Page 30 of Tango (Hunt Brothers Search & Rescue #4)

Alice

“ L ooks like your theory was right,” Tucker says as he offers me a pair of binoculars.

I take them and peer through the lenses as Web Safe’s janitors wheel out the dumpsters.

It’s the one place where cameras don’t reach.

Once inside, though, we’ll be under constant watch.

Even sooner than that, really, since as soon as they start wheeling the dumpsters inside, they’ll be in full view of the cameras covering Web Safe’s back entrance.

“The trash trucks will be here within the hour. We’ll have maybe five minutes to get inside, and after that—” I take a deep breath. “We’ll be in the lion’s den.”

Tucker takes my hand and squeezes. Something he’s been doing a lot since the plane ride yesterday. Not that I’m complaining, I’m here for every single gentle touch because he has a way of calming the anxious storm within me.

“It’ll be okay. But if we really don’t have that much time, we need to get close enough so that we can move fast. What’s the closest we can risk before being spotted?”

I point toward the vacant lot behind Web Safe. “We can hide in the brush. It’s what I did before. I managed to make it to the dumpsters and get safely inside within a minute.”

“Perfect.” He sits up and tucks the binoculars back into his backpack. He’s dressed in all black, from his combat boots up to the tactical vest and T-shirt he’s wearing. The vest has a set of knives tucked in the front as well as a firearm, in addition to the one holstered at his waist.

He looks ready for war.

Which, I guess, is fitting, given the circumstances. That gnawing in my gut intensifies. What if this all goes wrong? What if I lose him too?

I can do this. I gently touch the front of my own tactical vest, which is not quite as armed to the teeth as Tucker’s but is complete with the thumb drive with my patch on it, as well as a secondary one Tucker wrote on the plane, using the laptop his brother packed in one of the backpacks.

His version is a virus that will infiltrate the system, give him remote access, and also point out any vulnerabilities so we can trace what the hackers are actually looking for.

We install his, then mine, and then we get out.

He’d even given me a weapon, a 9mm handgun holstered at the front of my vest—just in case.

“Hey, Alice.” Tucker takes my hands in his. “Listen, if you want to stay out here and keep watch, you can direct me to the server room remotely.” I know he’s talking about the earbuds we’re both wearing. Our way of keeping in touch even when we can’t see each other.

“No. You’re not going in there alone.”

“I can do it.”

“I know you can, but you’re not.” Being away from him spikes a different kind of fear. One where I have to listen helplessly as he’s killed, just as I had to do with Logan. “No. I’m fine.”

“Okay. You’re sure?”

“Yeah. I’d rather die alongside you than listen and be helpless to do anything about it.”

Tucker grins and releases one of my hands to brush some hair behind my ear. “I might just swoon right here if you keep talking to me like that.”

It’s silly, but his playful attitude is helping ease some of my own issues. Especially when that playfulness comes with a side of flirtation that makes my heart flutter.

“Well, we wouldn’t want that.” I scoot out of view just in case anyone is watching in the distance before standing and shielding myself in the trees on the opposite side of the road from Web Safe.

“You’re clear on the plan?” Tucker asks as he does the same and stands in front of me.

“Yes. We get in. Once the dumpsters stop moving, we climb out and make our way up the back steps and into the server room. There’s basically constant surveillance throughout the building, so we need to stick to walls and disable cameras as we move.”

He withdraws a device from his pocket. “This will do the trick. It’ll isolate the network the cameras are on and freeze the panes momentarily. They won’t see us move and shouldn’t notice any interference. We’ll be ghosts.”

Poor choice of words. “Then let’s get this over with.” I start toward the small walkway that will take us down the side of the hill and to the truck parked below.

Once we’re in the truck, Tucker guides us away from the shoulder and heads out onto the street. As we pull into the convenience store on the other side of the field between us and Web Safe, my anxiety has hit an all-time high.

My hands shake, my heart pounds, and as though he can sense it, Tucker takes my hand again. “Lord, we ask that You watch over us. Lead us to the truth, God, and keep us safe as we seek it. Please place your protection around us, God. Above all, let Your will be done. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”

“Amen.”

“Better?”

I take another steady breath and smile at him. “Yes. Thanks.”

He nods. “Once we’re in the bins, we’ll need to remain silent, okay?”

“Okay.”

“The earpiece is sensitive, so if you need to talk, the slightest whisper should do it.”

“Okay.”

He smiles at me then reaches forward over the console and gestures for me to lean in. I do, until we’re only a breath apart. Tucker’s finger gently touches the earpiece, and it beeps in my ear.

But he doesn’t pull away.

Bright blue eyes level on mine, and his lips part just slightly.

My heart pounds.

Tucker swallows hard, and his gaze drops to my lips for just a moment.

Does he feel this too? This bone-deep, soul-warming connection between us?

Or is it just a basic attraction for him?

“I want to revisit that promise I made to myself once this is all over,” he says.

“Because I’m not sure I can let you go.”

My stomach flutters. “Then don’t.”

His hand gently caresses my cheek. “For luck.” Leaning in, he presses his lips tenderly against mine.

Like smooth waves kissing the shoreline, he keeps the kiss soft.

Gentle. A promise of what’s to come should we survive this.

But even as terrified as I’ve been, the roaring of my heart steals every bit of fear from me.

Because if I have God on my side and Tucker here with me, then what do I have to fear?

I’ve been in this bin before. Curled in the bottom beneath the lining, taking slow, careful breaths so I don’t move so much that the janitors notice. Then, it had been exciting. A challenge to win. An adult version of hide-and-seek, where the worst thing to happen would be Ramiro beating me.

Now there’s so much more to lose though.

Tucker.

My life.

Our freedom should we be arrested.

With only the deafening sound of my pulse echoing in my ears to keep me company, I pray. Constantly. Incessantly repeating my favorite verse from Psalm 32.

“For You are my hiding place; You protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory.”

We’re doing this for the right reasons—and that’s what I keep telling myself.

We’re fighting the good fight. A battle for our lives. And the Lord is beside us.

The door creaks open, and bootsteps grow closer.

Here we go.

“Then I told her that she could get lost,” one of the janitors says. Perry. I recognize his voice. Arguably, one of the kindest men you’ll meet—if he likes you. “Who is she to boss me around? They may have promoted her, but I refuse to answer to a spoiled little girl.”

“She’s our boss though,” the other janitor says. He’s younger, and while I don’t know him well, I remember he started a few weeks before everything fell apart. Keith. “We don’t have a say in that.”

“Well, I’ll quit before I let her order me around like she’s some sort of general.” He shoves the dumpster forward, and I jolt slightly, stabilizing myself as best I can with one arm against the top and my foot pressing to the bottom.

Keith chuckles. “You may not have to quit if they keep letting people go.”

“They need us. Those new security guards aren’t going to take the trash out, are they?”

“No. But they’ll supervise us doing it,” Perry mutters.

Supervise us doing it? My heart begins to pound, and my fingers dance over the firearm tucked in my vest. I don’t want to use it, but if it’s our lives or someone else’s?—

The door creaks open again, and a new person joins the group. “You took long enough,” a gruff, masculine voice complains.

“You want to do this?” Perry snaps. “By all means, you can empty all of the trash cans in the entire building.”

I remain as still as I can, barely even breathing.

“You going to look inside or what? I’d like to move on with my day.” Perry is agitated, irritated at the interruption.

Look inside? Fear ices my veins, and I close my eyes tightly. Lord, please don’t let them see us. Please shield us from their sight.

“Go on,” the voice says again.

Relief momentarily mutes the fear as the bin starts rolling again. I count the seconds, comparing it to the time it took to get inside the last time. That way, if there’s any change to the routine, I can alert Tucker. So far, though, it’s been smooth sailing.

We pause, likely right before the waste room so Perry can scan his badge in. I hear the door open then wait until my bin comes to a stop.

“Hey, Keith, do me a favor and go check the bins on the fourth floor.”

“Seriously?”

“Yes. I’ll handle the bathrooms on floor one, but I can’t remember if we emptied all the office bins.”

He groans. “You got it. I’ll do just about anything to not have to clean the bathrooms in this place.”

“Then this is a good deal for you. Afterward, take your lunch.”

“Thanks, Perry.”

“Yeah. Now go. I don’t want any complaints if there’s trash remaining in there when everyone arrives Monday morning.”

“Aye-aye, Captain.” The door opens and closes again, but I remain where I am until I can be sure Perry is gone too. He always liked me, but I doubt enough that he’d risk jail time letting us go should he discover us.

“Girl, get out of the bin. You forget you told me about this hiding spot?”

Busted. My heart pounds. Slowly, I tug the cover down and sit up.

Perry is grinning at me, the corners of his brown eyes crinkling in amusement.

When I started working here, he’d been a gruff old man, short-tempered and frustrated.

But, after a few weeks, I wore him down.

We started eating lunch together once a week, and he became a sort of surrogate grandfather to me. “Hey, Perry.”

“You’re going to get yourself killed.” He reaches out and takes my hand, so I climb out. Since I’m not sure where we stand, I don’t reveal Tucker just yet.

“You don’t seem surprised to see me.”

“Honestly, I’m surprised it took you this long to sneak back in. With everything going on, it’s been total chaos in this place. You know they put that brat, Kara, in your place? She’s running the show upstairs these days.”

“I’m not surprised. Are you going to turn me in?”

He arches a brow. “I guess that depends on why you’re here.”

“I didn’t do what they said I did.”

He waves a hand in front of his face. “I know you didn’t. You’re no thief. I bet it’s Kara who’s the real thief. I never liked her. And now that she’s marrying Darren?—”

“Wait, Darren the security guard?”

He nods. “You didn’t hear?”

“I’ve been a bit busy.”

“Good point. Yeah, they’re engaged now. Mr. Huck has pretty much given them free rein of the place.

They’ve changed up everything and are watching whatever we do like hawks.

You know us janitors aren’t even allowed to go through the front entrance?

Or be on any active floors during office hours?

” He shakes his head. “They’ve got us down to two on staff at any one time, and we have three hours to clean the entire place top to bottom on weeknights. ”

“I’m sorry, Perry.”

“I’ve lived through worse.” He studies me. “Why are you here?”

“Because something is off, and I want to find out what it is. Ramiro died trying to uncover the truth, and I intend to find out why.”

Perry nods. “Then I think it’s time I take an early lunch.” He smiles. “As far as I’m concerned, I never saw you.”

I can’t help it. I wrap my arms around him and pull him in for a hug. “Thank you so much, Perry.”

“No need to thank me. You’re the best of these folks. You’ll make things right. I know you will.”

I pull away, hope in my heart. Thank You, Lord. Thank You for letting it be him who pushed the bins in.

“Be safe, though, girl. They’re after you.

Have all the security guards on high alert.

They even fired most of the staff that was here before and hired new guys.

Guys who never knew you. I don’t even know half of who’s working here anymore.

With all of our new restrictions, we hardly ever see anyone. ”

They hired new guards because they don’t want any hesitation when it comes to catching me. Anyone who has prior interactions with me is a risk to the whole shoot first, ask questions later policy they seem to have these days. “Thanks for the heads up.”

He nods. “You have about thirty minutes before Keith realizes I sent him on a wild goose chase and comes down to check in with me. Get out before then.”

“Will do. Thanks again, Perry.”

He smiles and nods again then opens the door and disappears into the hallway.

“All clear.”

Tucker pulls the cover down and grins at me. “You’re a constant surprise, Miss Sterling.”

“Why is that?”

“You told me you’re not social, yet you got close to Jenny within a matter of hours.” He climbs out of the bin and stands in front of me, towering nearly a foot taller than me. “And now you have a man willing to risk his own job because he trusts you.”

“Perry is a good man. Some of the others treat him like garbage because of his past, but I see him for who he is now.”

Tucker strokes my cheek. “Which is one of the many reasons I find myself completely drawn to you. You’re kind, Alice. No matter what life throws at you, you’re not hardened by it.”

“I don’t see the point in losing myself to the darkness in this life when there’s so much light too.”

“Exactly.” He releases my face and heads toward the door. “Where’s the first camera?”

I have to take a heartbeat to recover from the attraction burning in my veins. “Uh, right outside the door. It points straight in here so they can monitor who’s coming in and out.”

“Got it.” Reaching back, he takes my hand. “You ready for this?”

No. “Let’s go.”