Page 8 of SEAL's Promise
“I work for a security company, remember? I hear coworkers talk about such things all the time.” How ironic that working for a security company made her more aware of how unsafe she was most of the time.
They walked in silence for a few more blocks with Rachelle using an erratic zig-zag pattern instead of walking a straight line. The further from the hospital they walked, the better she felt about their chances of escape. Although they weren’t out of danger yet, no one stopped them or showed any interest. Hopefully, their luck would hold.
Fifteen minutes later, the traffic was sparse enough that she and Amy no longer had to turn into darkened alleys or doorways when a vehicle drove by. They’d walked for hours. Time to find a place to hide.
Rachelle studied the area as they continued on. Warehouses. Perfect. Some of the warehouses should be unlocked or abandoned. Abandoned was better. If Cal and his teammates didn’t arrive in Antigua before dawn, she and Amy might have to stay hidden until the sun went down again and it was safe for the operatives to come for them. Good thing she’d brought water and protein bars.
“This way.” She headed into the maze of warehouses, sticking to the shadows in case security cameras were mounted and operational.
In case they were being pursued, Rachelle continued to choose a random path toward the back of the warehouse district. The further they walked, the seedier the warehouses became with less lighting.
If she could locate an abandoned warehouse with an unlocked door or windows, they might have a chance to escape notice if the terrorists tracked them this far.
“We have to stop soon,” Amy murmured. “I’m almost too tired to walk.”
“Me, too. Just a little farther.”
“This is spooky.”
“In this case, spooky is good.”
“If you say so. Personally, I’m not a fan. This is the kind of place where criminals hang out.”
“Let’s hope the criminals are too busy plying their trade to be around at the moment. Once we’re in place, they won’t know we’re here.” She hoped.
When they reached the last row of warehouses, Rachelle glanced to either side and turned left. The warehouse in the corner appeared abandoned as were others nearby.
In case a camera was operating this far back, she tugged Amy into the alley between two warehouses and walked to the back of the buildings. A wooded area stood about twenty feet away. If necessary, she and Amy could hide there.
Hiding out in the woods, however, wasn’t on her list of things to do while on vacation in Mexico. Rachelle didn’t like bugs or spiders. From what she’d observed so far, Mexico hosted many varieties of each.
When they reached the back of the target warehouse, Rachelle checked the first window. Locked. As she and Amy continued to the next, she scanned their surroundings. So far, no one was around.
At the next window, Rachelle held her breath and lifted. To her relief, the window rose albeit with a few loud creaks and groans. Once the window was raised, she waited to see if someone came to investigate the noise.
When no one shouted or came to investigate, she motioned for Amy to climb into the building. Hopefully, their luck would hold when Rachelle lowered the window again. She would have left the window up if not for the fact that every other window that she’d seen was down.
As soon as Amy was inside, Rachelle hauled herself up and over the sill. She dropped onto the other side, then quickly lowered the window, wincing at the noise.
“It’s pitch black in here,” her friend whispered. “I can’t see a thing.”
Hoping she wasn’t about to make a serious tactical error, she turned on her phone’s flashlight app. A narrow, dim light appeared.
Rachelle relaxed. Thank goodness. She should have realized that Micah would let her borrow one of the phones designated for the operatives. Their apps were designed for use during missions. A bright flashlight app would bring the enemy straight to an operative’s location. Still, she aimed the narrow beam toward the floor in case someone was nearby.
Their footsteps echoed in the empty building as she led the way across the cavernous interior in search of an office. If someone came into the open warehouse, she and Amy would be sitting ducks unless they found a place to hide.
Rachelle turned right and began to walk along the wall. If they didn’t find shelter on this side of the warehouse, they’d have to try the left. That option, however, would leave her and Amy too far from the tree line. The back of the warehouse on that side was at least ten feet farther from the woods. A huge expanse of land when you were running for your life.
The wall abruptly ended. Swinging her flashlight that direction, relief weakened Rachelle’s knees. She reached back for Amy’s hand and tugged her into the hallway.
“What are we doing?”
“Looking for an office or a closet with a window so we can escape into the trees if we have to make a quick getaway.”
Amy chuckled. “Sounds like we’re a couple of criminals on the lam.”
“You and Eric will have a wild story to tell your kids one day.”