Quinn smiled. “Don’t trip.”
Tucker had grown impatient waiting for word about the possible intruder, so he had the guard at the gate patch all communications with the search team to his radio. Now he sat staring at the small black unit on his desk, listening to bouts of dead air between bursts of digitally encrypted transmissions.
“Base to four,” a voice said.
The two-man team had been joined by the four men Tucker had sent. The man in the guardhouse was Base, while the searchers were numbered two through six.
“Four,” another voice replied, his tone hushed.
“Status.”
“Grid H-3 clear.”
“Move to H-4.”
“Roger.”
“Base to five.”
“Five here,” the new voice said. Before Base could ask for a status, he went on. “I have a visual. Repeat, I have a visual.”
“Grid?”
“A-2. Near the fence. Looks like a male.”
Tucker couldn’t help himself. He picked up his radio and pushed transmit. “What’s he doing?”
There was a pause, then five said, “He’s prone. No movement.”
“Is he injured?” Tucker asked.
“Doesn’t appear to be. His eyes are open and active.”
There was dead air for a moment.
“Base requests instructions,” the man at the guardhouse said, his question directed at Tucker.
“Is he alone?” Tucker asked.
“I haven’t seen anyone else,” five said.
Tucker thought for a moment. “Have your man stay there and keep an eye on him. Report any movement. Have the others move in and check surrounding area to make sure he’s alone.”
“Roger,” Base said. “Five hold position. Two, four, and six sweep grid points B-2, B-3, and A-3. If clear, proceed to A-4. Three, move to A-1 to cover any potential forward movement by intruder.”
Guards two, three, four, and six all replied with “Roger.”
Then the radio went dead again.
“I’ve got movement.”
Nate’s voice was so low, Quinn almost thought he was imagining it. As if he could see where Nate was, he turned to the west, but the only thing there was the hill that separated them.
“What is it?”
“Looks like one of the guards. He’s at my two o’clock, a hundred and twenty feet away, but coming in this direction.”
“Standard patrol?” Quinn asked.
“Definitely not. He’s sweeping, and keeping low. He’s looking for something.”
“Is he alone?”
“I… don’t see anyone else.” Nate’s voice lacked confidence.
“Where are you?”
“I found a crevice between two boulders. Southwest corner of the hill.” He paused. “I can also see a motion sensor. It’s about forty feet in front of me.”
“Did you trip it?”
“I … I don’t think so.”
“If you think you can, back out of there,” Quinn said. “Otherwise hold tight until they’re gone. I’ll go up the hill and see if I can get an overview.”
“Copy that.”
Quinn turned to his right and began ascending the hill.
• • •
“B-4 clear,” two said.
Several seconds later, six added, “A-4 also clear.”
He pushed the transmit button on his radio. “Close in and apprehend. I want to talk to him, so don’t kill him.”
