“You have to get to the middle.”
“The elevators.”
“That’s where Kassian is?”
“He’s in a sub-basement.”
Bjorn groaned. “I hate underground.”
“Well.” Sal drew in a breath. “Don’t worry. You don’t have to go down there.”
“Why?”
“Because the only way to get in or out is the elevator. And so…”
“Well, that’s a stupid building design.”
“There is an exit at ground level, but there was never a way to get to it from the outside without being caught. This is the only possible way to get down there and get to him.”
“Great,” Leif muttered. “Guess I’m up.”
“We aren’t sending Leif down there alone,” Bjorn said. He glanced in the general direction of the stairs, dreading the idea of going back down them, and worried Leif might not be able to do that, either.
Still, they could go down a different stairwell and out and try the other entrance.
“Babe, it’s fine,” Leif said. “I’m small. Hardly noticeable.”
“That isn’t how that works,” Bjorn growled. “You’re small, not invisible.”
“Let’s just get a feel for what we have to do, then decide who’s going where to do what. Sal?”
“We’re getting Kassian back from the sub-basement,” Sal said.
“But also, neutralizing this file.”
Sal sniffed, but said after half a heartbeat, “Yeah. That too.”
“And what about Rufus?”
Sal remained quiet too long.
“Sal?” Leif’s gut twisted. “What?”
“We may have jumped the gun.”
“Meaning?”
“Rufus had a plan I don’t think he was ready to put into action.”
Leif exchanged a glance with Bjorn, whose scowl was epic.
“Explain,” Bjorn snapped, so out of character it sizzled along their new connection and caught Leif off guard. He almost stepped back, but Bjorn, seeming to sense his surprise, took his hand and squeezed.
“He may need extraction,” Sal said. “Especially if his original plan is discovered, or if he tries to execute it too soon and it fails.”
Bjorn growled. The effect on Leif was electric. It should have been off-putting, as negative feelings from others often were. But this stirred him, and as soon as Bjorn spoke, he understood why. “You put this in motion too soon. You sent Kassian down there knowing it, and you put him and his brother in danger without warning them.”
“I had to. These people, Bjorn. The government can’t get to them.”