Page 136 of Guarding Grace

Winston leaned over and outlined a rectangular crease in the carpeting, then pointed down. It was a cutout to access the subfloor. He thought there was a chance Rudi was underneath us.

I pointed at the floor and spoke loudly. “Orders are to leave.”

“Copy that,” Winston huffed out, unhappily.

We walked to the front door, where Winston stopped and held up a closed fist.

I stopped.

He put his finger to his lips, opened the door, counted to five on his fingers, and then closed it loudly.

We turned toward the hallway and silently crept closer, stopping at the end of the hall.

Winston tapped his watch and held up five fingers.

“What’s the holdup?” Jordy asked in my ear. With a drone in the air, he knew we hadn’t exited.

I tapped the earbud three times without saying anything.

Jordy got the message. “Copy that. Standing by.”

My heart rate hadn’t slowed since Winston pointed out the subfloor access. We could be standing over a very nervous guy with an explosive case that could blow this whole house sky high.

It only took two minutes before we heard the sound of the floor panel being displaced around the corner.

Winston positioned himself against the wall on one side of the hallway entrance, and I hugged the wall on the opposite side.

After more scuffing sounds, some huffing, and a cough, we finally heard the sound of shoes approaching on the hardwood of the hall.

When he reached us, Winston snatched the case, quick as a snake.

I wrenched Rudi’s arm behind him and slammed him against the wall. “We’ve been looking for you.”

“Don’t hurt me,” he squealed. “I have two more days before the deadline, and I’m getting close.”

“Shut up,” I hissed as I patted him down for weapons. He wasn’t armed, but I pocketed the phone and wallet I found.

He whimpered. “Who are you guys?”

“Shut up,” I told him again. A deadline was news. “We’ll talk later.” Itwas never a good idea to speak to a suspect as we might give away how little we knew. “Both packages are secure,” I told Jordy.

“Copy that,” Lucas said. “Good job. Now get him back here for a debrief. And be careful with that case.”

“Roger that, sir.” It felt good to get a verbal pat on the back from Lucas. He wasn’t effusive with praise. “Back to Hawk,” I told Winston.

“What’s Hawk?” Rudi asked. “Marku didn’t send you?”

“No talking.” I twisted his arm higher, and he yelped. “Any more noise from you, and I break it. Nod if you understand.”

He nodded vigorously, and I released his arm. “I changed my mind. If you make a sound, I’ll just shoot you. It’s easier.”

He went pale and nodded again.

“And then I’ll shoot you,” Winston added.

“The three of us are walking out the front door and strolling around the block, easy as can be.”

I led the way with Rudi, and Winston followed. But we hadn’t made it to the door before I halted. “Hear that?”