RADLEY’S GAZE SWEPTleft and right as she left her condo the next morning, her backpack slung over one shoulder.The hallway was empty, every door closed.She took the elevator down to the garage, alert and ready as she strode through the below-ground space.Radley had ditched the high-heeled boots for something more practical today, but it gave her the advantage of being quiet as she moved across the concrete.
She’d already visually checked her vehicle for a tracking device, but Radley pulled an RF detector from her backpack and walked around her car to scan for any radio frequencies being emitted.She looked around the quiet garage again from the vantage point of her assigned parking spot.Just because she hadn’t seen anyone watching her didn’t mean they weren’t there.The lot was filled with vehicles at this early hour, and anyone could be sitting behind tinted glass, observing her.
The question was—were they after her because of the fallout from leaving the agency?Or had someone been interested in learning more about Shadow Security, correctly guessing she worked there?
Neither possibility was good.
Briefly, her gaze landed on the security camera in the garage.The building’s surveillance footage would always be an option if she needed to review who was coming and going from the premises.Did she have access to the camera feeds?Nope.Would she get the footage anyway if necessary?Absolutely.
Radley didn’t feel any sense of unease as she clicked her key fob and climbed into her vehicle.If anyone was out there, they weren’t coming to attack or kidnap her—at least not right now.Last night, she’d been somewhat spooked knowing that she was being watched.David Schultz, the man who’d both sold her out to the enemy and physically assaulted her, was behind bars.
No doubt he had friends though—and by default, his friends were her enemies.
She’d worked numerous cases over the years, and with Schultz leaking her name, the fact of the matter was, anyone could be targeting her.
Riffling through her backpack again, she pulled her sunglasses and cell phone free, setting both beside her.She was wearing her sidearm and had a knife tucked into her boot.The reality of living in a secure building, however, was that she wasn’t likely to be harmed here.And hell—Schultz had assaulted her in the worst way possible simply by drugging her drink.She was smarter than that, and yet, she hadn’t thought she needed to fear her own colleagues.
How wrong she’d been.Shultz was nothing but a disgusting, traitorous asshole.
Radley shuddered, recalling how she’d awoken the next morning with no memory of the night before.She’d been in a strange bed, partially nude, and groggy.That was almost the worst part—not knowing exactly what had happened.
Clenching her jaw, she started the engine and backed out of her parking space.She’d learned to live with Schultz’s deceit and treachery, and some things brokered no explanation.He was a predator and chauvinistic pig.End of story.
Driving around Seattle for ten minutes wasn’t her original plan for the morning, but in the event that she was being followed, she wanted to lose any possible tail.As she pulled out of the garage, she drove the opposite way she’d originally planned, carefully noting the cars around her.Traffic wasn’t too heavy this early in the morning, and it was easy to monitor the vehicles nearby.Radley drove for several minutes and checked the rearview mirror again, not noticing anyone tailing her.After another loop around the block, she headed the way she’d originally planned and merged into traffic exiting the city.
A map was tossed onto the passenger seat beside her backpack, but she’d memorized the directions already.The site she was heading to was twenty minutes outside downtown Seattle, barring no traffic.Radley had gotten an early start to beat rush hour and get the damn show on the road.She needed to eventually head into the office, and the sooner she had photographs and additional intelligence to get to her new boss, the happier she’d be.
A homegrown terror cell was setting up weapons’ caches outside of several major cities across the U.S.The Feds were eager to stop any threats, and that was the damn kicker—one of their own was potentially involved.Rather than the government tracking the suspects themselves or scouting out locations, they’d brought in Shadow Ops.Jett’s team was well-equipped to handle New York.And Bravo Team?Their very first job had practically fallen into their laps, right in their own backyard.Holt would be briefing the team this morning, but she’d taken the side surveillance mission so they’d have additional photos of the first site.
Radley was used to working on her own for the past few years and preferred her solitude.She’d collaborate as necessary with the men on the team, but after being burned by a colleague, she trusted herself more than anyone else.
Spotting the exit she wanted, Radley pulled onto a smaller freeway.She counted the streets until she made it to her turn off and drove down a narrow, winding road to her destination.Dense trees and foliage lined the gravel road, and if she hadn’t been certain of the directions, she would’ve never guessed anything of interest was back here.
Which was exactly why the terror cell had been using this location.
There were no other vehicles around as she pulled to a stop, and the wooden cabin in front of her looked vacant.The windows were boarded up, and there was no trash or other debris lying around to indicate anyone had been here recently.Weeds and overgrown foliage at the front of the structure added to the deserted feeling of the space, yet something felt off.
She scanned the cabin again as recognition suddenly dawned.
There was a combination padlock on the front door.
Hell.
Maybe it wasn’t so deserted after all.
Radley exited the vehicle, pulling her weapon free.Once she’d cleared the area and small structure, she’d feel more comfortable.Just because she didn’t see anyone didn’t mean they weren’t lying in wait.
Radley’s boots crunched on the gravel as she slowly moved in, her gaze sweeping the area.Chatter had indicated no one had been here for weeks, but there was no telling when anyone would show up—or if someone had been hiding out all along.Just because they hadn’t seen the address again in intercepted messages didn’t mean someone wasn’t regularly checking on the property.
She circled the building quietly, taking note that there was only one entrance.There was no door at the back, and given that all the windows had been boarded up, once she was inside, there would only be one way out.
Frowning as she reached the back of the property, she saw fresh sawdust on the ground.Maybe they’d been cutting plywood to board the windows, but it was interesting that there were no other indications anyone had been here recently.She approached slowly, scanning the ground for any other clues.As she glanced at the boards on the back windows, she blinked in surprise.None of them looked to be freshly cut wood.It would make sense to board the front windows first to hide any nefarious activity, taking care of the back windows last.Yet if the back windows weren’t freshly cut boards, then what was the sawdust from?
Pulling out her phone, she snapped a few pictures.
A brisk breeze blew, and she breathed in the scent of sawdust and pine and moss.She scanned the tree line, not noticing anything out of sorts.Whoever had been here was clearly coming and going the same way she had.If they showed up unexpectedly, the only way she’d be able to leave was on foot.Then there was the other negative—they’d realize that someone was snooping around their cabin.If a car had simply made a wrong turn on the gravel road, they’d turn around and leave, not search the property.
Radley needed to hurry.