A good hundred yards spread out between his position and the hangars. Keeping himself low to the ground, Morgan sprinted the distance. Coming up against the building he flattened himself against the wall and listened. No sounds disturbed the stillness of the night. Rather than work his way around to the front, he chose to keep to the back, keeping his senses on alert for danger. As he inched his way along the wall, a flash of light snagged his attention. Ahead of him, at the end of the building, someone lit a cigarette.
He held still, clinging to the shadows, and watched as that person took a few drags and seemed to be watching toward the north and the trees that stretched out from there to the road. Then the man turned and disappeared behind the end of the building.
Morgan moved quickly and had the back door to the helicopter hangar open in seconds. He slipped inside.
This space felt empty, and of course it would be. Whoever was here had broken in next door.
Along the wall separating the two hangars, a service door had been installed but seldom used. Morgan had taken the time just after planting his alarm to ensure the thing stood unblocked, unlocked, and didn’t squeak when opened.
Morgan eased it open now and moved silently into the next hangar.
“One car drove past, but kept going. You want me to jimmy the lock on the Piper, boss?”
“No, Dennis, I’ll get it. I need you to keep your eyes peeled outside.”
The man called Dennis nodded and headed back outside, closing the door behind him. The man who’d presented himself the day before looking to hire a flight to New York stood staring at the plane. He stepped forward, tested the door handle.
It was locked, of course.
He reached inside his pocket, pulled something out, and bent to the task.
Morgan, gun in hand, moved quickly and stealthily until he stood behind Preston Rogers.
“You’re trespassing. Again. I’m going to have to ask you to raise your hands and turn around, slowly.”
Preston Rogers straightened and turned to face Morgan.
“Looks like you caught me red-handed. Just curious. How did you know I was here?”
“You tripped an alarm.” Morgan’s gut clenched. Something wasn’t right. Rogers should be sweating, not smiling.
“That’s funny. Jimmy says he disabled the alarm. Didn’t you, Jimmy?”
“I thought I did.”
Morgan froze. That voice had come from behind him. Then the press of cold metal against the back of his neck brought all his instincts to a grinding halt.
“I’ll take this.” Rogers relieved him of his Glock.
The man flicked the safety on then tucked the gun into his waistband. “When I’m done here, we’ll get Dennis in to take care of this complication.”
“I didn’t come alone.” Morgan was feeling like a raw recruit. He’d not given this Rogers character enough credit for smarts. All he could do now was try and bluff his way into a position of being able to overpower his captors as soon as the opportunity arose.
Sure. Easy job. Nothing to it.
“Yes, you did come alone. If you really had a partner with you, you’d never give it—or I should say him—away. You jokers who wear the white hats are just too damn noble for your own good and always play by the same, outdated rules.”
“Maybe my hat isn’t as white as you think. Or maybe, I’m just following another script.”
Preston Rogers chuckled. He checked his watch. “Not even ten, yet. I imagine that party you came from is going strong. Won’t be anyone looking for you till morning, most likely.”
Rogers turned back to the Piper. He bent to look at the door lock.
“Don’t suppose you have the key?” he asked Morgan.
“Sorry. I wasn’t planning on going for a flight tonight. Especially not in a plane with a bum engine.”
Rogers grinned. “So that’s why it’s here. I wondered. Don’t worry. I didn’t plan on flying it, either. Now that other one, over there, she looks like she’d be one sweet ride.”
Morgan wondered if he could make Jimmy relax enough he could nail him and use him as a shield against Rogers. It could probably work. By the time Rogers pulled his gun, he’d have Jimmy by the throat and in front of him.
But then, if there truly was no honor among criminals, Rogers would just shoot Jimmy and then shoot him, too.
And he couldn’t forget the third man in this little gang, the one Rogers had called Dennis.
“Too bad you’ll never know—about the Learjet, that is.”
Rogers shrugged. “Doesn’t matter.” Then he gave Morgan a considering look. “I only came for what’s my property. Once I have it, you can keep the Piper. I just want what’s in her.”
“What’s in her?”
“Watch, and be amazed. Or better yet, don’t watch. Jimmy, take our guest to the lounge, and don’t give him a chance to deck you.”
Jimmy laughed from behind him and took a step back, effectively eliminating Morgan’s chance to do just that, deck him. “Don’t worry, boss. I’ve got this one under control. Move it, white hat.”
“Why don’t we all just stay where we are?” Henry’s voice, clear and cold, came from behind them all. “With one exception, of course. Jimmy, be a nice boy and let my brother have your gun.”
Chapter 19
Tamara didn’t like having to hide in the bushes like a scared little rabbit. She kept her eyes focused on where Henry had just slunk out of sight, along the back of the hangar. It felt as if minutes stretched to hours since he’d been gone. They knew Morgan was in trouble, because he hadn’t answered his cell phone when Henry had called.
Now Tamara couldn’t escape the dreadful feeling that Henry was going to be walking in trouble, too.
What should she do?
She’d never been in a situation like this before, but that didn’t stop her from thinking, and it sure didn’t stop her instincts from screaming at her to do something. She was far from dumb, not at all clumsy,
