Page 77 of Secrets Along the Shore

Tyler nodded once. “Just don’t let him see you.”

“He’ll be down before then.” Adam stepped away from the houseand ran as fast as he could while maintaining a crouched position, taking cover by a tree. Tyler returned to the corner and kept watch. The Croatian showed no alarm as he paced the patio. No screen covered the seating area, so Adam had an easy shot from his new position by the tree.

The operative aimed the dart gun and fired. The Croatian jerked hard as the dart stuck him in the shoulder. He pulled it out. His weight leaned forward, and he collapsed in a heap. A thumbs-up from Adam let Tyler know that the guy would be down for a while. After a brief nod, Tyler slipped away from cover and headed to the patio. He stepped over the unconscious man, and settled beside the door.

Adam slid his weapon into his holster before withdrawing his lockpicks from the pocket on his sturdy vest. He went to work with the door. After pulling the Croatian out of sight, Paul took up position on Adam’s other side. “So far, so good,” Paul whispered.

Yeah, right. They had to have already been out here for ten minutes. Tyler took a deep breath and let it out. It was doubtful that they’d locate Elara and her son and get them out in five minutes. He clenched his jaw. Why did he expect that he could move as quickly and efficiently with a team that he didn’t know? It’d taken longer than he hoped already.

Nothing he could do about that. At least, they still had ten minutes.

“Reid, the guard from the front is heading around.” Adele paused. “He’s moving quicker.”

Tyler glanced at the body of the Croatian hidden in the shadows of a bush by the patio. He had a radio. But it hadn’t gone off. So what was the man doing?

“C’mon. I’ve almost got it,” Adam muttered.

And Tyler didn’t want him to stop. They only had so much time. The power had gone out in this part of the neighborhood, but that didn’t mean that Viktor or his men wouldn’t get suspicious. He glanced at the side of the house. The corner wasn’t too far away. If he could make that shot, it’d buy them more time.

“Adam, give me the dart gun.”

The operative slipped the weapon clear of his holster and held it out. As soon as Tyler took it, Adam resumed picking the locks.

“He’s almost there,” Adele warned.

Tyler checked to ensure a new dart was loaded before aiming it at that corner. If the man was far away from that wall, he might not be able to make the shot. He took a deep breath. Let it out. He rested his finger on the trigger. The soft sound of footsteps met his ears.

“Stupid lock,” Adam’s words were almost inaudible.

A dark form stepped into view, a rifle in hand. Tyler pulled the trigger. A dart slammed into the man’s upper arm. The man stumbled to the right and collapsed.

“Nice shot. You had a small target, too,” Paul whispered.

Yeah. And he’d never shot a dart gun before. Tyler handed the weapon back to Adam after he opened the door.

“That lock was about broken,” Adam explained.

“Too bad we couldn’t kick it open.”

Tyler pressed his M4 against his shoulder. “Keep it down,” he whispered before entering first. The house was dead quiet. He took slow steps. Each time he eased his foot onto the hardwood floor, listening for creaking. That sound would be a dead giveaway. He swept left, clearing the dining room. A long table stretched across most of the room. A space that had been the kitchen on the blueprints had been removed, and floor-to-ceiling cabinets stood in its place. So where was the kitchen now?

He continued deeper into the room, heading out of the dining room into a long hallway with the main entrance on the other end. Adam shifted beside him, holding the dart gun ready. He’d have to take the first shot if they found someone. Tyler’s and Paul’s M4s were for if and when someone alerted the rest of the home.

“This doesn’t look like what was on the blueprints.” Paul shifted behind them.

No. It didn’t. At all. But then, those blueprints were over ten years old. The home must have been renovated.

Tyler paused by a thick door and nudged it open. Inside, the enormous room was a kitchen with matching white cabinets lining the walls. An island stood in the middle. It didn’t have the same feel as the outside. It felt more like an American home, although most didn’t have a kitchen this size. He cleared the room, ensuring no one had hiddenbehind the door or the island. Beside the fridge, a closed door hid something. Maybe a pantry.

“Do you think that’s the pantry, or this is?” Paul pointed at the door in front of Tyler and then to the one on the opposite side of the wall.

“No idea.” Tyler had no idea what to expect. Someone might get lost in this house. Who even needed this much space? He stepped back from the door in front of him. “Check them one at a time.” He gestured to the one in front of Paul. That one had to be the pantry. The door had a fancier design. The one by Tyler looked more like a door to another room. But what did it lead to? The cellar, maybe.

Paul yanked open the pantry door, then stepped out of the way as Adam checked the space. The operative didn’t step all the way in. “Yep. It’s a pantry,” the Army Ranger confirmed.

Click.

Tyler snapped his M4 up and trained it on the door in front of him. Someone was on the other side. That sound had to be shoes. The knob twisted. Adam’s quick steps brought him to Tyler’s side. He held his dart gun up. If he didn’t shoot fast enough, Tyler would have to.