“Will you shut up!” Noah hissed.
He dropped the bag and pulled out some wire cutters. Snipping the bottom of the fence, he lifted it. Everyone crawled through, even Lani.
“I said stay!”
“I am not a dog.”
“Dogs are far more obedient.” His nose was an inch from hers.
“We’re wasting time.”
“You do realize that if we’re caught you will be charged, and your name will be on record?”
That gave her pause.
“Go back, Lani. Wait out there for us.”
She knew when she was beat. Lani could not afford to draw attention to herself in that way.
“I’m giving you twenty minutes, then coming looking for you.”
“Good girl.” He leaned in and planted a kiss on her lips before she could move, and then they were gone.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
There was enough light to see where they were going. Noah saw no sign of security guards, which was a win for them, but thought it likely someone would be on patrol, so they needed to move fast.
“Let’s start at the first house and work back,” Noah whispered to the Texans.
“We can’t go in there, Noah. Can’t risk the contamination,” Brad said.
“All I want is to look through the plastic. I don’t think we’ll find anything in these big houses anyway.”
They entered from the rear and found themselves in a small room that held the clothing obviously worn by those monitoring what was growing. Noah pressed his face to the plastic and saw rows and rows of potatoes but not much else.
“Nothing here to see, let’s move to the next one.”
It was identical. Rows of potatoes.
“So maybe they are just growing potatoes,” Tex said.
“Maybe. But I still have a feeling something’s off here. I mean, those drugs Mikey got came from someone he didn’t know.”
“And there’s your hatred of scientists too.”
“I don’t hate all scientists,” Noah snapped, remembering the conversation he’d had with Lani.
“Sure you do.”
He walked to where another smaller building stood. Supplies, he thought; it wasn’t big enough for much else. Looking at the door, he noted it was locked with several bolts and padlocks.
“Someone’s coming,” Brad whispered.
They moved into the shadows. Noah watched as Dr. Trask passed them. He pulled out a set of keys and opened the locks. Closing the door behind him, he didn’t relock it.
“I wonder why he’s out here at this hour?”
“Maybe he has to do some readings or something at this time of the night?” Tex said.
