Page 48 of Dead Drift

Kate pulled out her gun. “What’s wrong?”

He surveyed the dozen or so vehicles in the parking lot. “I’m not sure.” But something was definitely off.

A crow cawed as he climbed from the vehicle, his gun drawn. He never should have brought Kate in the first place, but once Tanya learned he was coming in to work for Hank, she’d jumped at the chance to scoot out of the office for a mani-pedi with her new buddy, Jasmine.

Kate climbed out, mirroring his movements.

He frowned at her. Seriously?

She ignored his silent protest to stay put and continued moving for the half-open warehouse door.

Knowing arguing was futile and would only alert whoever was inside to their presence, he tilted his head for her to come closer to him as he prepared to enter the building.

Taking a steadying breath, he fully opened the door with his foot and stepped inside the entryway. His back to the wall, his gun at the ready, he surveyed the narrow hall before him.

Lights were on and music played faintly, but otherwise, no talking, no machines running, no footsteps. Just absolute silence.

Luke indicated for Kate to follow at his six, and they moved unsurprisingly in sync down the hall, pausing at the corridor’s end before entering the warehouse proper.

He took two steps forward and turned to block Kate.

Her eyes widened at the half dozen or so bodies strewn across the bloodstained concrete floor.

Yanking her to his side, he continued moving deeper into the warehouse, his eyes scanning the perimeter. More bodies littered the ground around them.

“Sweet Home Alabama” was playing in the office at the end of the hall. Luke entered to find Hank dead in his desk chair, a shot to the head and chest.

Kate stopped behind him and muffled a gasp. He longed to do nothing more than pull her into his arms and comfort her, but someone was still present. He could feel it, could smell the woman’s perfume. Thankfully not Lauren’s Chanel No. 5. This one smelled cheap. Whoever it was had attempted to smother her own gasp as they’d entered the office.

He held a finger to his lips and pointed to the wall across from them.

Kate’s brows knit together, but she held still as he moved to investigate.

He studied a faded mark on the floor, tapped the wall, which echoed back hollow, and then flipped the light switch to the right just above the file cabinet’s edge. Nearly concealed, but not quite. A hidden door popped open to reveal a quivering Tanya, balled up on the floor, her hands up to protect her face.

Luke slid his gun into the back waistband of his pants. “It’s okay, Tanya. You’re safe.”

She cautiously lowered her hands. “Garrett?” Mascara streaked her tearstained cheeks. She looked past him at Kate. “Jasmine?”

Luke reached in, helping Tanya to her feet.

“Who did this?” Kate asked.

Tanya shook her head. “I don’t know. Hank and I were in here. Next thing you know we hear gunfire, and Hank shoved me in the secret compartment and told me to be quiet. I heard his chair wheels move, him probably reaching for the .45 he kept under his desk. Within seconds, the office door kicked in, and I heard a . . . thwack.” Tanya glanced toward Hank and sobbed.

Luke looked at Kate. Silencer. Professional hit.

“Ebeid?” she mouthed so only Luke could see her.

He nodded. “My best guess.”

Tanya looked back and forth between the two of them, confused. “What happened?”

“It’s gonna be all right,” he said, moving for his phone.

She looked at him as if he were crazy. “All right? Are you insane? Hank’s dead.”

Kate moved to Tanya’s side. “We’re going to get you out of here.”