The Alliance (29 page)

 

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Chapter
78

Our subdivision dead-­ends at the ocean. The fence stops here as well, but it is a giant cliff and it is impossible to round the edges without slipping to my death into the waters below.

—­The diary of Megan Jean

Ninety minutes later the group stood on the edge of Grant's property. There would have been no way to tell if Riley hadn't had her machine out. The group stood in a line among the trees.

“We have to move slowly from here on out,” Riley said. “If this device picks up an electronic pulse we need to stop; if it doesn't we push forward until we have a clear view of his home. Keep in a straight line, we don't want to set anything off.”

Riley didn't wait for a response. Even though none of the terrain had changed Mia felt like the air had thickened. Almost as if Grant's evil touched everything around him.

As Mia had predicted no electronic pulse came. They walked another half hour until the trees started to clear. Riley walked even slower, not wanting to blow their cover to a naked eye. The edge of the tree line was coming even closer and Riley dropped to her stomach. The rest of the group followed her lead and they wiggled through the forest. Mia could feel the wet leaves sliding down her shirt and mud squishing against her clothes. Soon they were on the edge of their cover and Riley stopped moving; with one hand she signaled for them to come up next to her. All four lay on their stomachs. Mia looked up and in the distance stood Grant's monstrosity of a home.

“It's a shame he's so awful,” Riley said. “You would have had a lot of resources.”

“I'll take freedom over money,” Mia said.

Riley took off her pack and Mia did the same. Riley pulled out a pair of binoculars and handed them over to Mia. She looked through the lenses and it was as if she were standing right outside.

“We're at the west side of the house,” Mia said. “I can see his driveway on the north side. In the back there are five smaller homes.”

“I think there are more than that,” Riley said.

“Do you think Rod will be in one of those?” Corinna asked.

“No,” Mia said. “Grant will be close to him.”

Riley reached over and hit a button on the binoculars. The house and surroundings went away and all Mia could see were faint red marks. She pulled her eyes away from the glasses and Riley grabbed them.

“What was that?” Mia asked.

“Thermal imaging,” Riley said. “We're looking for body heat now.”

“What do you see?” Corinna asked.

“We're not in the best spot,” Riley said. “From the looks of it all of the bodies are on the east side of his estate.”

“Maybe the west wing is closed off?” Mia asked.

“No,” Alex said. “The east wing is the one that's not open.”

“How would you know that?” Mia asked.

“Grant's been a regular guest on
The Greg Finnegan Show,
” Alex said. “I might hate Grant but Greg is the most beautiful man in the world . . . next to Frank of course.”

“Grant gets on the show and talks about his house?” Mia asked.

“One episode was a tour,” Alex said. “Don't give me that look. I like interior decorating and Grant wasn't really featured in that episode.”

“You didn't think to mention Grant has a closed-­off wing to his home?” Mia asked. “That might be perfect for hiding someone?”

“They never said what side it was,” Alex said. “Just that his house was so big some of it wasn't in use.”

“How do you know it's the east side then?” Riley asked.

“Give me the binoculars,” Alex said. “On regular mode please.”

Riley flipped the switch and handed them across Mia. Alex looked through the lenses.

“The cameramen went up the driveway, then went to the right up the stairs leading to the second floor. Which would make that the west side. I didn't know what way his driveway would face.”

“It doesn't matter,” Riley said. “We would have made the same expedition anyway, only maybe have come from the other side.”

Riley pulled out her electronic map.

“Which would have been much more difficult since his property dead-­ends at the ocean, twenty miles away,” Riley said.

“So Rod is in the east wing?” Mia asked.

Riley took the binoculars back and switched the mode again.

“I can count at least ten ­people in the house,” Riley said. “I expected more.”

“Can you zoom in any farther?” Mia asked. “Look for clusters of ­people together.”

“This thing can zoom in so far it will be like we're standing in the room with them,” Riley said. “There are three bodies together on the lower level of the east side of the home. One is lying in a bed and two are seated.”

“Rod would be restrained or tied down.”

“It doesn't look like any of them are moving,” Riley said. “But I don't see any other options. Every other body is alone in a room lying down.”

“Rod would require guards,” Mia said. “I'm assuming that's Grant and Rex.”

“Isn't Rex on your side now?” Alex asked.

“Yes,” Mia said. “At least I think so; it's hard to tell where the man's loyalties are, or if Grant hasn't figured it out and killed him.”

“Did he tell you Rod was there?”

“I don't think he knew,” Mia said. “He warned us Grant had a plan but didn't know what it was. There's no way for me to make contact with Rex. Zack might be able to if he shows up. We all had our own roles. But Grant wouldn't trust just anyone to sit in there with Rod.”

“What about that guy who showed up at my house?” Alex asked.

“I ran him over,” Mia said. “Remember?”

A pit in her stomach formed over the idea of killing another person. She wanted to forget all about that man.

“What is the plan now?” Alex asked.

“Call your husband,” Riley said. “Tell him to move the car to just outside Grant's property on the north side.”

Riley stood up and walked back into the trees.

“Stay here,” Mia said.

She went after Riley.

“What are you doing?” Mia asked. “I thought this was a survey trip.”

“Our target only has two guards,” Riley said. “I'm going after him now.”

 

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Chapter
79

My husband commented on my improved mood. I refuse to give up; I will find a way out of this life.

—­The diary of Megan Jean

“That is insane,” Mia said.

Riley was going through her backpack. She pulled out a holster and handed it to Mia before putting one around her own waist.

“We'll never have another opportunity like this,” Riley said. “It's stupid to waste it.”

“How are you planning on getting inside,” Mia asked, “then taking out whoever is in that room?”

“The way you spoke about this guy and his reputation I expected a fortress,” Riley said. “Even if he knows we're coming his defenses are minuscule.”

“That's what he wants you to think,” Mia said. “He is very smart and very dangerous.”

“He can't fake body heat,” Riley said. “There are ten ­people in that giant house. Even if they know we're coming I can take them. Are you in?”

Riley pulled out another gun and attached a silencer to the end. Mia held out her hand and Riley handed her the weapon.

“We shouldn't kill him,” Mia said. “It might screw up the bigger plan that's back in play.”

“I know,” Riley said. “But we can knock him out and rough him up a little. If that other man in the room is on your side it will be a piece of cake.”

“So what's your strategy?”

“Figure out where his security system starts,” Riley said. “As soon as we trigger it he'll know it's us, but he can't call for any agents or backup as long as you're with me.”

“So we let him know we're coming?”

“Maybe your man in the room will knock him out for us,” Riley said. “Then we grab Rod and make a break for it.”

“If that is Rex and if he is really on our side, don't you think Rex would have done that by now?” Mia asked.

“Still,” Riley said. “Two on two? How hard can it be?”

“This isn't like you,” Mia said. “You're acting reckless.”

“Alex,” Riley called.

He came over to them. Riley threw him a gun.

“You're not scared to shoot anyone are you?”

“No,” Alex said.

“Three on two,” Riley said. “Does that make you feel better?”

“I want to help,” Corinna said.

“You can help by meeting Frank and Laura,” Riley said. “Follow the tree line north to the street. Tell them to wait for us outside the gate. Leave now.”

Corinna took off along the tree line. Mia was grateful she was out of harm's way.

“Now, he is going to want to kill you,” Riley said. “But if you don't accompany us we have no guarantee he won't call in extra security. So when we get near the room you need to stay out of sight. I don't want you anywhere near him. Do you understand?”

Mia nodded her head.

“Alex, we are expendable,” Riley said. “He knows who you are and your relationship with Mia. He has no clue who I am or what I'm capable of. I have an electronic scrambler. I'm going to take it with me and go in separately. I want him to spot the two of you. Mia, take this.”

Riley put the electronic sensor in her hand.

“Stay out of the way of any electronics,” Riley said. “I'm going to circle the house to come in through the east side. I want you to wait here twenty minutes and then enter the view of his cameras from this end. He should come after you.”

“But Rod is on the opposite side,” Alex said.

“I'm coming in from that direction,” Riley said. “I think he'll be too distracted by you to notice his security system failing on the east side. I'll enter the house and come up through the opposite way. I will get Rod. You two meet me by the front door.”

“What if he doesn't come after us?” Mia asked.

“Then break into the house and head toward the east wing,” Riley said. “But don't lose your way. That house is huge. Remember where the door is. Alex should know the layout.”

“I remember the episode,” Alex said.

“Try and keep his eyes on you,” Riley said. “And kill anyone who isn't Grant.”

Mia gulped. She wasn't ready for this.

“Wait twenty minutes,” Riley said.

She left her bag on the ground and secured what must have been the scrambler to her wrist. The binoculars hung around her neck.

“This is crazy,” Mia said.

“It will work,” Riley said. “Twenty minutes.”

With that Riley took off along the trees toward the back of the house.

“She should have taken the sensor with her,” Alex said. “For all she knows she's setting off Grant's security right now.”

“I'd never underestimate Riley,” Mia said. “She knows exactly what she's doing.”

Alex nodded and watched her jog away.

“We might die tonight,” Alex said.

Mia looked up at him.

“That thought has crossed my mind a lot, and I'm still here,” Mia said.

“I'll take luck over skill anytime,” Alex said.

Mia gave a short fake laugh. The sky was starting to lighten. Mia pulled out her phone and checked the time. It was almost five
A.M
. In two hours she would see Andrew again. Mia repeated that in her head, assuring herself that she would survive the next ­couple hours.

 

UNCORRECTED E-PROOF—NOT FOR SALE

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Chapter
80

The launch of the Registry was a success. Every female generated more of a profit than her listing price. It is not required that this next generation of females live in the capital with their husbands. I do not know how the grand commander will monitor their offspring.

—­The journal of Isaac Ryland

The laptop wasn't showing any sign of movement, but Grant's eyes never tired. He had the outside of his house on the screen. A projection of his interior was displayed on the wall.

“How are you still awake?” Hansen asked.

“Patience,” Grant said. “This is the most exciting night I've had in several months.”

“Your former employee told you she wouldn't be coming,” Hansen said. “There is a chance all of this is pointless.”

“You joined the game late, my friend,” Grant said. “I have gotten to know Amelia quite well. A few things have surprised me, but I can read her now. She is coming. If not tonight then tomorrow, but she will be here.”

“Do you think she's going to just appear at your front door?”

“I've learned not to underestimate her,” Grant said. “She was clever enough to escape the country with little help, and now she has a terrorist organization behind her. She ran you over. It is in your best interests not to underestimate her.”

“What will you do if she shows up?” Hansen asked.

“Try my hardest not to kill her on sight,” Grant said. “But that scale keeps tipping.”

“I'd shoot her straight through the eye,” Hansen said.

“I went through that phase,” Grant said. “But now I see a slow death in her future. It's a shame. She is the closest I will ever come to my equal.”

“For a woman?”

“For a person,” Grant said. “She thinks she's noble, but she is ruthless like I am. She's killed several ­people who stood in her way, has a natural ability to pick up on concepts. She's a survivor and won't let anything stop her.”

“How do you figure?”

“She killed her father for one,” Grant said. “Abandoned those who helped her. She only cares about herself.”

“If that were true why wouldn't she stay hidden? She was already free.”

“Mia has fooled herself long enough,” Grant said. “But she thinks the same way I do. She's not back here to take down some government conspiracy. She is here to right the wrongs done to her. Mia started with Andrew, then her father, and I'm next.”

“Who is Andrew?”

“He's a problem,” Grant said. “One of the men I think burned up in that fire at the fake orphanage.”

“I thought you said he got away.”

“If he had don't you think he would be with her?” Grant asked. “But he was nowhere near our last encounter. I think he's dead.”

“Then why come for this man?”

“Because,” Grant said. “She doesn't want him. She wants to come for me. It's another way for her to justify her actions.”

“I hate to prove you wrong,” Hansen said. “But I don't think she's coming.”

“I accept your apology,” Grant said.

“I never said I was sor . . .”

Hansen's voice trailed off when Grant changed the projection on the wall. One of his security cameras had a hit. Running across his land was none other than his wife.

Grant stood up and went toward her projection. He ran his hand down the image of her face.

“You were right,” Hansen said.

“I always am,” Grant said.

“What now?”

“Now we wait and watch,” Grant said.

The cameras switched and Grant got a view of Mia and Alex. He laughed as they tried to pick up a rock and throw it through a window. The glass was unbreakable.