Page 44 of Wild Temple
JD and I casually strolled down the block toward the target, then slipped into the narrow alley between houses.
At the perimeter wall, Jack cupped his hands together as a platform and boosted me up. I grasped the top of the wall and pulled myself up. Jack stepped back and took a running start. He climbed up the wall, grasped my hand, and I pulled him up until he could reach the top of the ledge.
We both pulled ourselves up and over, then dropped down between the trees and ferns in the backyard.
The small plunge pool was a perfect place to cool off in theafternoon sun. Lounge chairs sat atop deck work, and the whole area offered a peaceful, tranquil vibe.
Sliding glass doors opened to the main living room. There were no lights on downstairs. Nothing but the flickering glow of a television.
I didn't see any cameras in the area.That didn't mean there weren't any.
I peered through the floor-to-ceiling window that offered a view of the breakfast area, kitchen, and living room. The open floor plan let me see almost all of the first floor.
A man sat on the couch, his head against the backrest, mouth open, passed out.
There was nobody else downstairs.
A light tug on the sliding glass door told me it was locked. It would have been too noisy anyway.
I used one of the support beams to shimmy my way up to the terrace. More sliding glass doors offered a view into the bedroom. A soft amber light in the bathroom spilled out through the door, cracked just a hair. Was someone inside?
I pulled myself the rest of the way up, grabbed the railing, and climbed over.
JD followed.
With weapons drawn, we hovered by the door. I tugged the handle, and the door rumbled as I slid it open with a gentle touch. Just enough to slip through. JD followed me in, our barrels sweeping across the master bedroom.
The decor was elegant and minimalist. The four-post bed was shrouded with mosquito netting—a must in these parts. Rich or poor, the bloodsuckers didn’t care. They’d take what they wanted all the same.
I advanced across the cream carpet with light steps, keeping my weapon aimed at the bathroom door. My wary eyes flicked to the entryway, scanning the long hallway.
JD and I held up at the bathroom door. I didn’t know what I’d find on the other side. Perhaps Caspian on the crapper.
I gave a nod to Jack. He pushed open the door, and I angled my pistol inside.
The bathroom was nice—his and hers sinks, an elegant walk-in shower, a standing tub.
It was empty.
We moved away from the bathroom, cleared the closet, then headed down the hallway. We crept like ghosts to a guest room on the left. With a delicate touch, I twisted the doorknob and pushed the door open.
The guest room was empty.
But the comforter was rumpled. I took a cautious step into the room and creaked a floorboard.
We both froze in our tracks.
JD and I held still for a moment, the sounds of the night seeping into the house.
My heart thudded so loud I was sure JD could hear it.
26
After a moment of stillness, it seemed like we were in the clear. No commotion in other parts of the house. Nothing to indicate we’d alerted the guy on the couch, or anyone else, to our presence.
The comforter on the bed had the same pattern as the one in theproof of lifephoto of Hannah.
She had been in this room!
