Tucker flipped a deadbolt and edged the door open enough to slip out. He kept low and surveilled the dark, narrow alley. He then waved to Kowalski.
“You first.”
“Why me?”
“You’re barely on your feet,” he keenly noted. “And someone has to secure that alleyway—someone who’s also good at catching.”
Kowalski bit back a groan, glancing over to Kane and Marco.
No way those two are climbing down a fire escape.
Out on the balcony, Tucker pulled the release and dropped the ladder to the alley floor. It clattered loudly, making them all wince.
Tucker waited to make sure the noise hadn’t been noticed. When no alarm was raised, he stepped aside. Kowalski holstered his sidearm, squeezed past Tucker, and mounted the ladder. He clambered down and dropped heavily to the ground. He retreated to the side of a tall trash bin and did his best to watch both ends of the alley.
Elle followed next, half sliding down the ladder’s length.
Once she was on the ground, he pushed her into the deeper shadows and stepped below the balcony. It was not a high drop from the second story, but Kowalski still wobbled on his feet. His arms felt leaden.
“Ready?” Tucker hissed down at him.
“As I’ll ever be,” he groused.
Never thought my new job at Sigma would be as a dogcatcher.
Above, a furry shadow appeared at the top of the ladder. Kowalski braced his legs and held out his arms.
“MARCO,JUMP,” Tucker ordered his partner.
The dog hesitated, shifting nervously. The shepherd was only eleven months old, still a newbie in his training, with little to no field experience. Kowalski felt for the big lug, but they were running out of time.
“Just push him,” Kowalski suggested.
Tucker ignored him. “You can do this, boy,” he said with a calm assurance that spoke to a depth of patience that was beyond Kowalski. “JUMP, MARCO.”
Likely drawing confidence from Tucker’s tone more than his words, Marco made that leap of faith.
Kowalski grimaced, knowing Tucker would shoot him if he failed in this effort. Marco’s body hit his arms. The dog’s weight tossed him back. He hit his backside hard, but he kept hold of Marco in his lap.
“You okay?” Tucker called down quietly.
Marco panted, turned, and gave Kowalski’s nose a fast lick. Kowalski shoved him off, but Marco appeared unoffended by his rejection and wagged his tail vigorously.
Kowalski took a page out of Tucker’s book and patted the dog’s side. “Good boy.”
The tail wagged wider.
Kowalski held out his arms. “Next.”
Behind him, Elle gasped out a warning, “On your left.”
Responding to the panic in her voice, Kowalski ducked and hurried over to her with Marco. A cluster of seven men appeared at the end of the alley, all decked in body armor and helmets, moving fast.
Likely an enemy patrol.
Kowalski retreated out of view. He didn’t believe they had been spotted, but the men would be upon their hiding spot in seconds.
Above, Tucker balanced his assault rifle on the balcony railing. Like Kowalski, he knew a firefight was inescapable. Their only advantage was surprise. Kowalski stared up, waiting for Tucker’s signal. From his hiding spot, Kowalski had no sightline.
