They crept towards the stairs.Some discussion was happening in the room to the right, but Dobby didn’t understand it.
At the top of the carpeted stairs he gestured for Hawk to search for another staircase and he and Radar took the next set of stairs to the third storey.
Dobby counted doors until he got to the one where Vance should be.He tried the handle.Locked.
Radar stood guard while Dobby quickly picked the lock.While it was tempting to smash it open, he’d been commanded to keep it stealthy if he could.Leave no evidence they’d been there, lest they start an international incident.
The lock snicked open and he got to his feet, gesturing to Radar that he was ready.
“Servant stairs to the south,” Hawk murmured through the ear comms.“Side exit.Second floor is clear.”
Radar nodded to show he’d heard.
Dobby used his fingers to count down and then opened the door, charging into the room, straight to Vance.The man whirled, eyes widened, mouth opened to shout when Dobby clapped a hand over it.“We’re getting you out of here, do you understand?”he whispered.
Vance nodded.
“Say nothing and stay between us.You speak, and you’ll give away our position, do you understand?”
Another nod.
Dobby took his hand away.Radar stood guard by the door and Dobby pushed Vance towards him.“Move.”
He kept a hand on Vance’s shoulder to steady and steer him as he wouldn’t have as good sight without night vision goggles.
They jogged down the stairs to the second floor where they met Hawk.
“Guards are heading inside,” Joker reported.“Via front door and south side.”
Shit.Both doors they’d identified.“Check the ocean,” Dobby whispered as they moved out of the stairwell and waited.
Below them were the sounds of men walking past.Hopefully going to report to Agus.
“Water’s receding,” Joker reported.
Shit.Would the cliff be high enough to miss the brunt of the tsunami?If so, it might be safer to wait here and escape after the first wave hit.
But Agus might fetch Vance to watch the spectacle.
He gestured for them to continue down the stairs.It was doubtful the guards would hear them, but the dogs might.
Radar and Hawk faced opposite directions at the bottom of the stairs and Dobby pushed Vance towards Hawk and the side door.Hawk opened the door as the tsunami warning sirens wailed.
Dobby hoped Mila had left the village.
Vance swore, stumbling to the side, and bumped into something that crashed to the ground.
Voices raised down the corridor.
Shit.Dobby pushed Vance out of the door and Hawk grabbed him.“This way.”
Dobby covered the corridor as Radar sprinted out the door and then closed the door and ran after his team.
“Wave’s coming,” Joker reported.
They were out of time.
Vance turned towards the ocean, obviously debating whether it was safer inside, but Radar grabbed him and dragged him towards the car.“Move!”
