Chapter 179
"Did you hear that?"
One of the men took a few steps until he was staring straight up at the crack in the panel. It was Patrick's pal, a man Jack didn't recognize. The man pulled out a pistol and aimed the barrel straight up, right between Jack's eyes.
Kate and Jack held still.
Patrick came to his partner's side and looked up. He pushed the guy's arm down. "I didn't hear a thing. Don't get trigger happy on me."
"I think somebody's up there."
Both of Jack's legs were cramping. He wasn't sure how long he could stay still, especially straddled like he was on the beam.
"Take the flashlight and go take a look."
Footsteps sounded as the man headed across the room. The table in the corner of the room rattled. Somebody was climbing onto the table and heading their way. Kate leaned toward Jack and jabbed a finger into his shoulder. When he looked her way, she pointed down. She was going to jump, crash right through the panels, and do what? Break her neck? Her chances of falling on top of Monahan were slim to none.
Jack shook his head.
She positioned her body, readying herself.
"Holy c.r.a.p, would you look at this!" Patrick said.
Kate gripped onto the beam, teetering slightly before she caught her balance and somehow managed to stay where she was. Jack drew in a long breath.
"That's a f.u.c.king surveillance camera up there, isn't it?" Patrick asked.
The other guy was on the table trying to get a hold of the panel. "It looks too small to be a video camera. And why would the doctor put a camera right there...facing his work area? Why not facing the front entry or the area outside the door?"
Patrick snorted. "Christ, I don't know. Lou never mentioned a f.u.c.king surveillance camera."
Lou. Kate had mentioned the name Lou in the airplane. Jack made a mental note to have A.J. check the agency's system for anyone who went by that name.
"We're going to need a ladder to get up there and see if it has a video tape in it," Patrick's partner said.
"There's no time for a ladder," Patrick growled. "This has taken too long already. Get back on that table," he ordered, "and crawl through one of those panels. You might be able to reach the camera from up there."
"What if I can't reach it?"
"I don't know. I'll throw you a hammer. Just get up there and get the d.a.m.n camera out of there!"
The man hurried across the room again. Jack could hear Patrick scrambling through the cabinets, probably searching for a hammer or heavy object.
The panel, where Jack and Kate entered, sc.r.a.ped against the ceiling. Jack watched the guy's fingertips come through the hole, feeling around for something to grasp onto.
Jack reached for his gun.
Patrick's friend muttered a string of curses.
An outside alarm went off-a high-pitched deafening sound that pierced his eardrums. Kate covered her ears.
The fingers disappeared right before the panel dropped into place. Both men scrambled around the room. Bright lights lit up the room. More headlights.
"Somebody's stealing the G.o.dd.a.m.n car!"
The door to the lab opened and shut. Jack didn't waste any time. He wasn't sure if both men had gone outside or not, but he didn't have time to worry about it. Despite the fact his legs were numb and only half working, he crawled across the beam, ignoring the blare of the alarm and instead concentrating on reaching the camera. He told Kate to hang on while he crawled over her, which he did in about two seconds flat. By the time he reached the end of the beam, he heard the men return.
The two men had to shout to be heard over the alarm. "n.o.body's there," Patrick told his buddy. "You left the door unlocked, you idiot. Somebody was probably trying to steal something."
No response.
"Get your stuff."
"What about the surveillance camera?"
"The police are going to be here any minute. I can hear the f.u.c.king sirens. We'll have to come back later."
The two men hustled about the room, grabbing their things. As soon as the door clicked shut, Jack raised the panel and reached a hand toward the camera. Another two inches and he'd be able to touch it. He'd never seen such a small surveillance camera.
Kate was already half way through the panel at the other end. "Jack. We've got to get out of here!"
"You go ahead. If there's a tape or a disc in this thing, it could be the proof I need to clear my name."
"Don't you think the FBI would have confiscated it already?" she asked.
"If they had, Patrick would already know about it."
"You knew that man?"
"Yeah, he works with me in the Cyber Division. At least he used to."
She didn't say anything.
"This doesn't look like a regular surveillance camera. It's much smaller than anything I've ever seen. I think Forstin knew
Kate dropped through the opening and hit the floor. She landed, soft and sure, like a cat.
Jack pushed a b.u.t.ton. Click. A miniature-recording disc popped out.
The police siren sounded right outside the door.
Kate looked at him from below. "Jack. Now! Get out of there."
Jack grabbed the disc and dropped it down to her. She caught it in one hand. Next, he tossed her the keys to the truck. "If I'm not back by morning," he said, "give the disc to A.J. when you see him. If A.J. doesn't return to his sister's house, he lives in Burbank. Last name Hanson."
"I'm not leaving without you."
"You've got to. You're my only hope."
Tires squealed against gravel.
"Go!"
She didn't need further goading. She gave Jack one last fleeting look before exiting through the back door with seconds to spare before the first policeman entered the lab.
It was too late for Jack to slide away from the opening. He stayed still. Another cop entered the room, gun drawn. The officer looked around, slowly, and before Jack could blink, the cop looked straight up until Jack saw nothing but the whites of his eyes.
Kate crawled down the other side of the chain-link fence. As soon as her feet hit the ground she felt a hand on her shoulder. She grabbed the arm and twisted.
"Ouch!"
Kate had the guy flat on his back before he could count to one. She went for the knife strapped around her ankle.
"It's me-Brooklynn!"
Kate left the knife where it was and held the kid by the s.h.i.+rt instead, bringing her close enough to see her face. "What are you doing here?"
"I-I heard you and Fred...Jack, whatever his name is, talking at the house in the other room, and so I hid in the back of the truck. I-I'm sorry."
Kate let go of her s.h.i.+rt and gave Brooklynn's shoulders a light shake instead. She was only a kid, she reminded herself. "Do you have any idea how much danger you've put yourself in?" Kate dropped her hands to her side and blew out a puff of air. s.h.i.+t. She'd almost put a knife to the girl's throat. Looking about in frustration, she reached down and helped the girl to her feet. "Did you leave your brother home alone?"
"Uhm. No. Not exactly. He's over there..." Brooklynn pointed across the street. "He's behind those bushes. I told him to watch the front of the building while I watched the back."
"That's great," Kate muttered. "Just great."
"We chased those men off, but the cops came after Adam set off the car alarm. One of the neighbors must have called in to report the noise."
Kate crossed her arms, letting Brooklynn know she wasn't pleased, although she respected Brooklynn's s.p.u.n.k and appreciated the help.
"That was cool, you know, the way you threw me to the ground," Brooklynn said.
Exasperated, Kate shook her head and started off across the street. Brooklynn followed close behind.
Kate located Adam behind the brush at the same moment the front door to the lab came open. One of the cops pushed Jack toward the police car. Jack's hands were cuffed behind his back.
Kate wondered what she was going to do now.
The cop shoved Jack into the back of the police car, shut the door to the vehicle, and headed back inside the lab.
The moment the cop disappeared inside the building, Adam jumped to his feet. He was across the street and next to the police car before Kate could protest. Adam pulled a long metal object from the waistband of his pants and shoved it into the lock in the pa.s.senger door. After some finagling, the door came open. Adam slid inside the front seat of the vehicle and for about five seconds Kate couldn't see him at all. Adam finally reappeared and opened the back door.
A few seconds later, two shadows, one tall and one short, made their way across the street, heading toward her and Brooklynn. Once they were all hidden behind the brush, Adam used the same metal object he used to break into the car to remove Jack's cuffs. Without a word said, they took off, single file, jogging through brush and around uneven rows of decorative trees until they were forced to hit the pavement. For about a block, the only sounds were their soft footfalls.
The subtle smell of fresh sea air reminded Kate of home. She drew in a deep breath and kept a steady pace. Jack led the group with Adam at his heels. Brooklynn was next and Kate brought up the rear. One big happy family.
Jack slid behind the wheel of the old Chevy. Kate tossed him the keys, then gestured for the kids to climb in next to him until all four of them were sandwiched in the front seat. The engine kicked over on the first try. Jack pulled the truck onto the street. No sirens sounded. Moments later, Jack merged onto the highway and headed back for Spring Valley.
"You two are in big trouble," Kate told the kids, her tone firm. "You could have gotten yourselves killed." A short pause followed. "And your mother," she added, "she's probably worried sick."
"We called and told her we were spending the night."
Kate huffed.
Jack smiled.
"This is not amusing."
"I'm sorry," he said, although she could tell he wasn't sorry at all. Next, Kate directed her frustrations at Adam who was squished beside her. "And you. Give me that metal rod thing you used to get into that car, a police car, no less."
He gave her a sheepish look and handed it over. "It's a Slim Jim."
"Where did you get this?"
"He probably ordered it through one of those infomercials," his sister offered.
Adam elbowed Brooklynn. "I took it from the car that showed up before the cops came. My friend has one. They're easy to work."
"It did work," Jack agreed, but Kate's raised brow prompted him to clear his throat and say, "She's right. Neither of you should have come. It was wrong."
Adam frowned. "But-"
"No buts," Kate said. "I'm really angry right now."
Adam and Brooklynn kept their gazes on the road.
Kate glanced over her shoulder. There were only a few cars on the road, nothing to worry about. "Just don't do it again. Fred and I don't want to see you two end up behind bars."
Brooklynn rolled her eyes. "We know who you both are. You can stop with the Fred and Wilma thing."
Kate looked at Brooklynn. "How did you know?"
"Adam saw your picture in the Victorville Tribune a few days ago when we stopped at the rental office to get the key to the house. He recognized Jack, aka Fred, the moment he stepped into the house. So the dog's name isn't Barney, is it?"
There was a moment of silence before Kate said, "The dog's name is Barney, but he's not ours."
"What happened to Barney's owners?" Adam wanted to know. "Did you guys kill them and bury their bodies somewhere?"
"I didn't kill anyone," Jack said.
Adam looked disappointed. "Are you really an FBI agent?"
Jack's sigh caused Kate to feel for Jack...framed by his own people.
"I really am," Jack said, referring to his being an FBI agent.
"Am I going to be arrested for breaking into that police car?" Adam wanted to know.
Jack's silence made Adam sweat a little before he answered. "No, you're not going to be arrested. And although what you did was wrong and very dangerous," Jack said, "thanks for the help."
Adam smiled.