Mentally, I’m as sharp as I ever was, I muse, as the footage sent back from the drone comes into view more clearly. I note the house sits in the midst of a well-manicured and expansive yard. It’s a fucking mansion. Fancy, well maintained. Somehow, I don’t think Devon would dirty his own hands with the upkeep, he didn’t come across as that sort. Then again, when I met him, he hadn’t come across as a particularly affluent man. There’s a garage with the door closed, and no vehicles in sight to suggest there’s anyone inside.
“Wish we had a drone with an infrared camera,” the VP remarks. “He could be at home, or not. No way of knowing.”
Lost considers for a moment, his head bowed and his fingers pinching the brow of his nose. “It’s quiet, but he might be there. We’ll proceed as though there’s someone home, and if not, well, we stake it out. Either way, we’re close to him now.”
“We pick the locks then,” Dart observes. “No outward sign that someone is waiting.”
Token is fiddling with the controls and after a short while, the drone returns. Picking it up and putting it under his arm, he raises his chin. “I’m gonna need to get in the truck for a moment. See what info I can call up on the security system he has. I’ll try and disable it remotely.”
Token disappears. I shift impatiently while I’m waiting. To pass the time, I take a few steps away from the others and light a cigarette. By the time it’s burned down to the filter and I’m stubbing it out on my boot, carefully pocketing the evidence, Token walks back to our group.
“I think that’s it,” he informs us. “But just in case, I’ll have my jammer at hand.” I note he’s carrying a small device.
Dart and Lost have been re-examining the drone footage saved on Token’s phone. Lost comes to a decision. “We’ll go in the truck,” he starts. “Connor will pull up outside the front. Salem, Dart and Pennywise—when we stop, you get out via the back doors and make your way around the back of the house. There’s some shrubbery you can use for cover. Once you’re clear, I’ll take one of the boxes of spares in the van, and pretend I’m making a delivery. If he comes to the front door, we’ll take him. If not, Token will get us in. All clear?”
All fucking clear. Chins are raised in acknowledgement.
“I’ve got my lock picking shit. Just give me the heads-up and I’ll get us in from the rear.” Salem pats his pocket.
“If we can, we’ll just come back and open the door,” the VP states.
Taking off our cuts, we squeeze into the cage, the enforcer and the others getting into the cargo bay. Lost indicates that Connor should move to the rear passenger seat so if Devon’s at home, he’ll only see Lost driving the truck. Connor takes the middle seat, I sit one side, and Token the other. It’s not particularly comfortable, but there’s only a short way to go.
When Lost pulls away, it’s hard to keep my leg from bouncing in anticipation. I’m so close, I can almost smell Devon’s blood on my hands. If I get my hands on his scrawny neck, it will take a lot to persuade me to loosen them. Owen might have been the one to seduce Alicia, but it was at Devon’s command.
My body stills as we drive up the street. There’s a man out washing his car, but he doesn’t give the truck more than a cursory look. Devon’s house is further along. Most of the houses have privacy fencing or shrubbery, so luckily, we can approach virtually unseen. Lost makes as though he’s turning the truck with two results. One, is that the truck is out of sight of the road, the other is that the back doors are close to the camouflage that the three who’ll be heading to the rear can use.
When the engine stops, Lost gives the prospect his instructions over his shoulder. “Wait here until we’re inside. Then get back to the bikes and wait.” Prez then gets out and goes to the back door of the truck, whistling as he walks unhurried.
The building is more impressive when seen in the flesh and not on a smartphone screen. Rage rises within me, thinking how Devon’s built his empire on ill-gotten gains. My thousand dollars pales into insignificance.
Token whispers as though he can read my mind. “He didn’t get this from cheating models.”
Lost has got the rear doors open now and is reaching inside taking out a box then replacing it as though checking for the right package. This gives Salem, Pennywise and Dart time to ease out and begin to sidle around the boundary, using what shrubs they can to reach the back of the house unseen.
When they’re out of sight, the prez steps up to the front door of the house, package in hand. He rings the doorbell, then respectfully steps back and waits. It doesn’t matter if Devon looks out of the peephole, he’ll have never seen Lost before.
I’m holding my breath as I wait for the man who I haven’t seen for weeks open the door. But as time stretches out, it’s obvious no one’s coming.
Prez turns, waves his hand, and Token exits the truck and goes to join him. I, too, ease myself out, and then wait as Token works his magic, knowing if the alarm system goes off, we’ll have to make a quick getaway.
My
