Page 87 of Dead Drift

He nodded. Man alive, that one hurt. “I’ll be fine. We need to keep moving.”

“We’re with you,” Declan said, and the uninjured members of the team moved forward, entering a maze of nearly ceiling-high wooden shelves filled with decrepit grain sacks and wooden crates. The old factory’s storage room.

Stacked crates littered the floor between rows, the entire room a well-crafted maze, no doubt Ebeid’s doing.

Where was the door to the interior portion of the warehouse?

Cautiously, Luke scanned the perimeter surrounding them with each step. He led the team slowly through the maze, his chest tight, blood seeping warm down his left leg.

A rifle leaning against the metal shelves looked out of place. An agent moved to lift it just as Luke waved him off, but not fast enough. Another click. Another explosion. This one knocked the wind from Luke’s lungs as he slammed against the concrete floor, flames searing the heels of his boots.

“Everyone okay?” Declan asked over the comms. “Check in.”

Names filed through, some missing based on Declan’s further call-outs.

Tactical medics moved in as the uninjured agents managed to push forward, finally reaching the other side.

Bruised, bloodied, and in a lot of pain, the team made it to the main working area of the warehouse, where they were instantly met with gunfire.

Returning fire, they pushed their line slowly forward until they’d taken down the dozen or so men in the room, knowing another dozen probably lurked somewhere.

Declan signaled a group to move for the loading docks.

Luke indicated he was headed for the location that appeared to be Bedan’s lab and living space. He wanted Ebeid and Bedan.

Declan nodded and alerted his men over the comms that he and Tanner were accompanying Luke, but that they were to take full control of the warehouse. Confirmation came back, and Declan and Tanner followed Luke through the makeshift living space that had been erected for Bedan.

Luke indicated for Declan and Tanner to move for the lab and Bedan. He was going after Ebeid, who no doubt had an office in the building. This project was the man’s baby. He would be remaining close, especially after the first warehouse raid. Unless he’d already found his way out.

Luke prayed he wasn’t too late.

The feds were coming, and Ebeid was nowhere to be found. Although, after how Ebeid had taken care of his predecessor, Isaiah Bedan wasn’t surprised this would be his fate. However, unlike Kemel, he’d prepared for this possibility.

Ebeid’s office door kicked in, and CIA field agent Garrett Beck stood before him—bleeding, his left thigh wrapped, blood staining his pants. Scorch marks marred his shirt, his face bruised. His gaze darted around the office. “Where is Ebeid?”

“Gone,” Isaiah said on an exhale, knowing the fate that awaited him, but it was a fate he was in control of. He would have his say, make sure they understood the magnificence of his genius and creation.

Luke moved around the room, looking for something, no doubt trying to discern how Ebeid had managed to escape.

Isaiah had been wondering the very same thing ever since he returned to find Ebeid’s office empty.

Luke moved to the security panel on the wall, then slid his hands across it. He grunted and called for someone to come blow a door.

A door? Ebeid had a secret door out? Of course he did.

Within minutes, Bedan was handcuffed, hauled to his feet, and the security panel was being overridden instead of the door blown. It worked, and a door hidden along the wall slid open, revealing a tunnel—a tunnel Ebeid could have easily taken him down too. All loyalty to Ebeid died as Isaiah stared down the lit path the traitorous man had taken without him.

Fury and frustration whirred inside Luke. Ebeid had eluded him again.

“Figure out where this tunnel comes out,” he instructed two of the team members. “But watch out for more booby traps.”

They nodded and set off down the tunnel.

“I’m sorry,” Declan said, entering with Tanner. “You’ll get him.”

Anger heated Luke’s body at the realization he’d once again lost Ebeid.

He turned his wrath toward Bedan.