talking to the doorman, making everyone jump. Paige’s fingers hovered over her keyboard, muscles taut and ready to spring into action.
As the house phone rang, she hit a button. The thunderous sound of a shower filled the van, the artificial roar of waternearly drowning out her own voice as she yelled, “Hello?” The noise reverberated in the small space, setting her teeth on edge.
The doorman’s gruff voice came through clearly, cutting through the cacophony. “Ms. Michaels? There are some people here to see you. They claim it’s urgent.”
“It’s the repair team. Send them up!” Paige shouted over the artificial water noise, before dramatically hanging up. The sudden silence that followed was deafening.
Graham let out a low whistle. “Impressive tactics, Paige.” The praise did little to ease the knot in her stomach.
Cody nudged Graham, a smirk playing on his lips. “See?” His arm brushed against Paige’s, sending a shiver through her despite the van’s stuffy warmth.
Her cheeks warmed at the compliment, but there was no time to bask in it. Bridger’s voice cut through, all business. “Heading for the elevator.” The words hung in the air, charged with anticipation.
Minutes ticked by, each second feeling like an eternity. The tension in the van was suffocating, pressing down on them like a physical weight. Tai’s calm report of “No activity in the hallway” did little to ease the mounting pressure.
Kate’s voice broke the silence, startling everyone. “Sending a photo of the lock.” The image appeared on screen, the high-resolution details almost too sharp, too real.
Cody leaned in, his shoulder brushing against Paige’s. The brief contact sent a jolt through her, her skin tingling where they touched. “Standard Consortium tech,” he muttered, his breath warm against her ear. “We can bypass it by …”
As he outlined his plan, the team sought Paige’s approval. She nodded, surprised by the weight they gave her opinion. “I agree. Tai?”
“Affirmative.” The word was clipped, tense.
They collectively held their breath as Fenn implemented Cody’s suggestion. The soft click of success was barely audible over the comms, but it might as well have been a thunderclap for how it made Paige’s heart leap.
“We’re in,” Bridger announced. But his next words sent a chill down Paige’s spine, her blood turning to ice. “Something’s wrong. We’ve got a body. Female. Tall, dark hair.”
Cody groaned beside her, his face falling. “Lorna.” The name hung in the air like a death knell.
Paige’s heart raced, blood pounding in her ears as she requested video confirmation. Her fingers trembled as she typed, fear and adrenaline coursing through her veins. The footage appeared on screen, the harsh clarity leaving no doubt—their lead was gone. The image burned into her retinas, a grim reminder of the stakes they were playing for.
29
Bridger’s knuckleswhitened as he gripped the SUV’s door handle, his stomach lurching with each hairpin turn Fenn executed through DC’s crowded streets. The acrid smell of burning rubber assaulted his nostrils as they narrowly missed clipping a taxi.
Fenn grumbled about the traffic, swerving around a dawdling sedan.
Bridger tuned out Fenn’s complaints, his mind racing faster than their borrowed vehicle. Images of Jane’s smile, Kellen’s mischievous grin, and the tiny ultrasound picture of the twins flashed through his thoughts. A bead of sweat trickled down his temple. If they failed to stop this virus, it wouldn’t just be Jason they’d lose—their families would be at risk. The specter of global panic loomed large.
He swiped at his forehead, sending up a silent prayer for success.
The trill of his secure line cut through the tension. Jason’s name flashed on the screen, and Bridger’s heart rate kicked up a notch.
“You good?” The words tumbled out before he could stop them.
Jason’s voice crackled through the speaker. “For now. That last thing turned out to be a false alarm. But I’ve got info. Word in the wild is the Consortium’s lost track of their virus.”
Bridger let out a humorless chuckle. “We’re aware.” He filled Jason in on Cody and Paige’s fruitless search, the words leaving a bitter taste in his mouth.