Game of Fear (Montgomery Justice #3)(95)

Luke erupted with a string of curses. “They can still see us. There are three Minicams on a backup system,” Luke muttered. “I’m looping their input.” After a few seconds, he sighed. “We’re invisible again.”

“How bad is the damage?”

No one could answer Gabe’s question.

Deb palmed her weapon and lifted her binoculars. She had no doubt everyone else had done the same. Her entire body tense, she watched, awaiting a mass attack from the building.

It didn’t come.

Instead, the blond man appeared at another entrance. “He’s back,” Deb said. “At the loading platform. He’s attaching something to the small door beside it.”

“What’s this guy up to?” Gabe demanded.

“Steve,” Jazz interrupted. “I don’t have a good angle with my scope. What’s he doing?”

Deb half expected Steve Paretti not to answer.

“Weird,” Paretti muttered.

She arched an eyebrow. He shrugged that maybe-I-was-wrong-but-probably-not look.

“Four stars in a row with an arrow pointing down at the tunnel Seth mentioned,” Paretti said.

Deb gasped. “It’s a message for me. Ashley teases me about being a four-star admiral. Sometimes I’d sign notes to her that way—with four stars in a row.”

“Want to hear more good news?” Luke said. “Zach confirmed sensors are down at all three of those entrances. The security grid is spotty all over.”

Gabe smiled at Deb. “Looks like we have our insider.”




The black corner of the computer room loomed with a terrifying threat. Armed guards stood a few feet away, assault weapons at the ready.

Ashley’s fingers shook and she fumbled on the keys. She couldn’t make any mistakes. Her friends’ lives were in her hands.

Ashley leaned forward and blinked. The screen returned to focus. She typed in another command.

The Warden walked past her, then stopped. “Mr. Gasmerati, Mr. Petrov, this is one of our star programmers. Ashley hacked into the NSA.”

“Impressive, but only if you can do it again. Here and now,” Gasmerati said, tossing down the gauntlet.

Ashley studied the two men. Well dressed, with ten guards behind them. Who were these men?

The Warden gripped Ashley’s shoulder, squeezing hard enough to bruise. “Show them. Bring up a list of CIA operatives located in Kazakhstan.”

Ashley glanced at Floyd. He frowned, but he couldn’t help her. No one could. Not unless Deb was out there.

She had no choice. She had to stay alive.

Praying that she wasn’t putting anyone in danger, her fingers flew across the keyboard. Firewalls fell.

An irritating humming sounded over her right shoulder. “You’re taking too long,” he muttered.

The Warden pinched Ashley’s skin just at the base of her neck. She winced and typed in an incorrect keystroke. The program beeped at her.

“I can’t work if I’m in pain,” she hissed, trying to hide her fear.

The Warden bent down, sweat beading on his upper lip. So the man had at least one emotion, and he feared these two. In fact, the Warden was terrified. Ashley’s belly roiled at the realization.

“You have one minute,” he said. “Or one bullet flies.”

“I just need a few more seconds,” she said softly, pressing the preset codes to release the virus before hacking through to the government site.

A file appeared. A list of names and locations. A slightly altered list. Just slightly, though.

The Warden chuckled. “She just needed a little encouragement.”

“She needs to learn respect,” Petrov said. He scowled at the screen, then pulled out a tablet and tapped a few times. “Several names match what we already know.” Petrov grinned. “Excellent.” He turned and reached out his hand. “Mr. Gasmerati. We have a deal.”

All the guards lifted their weapons.

The Warden looked around nervously.

Gasmerati smiled. “You’re a loose end, Warden. As is everyone here.”

“You can’t do this,” the Warden sputtered.

“Oh, I can.” Gasmerati gave a quick nod. His guard held a weapon to the Warden’s head. “Have your men move everyone to the basement. You remember the basement?”

The Warden gulped and nodded.

“Then bring in your guards five at a time. If you follow instructions, I may change my mind. You never know.”

The Warden lifted the phone and gave the order.

Ashley’s knees shook. Oh God. They were going to die.

Petrov walked over to her and put his hand on her shoulder. “I know exactly who the brains are of this outfit, Warden. When we leave, this one comes with me.”





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CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR




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GABE SNAPPED HIS binoculars to his eyes for a final check on the delivery doors and surrounding areas that he and Deb would infiltrate while the others created distractions and drew fire. With luck, they’d pick off personnel when they exited the building.

Something was going on, though. According to Zach and Luke, heat signatures had been fluctuating wildly on both floors in that corner, and some activity was going on in a stairwell or ramp between the two levels.