Page 24

CHAPTER 24

O live wrapped up her conversation with Nova and stood. “It sounds like I still have more work to do.”

Nova cast her a look. “Like what?”

“First of all, I want to check out the location you traced back to this IP address.”

Nova straightened, suddenly looking interested. “You want company?”

Normally, Olive might say no. She didn’t mind working alone. But having Nova there could be helpful, especially with Motorcycle Man on the loose.

“If you’re up for it, then come on.”

She smirked. “I’ll bring my laptop with me in case we have any downtime. I’ll either work or watch cat videos.”

Nova loved her cat videos—and cat memes. Rex had to ask her to stop sending them on their professional communications.

“Very well then,” Olive finally said. “Let’s get going. I’ll drive.”

They stepped outside and went to Olive’s Jeep. She glanced around as she walked, making sure she didn’t see anyone watching her.

It appeared everything was clear, but she still had to be careful.

Just out of curiosity, she checked her wheel wells and bumper for tracking devices.

Was it paranoia? Quite possibly. But Olive preferred to think of it as being safe.

Once she felt confident no one was tracking her, she took off down the road as Nova called out directions.

The address where they were headed was toward Austin and San Antonio.

It was dark outside, which would work both in their favor and as a disadvantage. In their favor because the darkness would help conceal them, but as a disadvantage because it would be harder to see everything and keep an eye on their surroundings.

Olive had no idea what she was expecting to find. But she was curious and wanted to see the location with her own eyes.

As they left Oasis, the roads became more isolated, dotted with only the occasional farmhouse.

Twenty minutes later, Nova pointed ahead. “Turn here.”

Olive glanced at the dirt road to her right, and her eyebrows shot up. “This could be interesting . . .”

They pulled down the bumpy dirt road, and the darkness seemed to become darker. Short, shrubby trees lined either side of them—but nothing else. No houses or businesses or other vehicles even.

“Slow down.” Nova glanced at her phone. “We’re getting closer, and I’m not sure what we’re going to come upon.”

Olive’s foot eased off the accelerator.

As she neared the address, she spotted an open area up ahead. She pulled to the side of the road before approaching the house, stopping where the Jeep would be concealed by trees—just in case anyone suspicious was around.

She put the Jeep into Park. “I should go the rest of the way on foot.”

“You’re not leaving me here like a chicken leg in a crab pot.” Nova shoved her phone in her pocket as she prepared to get out.

“A what?”

“Never mind. But I’m coming with you.”

Olive hesitated. She didn’t want Nova to be injured if things went south. Olive had been trained to defend herself, but Nova’s main role with Aegis was as support staff.

But she knew Nova wouldn’t change her mind. She was stubborn. Besides, Olive had her gun with her.

“Then let’s go.” Olive opened her door. “Just stay behind me.”

From behind a tree, Olive observed the house.

There was nothing to hide behind closer to the house. Just a wide-open space leading to the building in front of them.

The house looked more like a shack, a place where no one had lived for quite a while, based on the splintered wooden boards and rusty tin roof. There were no lights on and no cars parked out front.

This definitely didn’t look like a place that had internet or where someone would be receiving feed from a hidden camera.

“Strange, isn’t it?” Nova muttered, echoing Olive’s thoughts exactly.

“It is. Are you sure this is the right place?”

Nova nodded. “Positive.”

She stared at the building and frowned. “I suppose this place could be a good cover if someone wanted to have a hideout no one suspects is in use.”

“How are we going to find that out?” Nova asked.

“There’s only one way. We’ve got to get closer.” Olive reached for her gun.

“I’ll follow you.”

Olive gripped her gun in one hand and a flashlight in the other as she stepped closer to the shack. She had no idea what she might find inside, and she needed to be ready for anything. Thankfully, Rex had trained her for situations like this.

She remained skeptical they’d find anything here, but she didn’t want to leave without checking things out first.

“Stay close,” she murmured to Nova.

Remaining low, the two of them hurried toward the house.

If another operative was with Olive, they might split up now. But that didn’t seem wise with Nova, no matter how innocuous this place seemed.

They circled the building, looking for any signs someone had recently been here.

The darkness made it difficult to ascertain, and the windows were too high for her to see inside. They were surprisingly intact, however.

Olive needed to be certain the place was deserted.

“This way,” she whispered to Nova.

Olive climbed the rickety steps—held up only by cinder blocks—leading to the porch.

She slowly paced toward the door and twisted the handle.

To her surprise, it opened.

But as she took a step forward, the floor beneath her disappeared.