It was official. Ellis Baker had lost her freaking mind. And Colt had willingly followed her down that rabbit hole.
Missile guidance systems. That was a serious security threat. And if Ellis was right, it was only the tip of what the bastard had access to. For all they knew, McCormick could have been selling weaponry for years.
Colt let his head fall against the seat. “I always knew you were trouble.” He slid a sideways glance her way. “You really think you can get us inside?”
“I’ll make you a deal. If I can’t get us inside five minutes after we reach the access panel on the rear door, we’ll leave. Go back to the safehouse. Hell, I can turn myself over to the feds.”
“Five minutes? To crack CIA-level security?”
“Any longer than that, and the fail-safe goes off. We’ll have heavily armed guards on our ass before we get two steps away.”
“You’re shitting me, right?” Colt snorted. “Damn it. Fine. And no one’s going to the feds until we have proof, so you’d better crack that damn door.”
She nodded, turned in her seat, then shifted her pony tail over. “Do me a favor and take a photo of the barcode.”
“Seriously? Jericho said that’s what it was. I didn’t want to believe her.” He snapped the image then handed her back the burner cell. “I thought that accessed your bug-out kit or something?”
“I have that stored in a safety-deposit box. This is that Hail Mary you mentioned before.”
She activated a program she’d downloaded then touched the screen. Lines of code scrolled across the page. Colt didn’t know what it meant. How it was supposed to get them inside, but he’d give her the benefit of the doubt. Hacking was her thing, not his. She made a few more entries then looked over at him.
“The access panel we want is on the south door. It’s McCormick’s private entrance. Which means, no exterior cameras once we get past the perimeter ones located on the corners of the building. McCormick doesn’t like being caught on tape while entering and exiting this place, which is why that door only opens with his security clearance. We’ll have that five-minute window to hack it before interior alarms go off?—”
“And a team of those SOG assholes mows us down.”
She smiled.
Colt shook his head. “Won’t McCormick get some kind of notification when we disarm everything?”
“If I get it all right, he won’t know unless he comes down here and physically checks the login records.”
“You really think you can pull this off?”
“I’m betting our lives on it.”
Hard to argue with that. Especially when he knew she’d never be reckless with his life in the balance.
“All right, sweetheart. I’ve got your six.” He reefed open the door and stepped out, meeting her gaze over the top of the Jeep as she removed her vest. She tucked just a couple of weapons in her clothes. “What are you doing? You need to wear that vest.”
“I never come here dressed like this. Only the SOG guys skulk around looking like they’re invading a small country. You’ll fit in. But if anyone sees me like that—game over.”
“This just keeps getting better. Okay, stay close.”
She nodded, falling in beside him as they crossed the street then turned right. He immediately darted down an alley, using the narrow lane between the buildings to make their way over to the facility.
They stopped at an opening directly across from the entrance, studying the cameras mounted to the corners. Two minutes, and Colt had it down pat, was counting out the sequencing in his head.
He waited through another round—just to be sure—then took off. Ten seconds and they were across the street, darting behind a couple of token trees. Not perfect cover, but hopefully enough to blend in.
Five seconds plastering their bodies against the trunks, then they were moving left. Sticking to the iron railing for ten feet, vaulting over it then sprinting to the wall. He swept his arm out, crushing Ellis against the brick in a tiny recessed doorway—more like a maintenance panel—counting to twelve then slowly peeking out.
Nothing that hadn’t been there before. The odd car rumbling down the street. Christ, this was insane. It wasn’t even fully dark, though the place seemed completely deserted.
He went through the numbers in his head, got to twenty then popped out, keeping his back against the wall as they continued to a set of steps, down all three, and into the doorway.
The hairs on his nape prickled. He hated this. Hated going in blind. Relying on luck to keep Ellis safe. At least, he’d be close enough to take a bullet, or ten, if it came down to it. Maybe give her an opening to run—escape. Cannon. Six. The rest of the guys—they’d finish it. See she lived a long life.
He checked his watch as Ellis stepped up to the panel, noting the time. Five minutes, or he was dragging her out of there—praying they could outmaneuver whatever forces showed up as they ran for the Jeep.
