Stealing Silence(15)
“What will she find when she gets inside?” asked Mitch.
“I do not know. We will suit her up in some protective clothing and a mask before going in, but Avalon,” Peet frowned at Avalon. “Girl, you need to understand that whatever is inside that facility can kill you. You will not know what the chemicals are, so gloves stay on and keep the mask in place at all times. Do not touch your eyes, keep your goggles in place and do not remove them for any reason. Get your sample and get out.”
Alexa’s hand found its way to hers and linked fingers. She squeezed hard, fear in her eyes. Avalon squeezed her back. “For Mom and Dad?” she asked, looking to her sister for confirmation. Alexa nodded. “For Mom and Dad,” she whispered back.
Chapter 10
Storming the Warehouse
AVALON TUCKED THE EARPIECE into the canal of her ear and dragged her hair back over it, while Peet pinned the mic to her shirt. Mitch waited impatiently while they positioned the equipment, and then whispered into her ear. “Test. Can you hear me ok?”
Avalon nodded and whispered back, “Loud and clear.”
Mitch picked up a dark grey disposable coverall, shaking it out as he approached Avalon. Avalon could see none of this, for they had decided to approach the warehouse under the cover of darkness. They were camped out beneath the maple on the north side of the complex. Reaching her side, Alexa handed her a small knapsack. “It is packed with everything you need. A coil of finely twisted rope here,” she touched a flap on the side, “some emergency flares here, although I wouldn’t be shooting those off from the roof, everyone can see it there, right? There is also a flashlight, a small acetylene torch, some firecrackers and a lighter. Oh and some pepper spray. I thought of that one.” She grinned at Avalon, who grinned back. Neither girl wandered alone without pepper spray hidden somewhere on their body. It had been an early lesson learned and had saved them from harm so often, that they automatically included it in any package they were carrying. “There is also a first aid kit. It’s not much, some bandages and a strip to use as a tourniquet if needed.” Her face fell at the thought. “You are not going to need it,” she said fierce tone that matched her glare, “because you are going to be very careful.” They embraced, then Mitch cleared his throat noisily and they broke apart.
Peet handed her a piece of paper. She took it but did not unfold it, as she couldn’t read it in the dark. “What is it?”
“It’s the floor plan of the facility, at least to the wall of the second security checkpoint. I know you are going to go in and out of the secured area and not wander about, but it’s always handy to have a backup, just in case. In that worst-case scenario, the only way you are getting out of that facility undetected is via the garbage chutes, so if you cannot get out the way you go in, then head for the south end of the facility. We are timing your movements here. You should be no more than an hour getting in an out. We only need a small sample, so do not take more than you can handle. It should all fit in the backpack, understand?”
Avalon nodded but didn’t say anything. Her nerves were kicking into overdrive. Heart racing, she didn’t trust herself to speak. Mitch shook out the grey jumpsuit and she stepped into it, pulling it up over her clothes and zipping up the front.
“There is a mini camera embedded into the hood. It will show us everything you see. If you need help identifying something stare directly at it,” said Peet.
Alexa held out the backpack and Avalon slipped her arms through the straps, clicking the latch across her chest. It was a bit tight with the suit underneath. She pulled the hood over her head and slipped her hands into the gloves that velcroed onto the wrists. The goggles were attached to the hood and ready to slip into place when she gained the interior of the facility. She retained her sneakers, as they gave her feet the best protection, and shoved her slippered feet into the toe less interior.
Mitch placed a hand on her shoulder as she straightened. “In and out, Avalon. I do not want anything to happen to you. We will be in constant communication. No one around you will be able to hear you. Keep the camera on at all times. We will be an extra set of eyes for you.”
Avalon nodded. Her mouth was dry. “Water?”
“In the side pocket.” Mitch tugged the water bottle out, cracked it open and handed it to her. She took a long drink, screwed the lid back on and gave it back to him. He secured it back in her pack.
“It’s time.”
“Wish me luck!” and ran for the maple, where a rope dangled from a lower limb. Whispered echoes of “Luck, Avalon!” and “Be careful!” followed her, and reaching her ear through the earpiece was Mitch’s clear command. “Take your time and be sure of your surroundings. That was your only error at the last greenhouse.” A soft chuckle reached her ear and she stuck out her tongue over her shoulder at Mitch, even though she knew he could not see her.
She grabbed the rope and began to pull herself up the knotted length until she reached the upper limb. Swinging a leg over the limb, she sat for second then pushed her feet under body and stood up seeking the next limb and the next, climbing until she reached the target branch. From this far up, she couldn’t see the ground below and the leaves obscured most of the compound. A searchlight from a guard tower swept the compound on a regular basis, pausing occasionally. She knew it was manned and not an automated spotlight. It meant one guard at least was checking manually for any movement out of the ordinary. The light swung to the opposite end of the compound and she shimmied out onto the branch, ignoring the slight shake of the leaves. As she came to smaller new growth, she bent it down and continued moving along the length.