On this side of the house, there are no psychic barriers,Gabe said.Which means we’d better be alert for traps—like the explosives he had wired to the dock.
Right,Jake answered.We were wondering what that big boom was. Thank God you’re okay.
We should close in on the house,Gabe said.But use extreme caution. And spread out. We don’t want the same trap catching two people.
Olivia winced.Or any people.
And we’re sure the surveillance equipment isn’t working?Jake asked.
We’re not sure of anything,Gabe shot back.We’d better assume he can see us.
We could cloak, the way we did when we came in for the water rescue,Rachel said.But it takes practice. Olivia and Gabe probably can’t do it.
Goody,she muttered inwardly.
Let me clarify,Rachel said.If his surveillance equipment isn’t working, he won’t know what’s going on back here. He might wonder where his men are. He might wonder if we’re dead. There are a lot of unknowns. But we can assume he’s holed up in the house.
Everybody looked toward the mansion, which crowned a green lawn that sloped upward from the river. They spread out and started up the slight incline toward the structure.
Gabe was getting better at telepathic communication.
Why don’t you do the talking now,Travis suggested.
Ok.
That wasn’t the only change he noticed. With Travis joined to him, his senses were enhanced, including a kind of awareness he couldn’t exactly explain. He cast those senses ahead of them, scanning for threats. The invaders had only advanced six or seven yards when he silently shouted,Stop. Get down on the grass.
While everybody followed his orders, he scouted around in a flower bed, found a rock, and threw it at a spot about ten feet farther on.
There was a jolt and a small explosion that shook the ground, followed by the appearance of a little crater where the rock had hit.
Rachel sat up and gave him an appreciative look.How did you know?
Travis knew. He can’t tell me how.
All right,Rachel broadcast to everyone.That’s a warning to watch where you step. That’s probably not the only booby trap. Gabe, take point.
He moved to the front, and the others lined up behind him. Following his path through the minefield, they made it to the terrace. The door loomed ahead of them, but Rachel called a halt.
This is the most dangerous place. He must have the entrance fortified.
How?
I don’t know.She held up a hand.I think...After several moments of silence, she continued.There’s only one person in the house. I think I can find him.
How do you know he’s the only one?Matt asked.How do you know where he is?
I can sense him. He’s giving off fear vibrations big time. I can take you to him.
What about the rest of the guards?
He’s the only warm body inside. We got the rest that were on duty.
How do we get in there?
Let’s check the defenses.Jake picked up a heavy cast-aluminum patio chair and hurled it at the door with enough force to crash through the glass panel. Immediately, a shot rang out.
Automatic setup.
