Ruthless Game (GhostWalkers, #9)(104)
Jaimie, Marc will take over in there. I need you at the computer. Check the recent rentals on the building across the street, Mack ordered. Paul, go too, just in case I need Marc in the field.
Immediately there was a flurry of activity as if Jaimie had called both Marc and Paul because Brian had taken a turn for the worse. Whitney would recognize the two of them as healers and believe something had gone wrong.
Jaimie, the consummate actress, backed out of the tent in full view of the camera and then went around the corner, behind the tent, to her bank of computers.
“I keep an alert on the real estate agency that handles that rental property. It flags all new tenants.” She was all business, settling in front of her bank of computers, fingers flying over the keyboard.
Rose was fascinated—actually a little awestruck—at the amount of information pouring over the various screens in front of Jaimie. There were ten large computer screens, and data flowed over each of them, coming in from various sources and agencies around the world. She was certain much of what she was looking at was data that was all at a security level far beyond hers. Her existence might be top security, but she obviously didn’t have the kind of clearance Jaimie and the others had—not yet. More than ever she wanted to be an official member of the team.
Jaimie glanced over her shoulder. “You are official, or you wouldn’t be looking at this data. The word came through a little while ago. With everything going on, there was no opportunity to tell you.” She flashed a mysterious grin. “Mack is officially your boss, poor girl.”
“Isn’t he yours?”
Jaimie tossed her head. “Not hardly. I’m an analyst, not a soldier.” She winked. “He’s really mean. Ask any of the men.”
“Jaimie,” Mack made a growling noise in the back of his throat. “I really need that information.”
“It’s coming up now, Mr. Impatience. You have three on the second floor and two on the third. The Williams family moved into apartment 224, one of the windows facing directly toward us. A couple with two children. A Donald Martin is in apartment 225 right next to the family, and the third one is on the other side of the building, so I doubt he’s your man. On the third floor, both apartments recently rented face our building. A Charles Laudry and Tisha Phillips in 334 and Seely Thompson . . .” She broke off, looking up at Mack.
“What is it?”
Jaimie shook her head. “An alias, definitely not Whitney. Rhianna uses that when she sends me personal email. It’s always encrypted, a program I wrote especially for the two of us to use. No computer is going to break it easily.”
“So Rhee is already back,” Kane said.
Rose caught the relief on Kane’s face and the affection in his voice, but she didn’t ask questions. Mack was already relaying the information Jaimie had given him about the other tenants to his team.
“We can’t destroy the camera or take out the ones in your home, Rose,” Mack said, “until we go after Whitney. This might be our best chance at him. Stay here with Sebastian, out of sight behind the tent.”
Rose nodded and looked up at Kane. She wanted to go, but she hadn’t trained with them yet. She knew she’d only get in their way. “Good hunting.”
Use alternative ways to leave the building. If Whitney spots us leaving en masse, it will tip him off that we’re on to him. Right now he’s feeling very superior that we didn’t find his camera. I’m heading into the tent as if to check on Brian. From there I’ll leave out of his sight and meet you all outside. Stay to cover. Kane and Javier, take the second-floor rooms, and I’ll take the third floor with Lucas. Gideon, can you see into the windows?
Doing my best, Top. There’s someone moving around in three of the apartments facing us from the third and second floors.
Kane caught Rose’s face between his hands and kissed her thoroughly right there in front of everyone. Her eyes went wide and shocked, and he grinned at her before brushing a kiss on top of Sebastian’s head. “They may as well know I’m crazy about you,” he whispered overly loud in her ear, watching her blush with rising satisfaction.
He loved that slightly bemused, flustered look she got when he was publicly affectionate.
I have no idea what to do when you put on public displays.
Manly displays, he corrected. That’s me beating my chest and claiming you.
She frowned at him, and he was tempted all over again to kiss her fantasy mouth. Just how long are you going to keep that up?
“Forever, sweetheart. For always. And that’s the damned truth, Rose,” he said and turned abruptly to uncover the escape door situated close to the bank of computers where Jaimie always had a fast exit, should one become necessary. The opening revealed a very narrow entrance with a built-in slide that took him straight down to the wharf side of the warehouse. He pushed open the door to exit into the alley in front of the wharf itself.
The wind blew in from the ocean, and fingers of fog stretched greedily toward the buildings. Sheets of mist blew in rapidly, a thick veil difficult to penetrate. The cover would help the team members as they spread out and went into the building across the street by several different entrances. Ethan and Gideon, the spotters on the rooftops, however, would have a much more difficult time.
Kane, Gideon spotted movement in three of the apartments. Are you in a position to see into the apartments?