Page 58 of Invincible
CHAPTER19
Tyler followedKnox down the corridor, carefully checking behind them every few minutes as Dex had instructed her last night when they were going over this crazy plan.He had also taught her a few hand signals so she and Knox could communicate without speaking and taking a chance someone would hear them.
It fascinated her that, as big as Knox was, he could still move through the ship silently.Then again, it was more likely the throbbing of the ship’s engines beneath them covering it up.
They had turned their phones off before climbing out of the cupboard—no sound or vibration to alert anyone.Tyler couldn’t imagine anyone would hear a vibration over the noise of the ship, but Knox had insisted.He had the flare gun tucked into the back of his pants to alert the authorities when they freed the women, if they could find them.
Dex had told her that the harbor patrol was more likely to board because of a distress signal than a phone call.It would eliminate the necessity to assess the situation first.
The only problem he had pointed out was if they radioed the ship first.Not only would it give the captain time to defuse the situation, it would also alert them to Knox and Tyler somewhere on the ship.The sailors could simply kill both of them and slip them into the ocean somewhere along the way after returning the women to the container.
She was positive Knox wouldn’t go down without a fight, but she had concerns about how many men with guns he could take out with the pigsticker he carried near his ankle before they shot him.Tyler shook her head, none of those thoughts would do anything now but to distract her.It was best to focus on finding the women first.
They had made it to the end of the corridor when Knox held up his fist for her to stop and flatten against the wall.Quickly, she moved into place, watching behind them.He stepped through the port door onto the deck, motioning her to follow a moment later.
Reaching the area with the refrigeration containers, Knox pulled out the machine that could detect body heat.Where he had managed to conceal something that size on his body, she had no idea.
Starting with the nearest container, he began to run the scanner around the door.The containers were so tightly packed together, it was impossible to check the sides or even the back of them.This would be harder than they had originally thought.She fervently hoped that the cold units would help with finding a heat signature inside.
It had been decided last night that she would stay near the front of the row of stacks to watch for anyone who might wander by.They had practiced a complicated series of whistles, depending on the type of warning she needed to send.Her only concern was remembering which whistle meant what.Tyler watched as Knox worked his way down the only row they could easily get to.With any luck, he would find it quickly.
She was contemplating this thought when she took a sweep of the deck near her to make sure no one was sneaking up on them.She barely stifled the scream that tried to force its way up her throat when she found Memphis laying on his stomach above her on the first row of containers waving his arms at her.
With a frantic signal to Knox, she started climbing up the stacks until she reached Memphis.
As she got closer, it became obvious it wasn’t really Memphis but his hologram here to help them find the girls.Stopping in front of him, with Knox climbing up behind her, she realized how bad her younger brother looked.He was pale, even for a hologram, with sweat dotting his forehead and upper lip.She guessed by the pajama pants and T-shirt he was supposed to be resting at home.
When they were both kneeling next to Memphis, he motioned with his head to follow him.Working their way across the stacks of containers, they finally reached the next open row.
Dropping back down onto the deck, Knox took a quick sweep around to make sure they had still gone unnoticed.She found herself waiting in anticipation in front of another one of the hundreds of white containers on board.Could this really be it, had they succeeded?
Exchanging way more hand signals than she knew, Memphis and Knox shared information before Memphis smiled at her, disappearing into the night.With a nod, Knox pulled the small pair of bolt cutters out of a pocket to start working on the locks.It was as if the pants he had on housed one secret compartment after another.
“Here, let me,” she whispered after watching Knox struggle with the heavy industrial locks.He snarled at her in derision, but gave in, handing the bolt cutters to her.
Tyler slid the blades around the shank of the lock and gave a heave on the handles.She heard a satisfying snap as the lock gave.Repeating the maneuver on a secondary lock, she soon had the container door free.
Knox eased the door open just enough for them to step inside around the stacks of boxes.It was only partly filled with boxes, she guessed so the girls could be easily off loaded when they reached the next boat.
Using a piece of rope Knox had evidently squirreled away somewhere in his Mary Poppins pants, he secured the door so it would still look closed to the passing glance.Tyler was retrieving her cell phone to use the flashlight feature when she was suddenly illuminated by Knox.Of course he had a penlight.She was torn between being grateful for the forethought and rolling her eyes.
“Memphis said there was a small wall of boxes at the front of the container, behind which is a door leading to a false wall.It should be down the left side, we just have to move a couple of rows around to get through,” Knox said in a whisper.
“And he said all of that with a couple of hand signals?”she asked.
“We all have our talents.”He smirked, easing his way through the maze.“This should be it.The false wall should be behind this stack.Give me a moment and I’ll have them moved,” he added, picking up one of the heavy electronics boxes to stack to the side.Without thinking, Tyler bent down, picking up a stack of boxes revealing the hidden door.
“Show-off,” he muttered, scooting past her.
“Like you said, we all have our talents.”She replaced the boxes full of electronic equipment where they had been to further hide their movements.That way, if someone looked inside, they should be hidden.
“What were you, a Boy Scout?”she whispered with a wave at the small beam of light from the penlight he was holding.
“Yes,” he answered.“Eagle Scout, actually.”Why was she not surprised?Of course, her giant, bearded, tattooed half brother was a Boy Scout.The man was a ball of contradictions, if he was anything.She shook her head, rolling her eyes at him as she followed his slow progress, examining the door.
“Don’t roll your eyes at me.”She couldn’t imagine how he knew in the dark.“Did you build an entire playground from the ground up for your local Head Start program in high school?I did.What’s that?No?Nothing else to say?”
With a chuckle, she patted him on the back.“You win, I stand awestruck.”He stopped, glaring at her over his shoulder before continuing to hunt for some way to open the door.The wall was a work of art, blending perfectly with the interior walls of the container.If you didn’t know it was there, you would swear it was the back wall.With a disgusted snort, Knox finally waved her over to the corner.
