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Kendra sidled up by the side door that led into the loading dock’s interior. She covered Adam as he inspected it for tripwires before picking the lock.
She counted down the seconds in her head. She felt her anxiety rise, and she really wished they could move faster.
But, no, they couldn’t just blast their way in.
By now, Onyx would be gauging the blackout as suspicious, especially since he had lost radio contact with his sentries on the perimeter. But he wouldn’t resort to executing the Hosseinis. Not until he was sure that an all-out assault was taking place.
So, for their sake, Kendra needed to preserve that element of ambiguity. Maintain the silence for as long as possible.
‘Open sesame.’ Adam unlocked the door and pushed it inward, hinges squeaking.
Kendra nodded, sweeping her weapon back and forth. ‘Making entry.’
They cleared the doorway and the common area beyond, then pushed forward into a maze of crates and containers and forklifts. The air smelled of polystyrene and plastic, and with the air conditioning disabled, the temperature was rising.
Kendra could feel sweat beading on her forehead and pooling under her armpits. She sliced the corners, eliminating the blind spots, and soon enough, she spotted a van parked on the far side of the loading dock.
It was the same one that had visited the farmhouse earlier.
With Adam covering her, Kendra slashed the van’s tyres.
That’s when Jim’s voice crackled in her earpiece. ‘Sierra Actual, listen up. The two other tangos on the perimeter are getting antsy. One looks like he’s going to enter the building through the front entrance.’
Kendra curled her lip.
Was the sentry heading inside just to grumble to Onyx? Or to warn him that something was afoot?
Ultimately it didn’t matter. She didn’t want the stress level getting any higher than it already was. So the choice was clear.
‘Knock them both down,’ Kendra said.
‘Ten-four.’ There was a pause, followed by the suppressed thump of the sniper rifle cycling twice, then the sound of Jim exhaling. ‘Tangos neutralised.’
‘Stay frosty.’
Kendra and Adam ascended a ramp and slipped into the corridor that led into the warehouse’s main floor.