Page 19 of Babe's Bounty
Setting up the laptop Mode provided, I breathe a sigh of relief when I see Min walking down the hallway toward the offices. She has one camera up. Good girl. When she enters the office at the end of the hall, I impatiently wait for the second camera to go online. I track Min’s progress through enemy lines with each camera she installs.
I glance up when Scorch enters the office.
“How’s it going?”
“She has seven cameras up. Four in what looks to be an office building. She has the entrances covered and then two inside an office,” I reply, pointing at the screen. “She’s installed two more inside a kitchen.”
“Smart girl. There’s another camera. Looks like she’s in the rectory and setting up cameras in the rooms. That will help us figure out who is staying onsite.”
We watch in silence as more cameras come online. Once she’s finished all the buildings but the church, Scorch gives a nod. “She’s almost done. You going to pick her up, or is she walking back here?”
“She’ll walk up the street and around the corner. I’ll pick her up there,” I tell him.
“Sounds good.” Scorch leaves while I watch Min turn on the cameras inside the church. Not only does she have cameras set to capture those entering through the doors, but she’s covered the inside of the church as well. She even has a camera inside the priest’s dressing room.
She’s almost done, which is a relief. Although, I’m confused about why she hasn’t run into anyone yet. Chrome said they saw men arrive, but no one leaving. So where are they?
I watch Min approach two doors. One leads outside. However, when she opens the second door, all I see is darkness.
Min calls me over the mic, so I ask if she’s almost done.
“Almost. I have the cameras setup. I haven’t run into anyone yet, but there is a door leading into a basement. It wasn’t on Sammy’s map. I’m heading down, but wanted to touch base first.”
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?”
“Won’t take me more than a few minutes.”
I want to argue with her, but since I can’t come up with a reason other than fear for her safety, I don’t. No reason to piss her off. She must hear my hesitation, because she presses her point. “We can’t take the chance of missing an entrance. Some cities have a tunnel system. I’m just going to look around.”
“Okay, but if I don’t hear from you in five minutes, I’m coming over there.”
“Fifteen.”
“Ten.”
“Done.”
The minute she’s through the door, I hear a scream. “Min?”
“That wasn’t me. Hold on.”
Easier said than done as I strain to hear what’s happening on her end. The rumble of voices tells me she’s not alone in that basement, but I don’t think they know she’s there. Pulling out the gun, Chrome leant me, I double check it before sliding it back into the holster under my kutte. I need to be ready to run to Min’s rescue if they discover her. At least I can still hear the transmission. I’d be climbing the walls if she went radio silent.
When I hear Min speaking in soothing tones and someone replying, I can’t remain quiet.
“What’s going on? Who are you talking to?”
“There’s a girl down here. She’s hurt. I’m helping her escape. There’s another woman I need to help, too.”
“What the fuck? Min, you can’t do it on your own. I’ll come help you.”
“No. They’ll catch you. I have an idea. I’ll shout out if I need the calvary.”
“Fuck,” I reply, not happy with the plan, but knowing I’m close enough to jump in and help. “Okay, I’ll wait for your signal. Just be careful.”
So, as hard as it is for me, I remain silent and focus on the sounds coming from Min’s end. Movement on a screen grabs my attention. I see a man stepping out of the door that leads to the basement in the church. He’s carrying something slung over his shoulder. Fucker. He moves across the room and out the exit. I finally take a breath when I see Min leaving the basement, her arm around a girl with a blanket wrapped around her slim body. Flashes of skin and the lack of shoes tell me the girl is naked under the blanket. Min and the girl follow him out.
Standing, I rush outside to get a visual. Scorch and Torque drop their tools and join me.