It was tempting to believe that one more lost life didn’t matter, especially if it was him, provided the end result was thatDominatuswas destroyed. Taken down. Obliterated. He could agree with these guys on the need for that, as well as understand why Kenna couldn’t be the one to take on that fight right now.
Ramon grabbed the door handle for the shed and used it to steady himself on the step. There were a few inches of dirt and grass between him and that murderous hole, but he didn’t want to risk stepping on it if he didn’t have to.
He slid a lock-pick kit from the thigh pocket of his cargoes and stuck one part in his mouth while he returned the case to his pocket, then he went to town on the lock. A few seconds later, he heard it click. “Flashlight.”
Bear looked up at him.
Ramon held out his hand. Bear tossed him the light, and he turned the handle. He ducked his head, eased the door open slowly, and went inside the shed.
Gardening tools were stacked in one corner. Nothing resembled a desk amidst the shelves of yard detritus. Terra-cotta pots, gardening gloves, stacks of soil. The whole place smelled like musty dirt.
Ramon shone the flashlight around, looking for a computer port in the wall, where the accountant might have plugged a laptop in for a second. Any kind of cabling. There wasn’t even a light bulb in the eaves of the small roof.
He crouched and assessed the floor, looking for seams that might indicate a secret area hidden beneath, but he didn’t find anything.
He went back to the door where Hollace stood on the far side of the opening, tying off a rope around his waist.
“Nothing in here,” Ramon said. “You’re going down there?”
Hollace nodded and tossed the rope to his friends, who formed a line to lower him down.
Bear backed up like he was standing guard. “Nothing?”
“Not even power.”
The team boss didn’t look happy, and Ramon didn’t blame him. He stayed where he was and looked around at the terrain. Rolling hills. Old abandoned farmhouses. About a quarter mile away, a building had a light on upstairs. Possibly a house, but he would need to get closer before he could tell for sure.
He continued scanning, looking for movement. Wishing he had Maizie to call for help. How were they supposed to find one guy in this place with nothing but an IP address?
“You guys don’t have access to satellites, do you? We could use some heat signatures to point us in the right direction.”
Bear watched Hollace descend into the hole. “I’ll call Hazel.” He palmed his phone and put it to his ear. “Yeah. We need a pickup for Smythe. He didn’t make it.” Bear sucked in a breath through his teeth, the hiss audible.
Bear had lost a teammate months ago. Maybe more than a year, actually. Ramon didn’t know exactly. After Allie’s death, he’d gone off the map. For what, no one knew. Now that he was back, he might be finally dealing with the grief, but more on top would only compound the issue.
From in the hole, Hollace said, “Okay, toss me the rope to secure him.”
Ramon grabbed the edge of the doorframe and jumped over to where Bear stood. “Let’s go check out that house while these guys are busy.” He motioned to the farmhouse next door with the light on.
“Got it.” He put the phone away. “Keep working. We’ll be back.”
The guy at the front of the rope said, “Got it, boss.”
Bear set off for the occupied house, walking in stiff movements like he wanted to kick a door in, drag someone out of bed, and punch them until they gave him some answers.
“We don’t know who is in there,” Ramon said. “They could be innocent.”
“I’m wondering if anyone in this town would turn out to be innocent.”
“Depends on if there actuallyisanyone in this town.”
Bear looked at him, still walking. He slowed a little. “Huh. Let’s find out, I guess.”
Ramon shrugged. They tromped across the damp grass to the front door, and Bear shoved him out of the way so he could kick it open. That was certainly one way to get out the frustration he was feeling.
Ramon pulled his pistol, holding aim in front of him because he didn’t want even a second to pass before pulling the trigger. This wasn’t a normal situation—not even close. One of the MSI guys was dead, and whoever was in here knew something.
They cleared the ground floor and headed up the thin staircase with the spindle wood railing. A cat meowed from the top of the stairs, but it only swished its tail as they passed.
