Page 74 of Into the Gray Zone (Pike Logan #19)

Nadia saw the house security men starting to fidget nervously, pacing about with their weapons, but didn’t understand why.

She assumed they were taking their cues from Jaiden, who was becoming more agitated by the minute. The American’s escape had

seemed to break something within him, as if it had taken a leg out of whatever he had planned.

He began speaking into his radio, waving his hands in the air while he walked in a circle. She couldn’t completely hear what

he was saying, but it had something to do with the defenses on the roof. He turned to one of the red-uniformed men who had

been with them since the kidnapping and handed him the detonator, pointing at the ceiling with his hand.

He spun on his heel to leave the room, and his cell phone rang. He put it to his ear and talked for a good three minutes,

then went to a security monitor on the wall. She stared at it and saw a vehicle outside the gate. He said something on the

phone, and Nadia saw a hand come out of the driver-side window.

Satisfied of the identity of the vehicle, he clicked his radio, talking to the guards at the gate. Nadia saw the gate begin

to slide open, wondering who was joining them.

Jaiden gave instructions to the other red suit, and the man left in the elevator. Jaiden went to the stairs leading up to the mezzanine, presumably checking on whatever the people on the roof had told him, leaving the single red uniform holding the detonator.

Nadia felt the adrenaline rise, knowing this might be her only chance. If she attacked the man and got the detonator, she

could use it as a threat to get the black-uniformed guards to drop their weapons. She was sure they wouldn’t shoot her immediately,

because they assumed they were there to protect her.

Maybe she could talk some sense into them. Show them that Jaiden was evil and planned on having them killed. She casually

glanced around the room, trying to pinpoint the location of each of the house security. She counted four and knew she was

missing one. She turned around, looking behind her, and felt a shock almost as bad as when she’d been kidnapped.

Jennifer Cahill was on the balcony outside, hiding just out of the light and holding her hand forward, beckoning Nadia to

come to the balcony with a finger. She disappeared back into the shadow, and Nadia wondered if she was hallucinating. She

turned around and whispered to Annaka, “I’m going to the balcony. Stay here. Do not look at me, and do not follow.”

“What?”

She stood up, hissing, “Do as I say.”

The red-uniformed guard saw the movement and said, “What do you want? You’ve already had dinner.”

Nadia knew she had to get this underling to agree before Jaiden came back. If that happened, she’d never be allowed to leave.

“I just wanted some air on the balcony. Is that okay? I haven’t been outside in two days.”

The guard considered, and she said, “Where am I going to go? Jump down twenty-two stories?”

The guard nodded, saying, “Two minutes. No more.”

Nadia said, “Thank you,” and hurried to the door. She slid open the glass and stepped outside, moving past Jennifer to the

far rail. She stared out at the Mumbai skyline for a moment, then went to the right, circling around the hanging plants and

statues until she was at the railing next to Jennifer. She glanced back at the room and saw the red-uniformed guard next to

the couch, watching her every move.

She kept her face forward but said, “How on earth did you get here?”

Jennifer said, “I climbed up. We don’t have a lot of time. Do you know who’s holding the detonator for the explosives?”

“Yes. It’s the man in the red uniform, but he’ll only have it until Jaiden comes back. I don’t know how long that will be.”

“Okay, okay, listen, Pike is on the way. When he begins his assault, my mission is to eliminate whoever is holding that thing.

I’ll do the killing, but you could help with a distraction.”

The words were a little overwhelming. Nadia said, “Pike’s coming? Is he climbing too? How will he get in?”

“He has a plan, but we have very little time. Your government is gearing up to hit this building with overwhelming force,

and when they do, they aren’t going to care about dead hostages after the smoke clears.”

Nadia said, “Let me guess: Riva Thakkar would rather protect his pride than his daughter.”

Jennifer said, “Yeah, that’s about it,” then she touched her ear, saying, “Roger all. I have the detonator target. Clear to

breach.”

She came back to Nadia and said, “It’s showtime. Get back inside, but leave the door open.”