“He’ll be smart enough to have an alert down here, or on a ’link or device, if anything goes down, glitches. We don’t risk that when he’s with her. Christ, all but in her lap from how it looks.”
“Sitting,” McNab confirmed, “hip-to-hip. No other sources down here, none on the main level. Moving up.”
“Jenkinson, Reineke. Are you in position?”
“Back wall, out of cam range, but we’ve got a decent angle on the house,” Jenkinson answered.
“Hold there until the go. We need to get him upstairs, away from her. Then take down the security. Covino’s priority. You can get over the wall?”
“I can scale a damn wall.” Jenkinson’s insult came through as clearly as his voice.
“She’s center of the basement level now. If that changes, we’ll relay new position. Get over, get in, get to her when I say go.”
“The house is clear, Dallas. It’s just the two of them in there. He’s moving. Just a few steps.”
“Jamie? If you’ve got a single doubt, say it.”
“I’m good. I’ve got this.”
“He’s going to see you, watch you. Maintain. You get him up to the door, we shut down security, we move in. And you get out of the way.”
“Copy that.”
“Jamie’s a go.”
He picked up the stack of flyers they’d designed and printed out. After getting out of the van, he walked up the sidewalk into camera range, then turned to the house.
“Feeney—”
“He’ll handle it. He’s the only one of us we know Dawber won’t recognize. Doesn’t look like a cop yet. Cop’s in there, but doesn’t show yet.”
“Everybody hold.”
* * *
In the basement, Mary Kate scanned the items on the table. A ’link, a set of old-fashioned keys, a swipe, an ID card, and Jesus, a mini-Taser. A folding knife, loose change, wallet, a white handkerchief.
“Three! Close your eyes. Close them, Mommy.”
She even put her free hand over them.
“Okay. Boy, three seconds isn’t long.” She remembered every damn item, but drew it out. “Um … A ’link, a wallet, a hankie, keys on a ring, a swipe … Oh, I know there was more. Wait, wait … Um. Darn it!”
“I won! I won!”
If there was anything stranger than seeing a grown man with a little pudgy middle dance and spin in circles, she’d yet to see it. He dashed over to the kitchen for his prize.
She had to get the ’link. The keys. The Taser, the knife. Keep him occupied.
“Let’s play again. It can be your turn to test your powers.”
She jolted when something gave out a loud buzz.
“What’s that? Scared me. Anyway—”
“Someone’s at the door.” His voice had gone flat.
She had to stick her hands under her legs as hope trembled through them. “Oh, one of your friends? Maybe they want to play, too.”
“I don’t have any friends.”
“Because they’re not worthy of you. Go on up now,” she said when the buzzing came again. “Tell them to go away. We don’t need them, right?”
“They’ll go away. I won’t answer.” He stepped over, brought up a small screen. “It’s just some boy. He’ll go away.”
But the buzzing came a third time.
“Baby darling, go up and tell him we’re busy. Go on now so I can set up for your turn.”
“He needs to go away!” Dawber stomped to the stairs and up. The minute the door closed, Mary Kate leaped on the ’link.
Security locked. She dropped it, grabbed the keys. One of them had to open the shackles, if she could just stop shaking long enough to use them.
* * *
“He’s heading up, Jamie. Get ready. Roarke, the minute he opens the door.”
“You’ll have it.”
Jamie heard the locks turn. The door opened a crack.
“Go away!”
“Sir, sir!” He added a southern drawl to his character. “I’m sorry to disturb your evening, but Pepper’s missing. My dog. She’s just a little dog.” He held up a flyer, let that southern boy’s voice shake with tears. “We just moved in today, down there?” He gestured.
“I’m not interested in—”
“Moved from South Carolina.” Jamie rolled right over Dawber, talking fast, looking directly into his eyes. “And she’s lost. She doesn’t know where she is. I’m afraid something … Please, mister, would you take a flyer, please? Pepper, she’s still just a puppy really, and it’s my fault she got out. Please, sir.”