Page 17 of Babe's Bounty

He nods and rolls over to a cabinet to remove a bag from the bookshelf. “I have twenty-five cameras in here. Let me know if you need more. Who’s placing them? You?”

“Min,” I tell him. I see the surprise on his face, so I explain Min’s reasoning.

“That’s a good plan. Plus, you and several of the guys will be nearby if it all goes to shit.”

“Speaking of which, do you have communication devices Min can use to keep in contact?”

“In the bag,” he says, pointing at the bag in my hand. “Earpieces and microphones.”

“Thanks, man,” I say, unzipping the bag and looking at the gear inside. “Have you seen anyone going in or out?”

“We didn’t catch it on video, but Torque saw a black SUV drive in late last night before he set up the cameras. He couldn’t see the driver. No one’s left, so whoever it was is still inside.”

“Unless they drove out the back,” I reply.

“No, he set up the cameras at the back first since there is less traffic. In fact, your girl may want to enter that way rather than through the front.”

I nod. “Good idea. I’ll let her know.” I examine a camera and realize they’re like what we use in San Diego. This will make it easier for me to explain to Min about how to mount and activate them. Each camera has a battery pack that lasts for several weeks, so she won’t need to plug them in. Instead, Mode included a screwdriver and screws that she can use to attach the cameras. “I take it these have WI-FI access?”

“Yep, Torque slipped a router inside the gate and the range is wide enough to cover the church and the other buildings. We shouldn’t have a problem.”

CHAPTER TEN: MIN

Babe drops me off at the back entrance. I slide off his bike and re-position the messenger bag containing the cameras.

“Get in and get out,” Babe says.

“That’s the plan,” I say before slipping into the parking lot. Keeping my movements casual, I keep to the shadows and out of sight. I glance around for guards, but the place appears deserted.

The first building I enter is the church office. I check each room and find all but one empty and unused. In the last room is a desk with a computer, a printer, and a filing cabinet. The lack of dust confirms they’re using the space, even though the computer and monitor are both off. My fingers itch to boot it up and check what’s on it, but I know setting up the cameras takes precedence. The first one I place to cover the door, but I install a second one to record the monitor. Before moving on, I try the filing cabinet, but find it locked. I give it a shove and know it isn’t empty. Before leaving the building, I install a third camera to monitor the entrance.

After a quick glance outside to verify no one is around, I cross over to the next building. I’m guessing they used this building for their social events, considering the massive kitchen I’m standing in. I install a camera aimed at the door before moving to the next room. This room likely held tables and chairs, but now it’s a mess. Someone removed the drywall and the ceiling tiles. A pile of debris sits in one corner while stacks of boxes sit at the opposite end. The boxes contain soundproofing tiles. Dread fills me as I consider the necessity of soundproofing this room. I can’t risk setting up a camera in this room because of the construction. The risk is too great that they’ll find it.

The last building, except for the church, shows more use. This must be where the priests used to sleep. It’s like a small apartment building. Each small room has only a bed, a nightstand, and a bureau. There are four rooms. Each showing signs of an inhabitant. My first thought is that this is where our four targets are staying, but the rooms show several days-worth of occupation. I install the cameras before moving to my last target. The church.

Since I haven’t run into anyone, I figure the church is where I’ll find them. After carefully opening the door, I slip inside. Standing perfectly still in the shadows, I listen for voices, the sound of anyone moving around, but all I hear is silence. After installing another camera, I slide further into the church. Keeping to the walls, I make my way toward the altar. Since most churches have multiple exits, my plan is to circle the space and install cameras before passing through the altar to the rooms beyond. Sammy’s map showed that there are a series of rooms beyond the altar that only the priest uses. Since this is where I expect to find someone, I enter carefully, but find it empty. Could the place be empty? Maybe they realized we were watching them and abandoned the church?

The room has two other doors. Opening one, I find an exit out to the parking lot where an SUV sits empty. Trying the second door, I find a set of stairs leading down. This wasn’t on Sammy’s map. Up to this point, Babe and I have been on radio silence, but I know better than to venture into a dark basement without backup. Closing the door, I back up further into the room.

“Babe, you there,” I whisper.

“Yeah, you 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 know he’s considering arguing with me, but I press on. “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.”

Opening the door, I slowly descend the steps. I’m halfway down when a scream echoes from below.

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