Marco traced the streets with his finger for a minute, until he pointed out a blue dot. “Here.”
Peter grabbed a highlighter from a drawer and circled it. “And the other one?”
“Here,” Marco pointed.
Peter tapped the highlighter against his palm once he was done. “I still don’t think that’s all there is to it. They’ve been super careful so far, and the ones we did capture, that was only because we’d tricked them. But if they’ve been watching our parking lot to know when to follow Dave and Elena, and they’ve managed to stay off the radar for so long while abducting our men, they might be watching us on a much bigger scale.”
Marco frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Give me a minute,” Peter said, reaching for his cell phone. He called Rob’s number and waited for a few beats for him to pick up. “Rob, you busy?”
“Not really. What’s up?”
“Here’s a question—which tunnel exits have you used the most recently?”
A long pause. “Not sure what you mean. I don’t keep track of how everyone gets in and out. Do you need a list or something?”
“No, wait. Forget that. Just pick one you have used in the past two weeks.”
“Hmm. Okay, it’s probably the only one I’ve used all winter. Why? You want me to go there now?”
“Can you do that?”
“Sure, I’m just a few blocks away. Gimme a minute.”
Peter waited as he gazed at the map, the paper yellowed after decades of use.
“Okay, I’m here. Should I go in?”
“No, and do exactly as I say now.” Peter switched on the speaker, putting the phone down as he took a seat next to Marco. “Take off the cover, and please tell me you have a flashlight.”
“Sure. What am I looking for?”
“Just stick your head in and see if anything’s out of place in there. On the walls, the ceiling, the—”
“Shit!”
“What is it?”
“Um… Can’t say for sure, but it looked like a tiny camera. It’s right there in the corner, just under the manhole.”
Damn it. Peter rubbed his temple and closed his eyes for a second.
“Whose is it?” Rob asked. “Is it the Commandos?”
“Who else… You think they saw you?”
“I was in and out in a second, but I did point my flashlight right at it, yes. If they’re watching it in real time, they might have seen it. Should I take it down?”
“No, don’t touch anything. You can get back to work. Thanks.”
“No problem.” Rob hung up.
“We’re not taking down the cameras?” Marco asked.
Peter got up and pushed the chair back in its place. “No, we’re not.” He rolled up the map, thinking about what else he’d need to take to Rooney.
He could see the questions in Marco’s eyes but didn’t say anything as he tucked the map under his arm and left.
Chapter 34
Chad glanced at his phone as he pushed open the infirmary door—eleven o’clock. It felt like three in the morning, with the exhaustion weighing him down like a ton of bricks.
At least Doc wasn’t there, so he didn’t have to speak to anyone. The beeping of the heart rate monitor and the sterile smell had become familiar. He pulled his chair up to her bed and settled into it, relieved to be off his feet. His breath smelled of alcohol, and his stomach felt as if it were digesting itself—which it probably was—but he was used to ignoring the feeling by now. The hollow pit in his chest was harder to ignore.
“Hey,” he murmured, leaning forward on her bed. Her hand felt cold, her fingers unresponsive as he wrapped his hand around them. “We found something tonight. You’d better wake up before you miss all the fun.”
Only the beeping filled the silence.
In the moonlight that spilled through the windows, Pain’s face seemed deathly pale, but he had to believe the tests that said she was doing well. He bent down, planting a kiss on her fingertips even as his eyelids drooped, sleep creeping in from the edges of his consciousness.
He didn’t bother to change his awkward pose, sprawled between the bed and the chair with one arm wrapped around Pain’s hips while he drifted from one troubled dream to another. Just when they’d let him be, and the blessed nothingness had enveloped him so he could rest, someone touched his shoulder.
He peeled his eyes open, surprised by the streak of light on the horizon when it seemed like mere minutes had passed since he’d fallen asleep. There was no one behind him when he looked over his shoulder, and he let out a disappointed sigh, realizing he had dreamed it. His body ached, muscles cramped up, his insides in a knot.
Chad pushed himself upright and rolled his shoulders, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. He looked at Pain—and nearly fell off his chair.
She blinked, watching him in that calm way she turned when she got lost in thought. It can’t be. For a second, he thought it a dream, but the digits on the beeping machines were too sharp, and his hand had five fingers, and the image was too damn good to be a figment of his imagination.
He opened his mouth like a fish, then grabbed her hand and squeezed it, getting a squeeze in return.
“Pain?” he gasped, jumping from the chair. “You’re awake—how? When?”
She blinked again, her face blank. “Who are you?”
“W-what?” The room tilted, and he grasped the bed rail for support. “Pain, I—”
“Who are you, handsome stranger?” She kicked up a brow, the usual spark back in her eyes.
His palm slammed into the rail. “Dammit, Pain! This isn’t funny!”
“Only ’cause you can’t see your face.” She
