Bullshit
He put his phone back in his pocket. They could argue about his decision later; doing it now and by text would be counterproductive.
“Did I hear you say that guy was CIA?” Nate asked.
Quinn nodded.
“Well, that’s awesome. Did he bring any friends with him?”
“I don’t think so.”
Quinn started walking back up the tunnel toward the surface.
“Where you going?” Nate asked.
But Quinn didn’t answer. Since the door was a bust, he figured their next best chance was one of the ventilation shafts. Though if Tucker’s group had gone to the trouble of blocking the entrance to the emergency exit, they surely would have done something that would keep anyone from using the vents. Still, Quinn had to try.
When they reached the rusty door, Quinn stepped through first, then turned to make sure Nate shut it behind them, only Nate wasn’t there.
Quinn stepped back inside. Nate was ten feet down the tunnel, looking toward Quinn but not at him.
“I think I might know how it works,” Nate said.
Quinn was quiet for a moment, then glanced over his shoulder at the rusted metal door. “Are you thinking that—”
“Yes,” Nate said. “Stay here.”
Without further explanation, Nate ran back down the tunnel.
Thirty seconds later his voice crackled in Quinn’s ear.
“Can … ou hear … Quinn, can … ear me?”
“You’re breaking up.”
“… ose the do …”
“What?”
“… e door … ose … oor.”
“You’re not coming through.”
“Close … e door.”
That was enough. Quinn reached out, grabbed the handle of the rusty door, then pulled it closed. As he did, he noticed a lever built into the frame. It was in the down position.
“… id yo … lose it?”
Quinn thought about it for another second, then reached out and flipped the lever up.
For a moment there was nothing. Then, “… aaa. That d … ome … down. Come …”
Quinn raced back down the tunnel. At the bottom he found Nate standing near where the tunnel had ended. Only now the artificial wall had moved out of the way.
“Closed circuit,” Nate said. “All you had to do was close the door.”
Quinn thought about telling him it had nothing to do with whether the door was open or closed at all, but decided to save it for later. It was good for Nate to feel like he’d accomplished something. It had been a good guess anyway. And if Nate hadn’t suggested it, Quinn would have never seen the lever.
“And you’re going to love this,” Nate said.
He shone his light through the opening. The tunnel went on for another ten feet, but straight and level now.
And at the end, a door. A real door.
“I think we’ve found the way in.”
CHAPTER
30
TUCKER LOOKED AT HIS WATCH. IT HAD BEEN THIRTY minutes since the prisoner had been taken to his cell. He would have liked to leave the guy sitting in the dark a little longer, but there was no time for that.
It wouldn’t be long before he and his team would have to pitch in on the final preparations of the shipment. And by this time tomorrow he would be on his way to Bali, the job complete, and his final payment sitting safely in his offshore account.
He wasn’t even worried about what would be next after that. At some point he would have to find more work. But his pay on this one had been pretty damn good, so it would be a while before he’d have to make any calls.
He radioed one of his men to meet him near the detention cell, then pushed himself away from his desk.
It was time to find out what the asshole knew.
The door from the tunnel let out into a wider corridor. Quinn went through first, his SIG with suppressor attached in his right hand. Nate, also armed, stepped out of the tunnel as soon as Quinn was clear.
