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“Right.”
“I’ve been looking at the different codes and waves that can scramble multiple devices at one time and have it narrowed down to three. I just need to know the type of equipment they’re using.”
“Okay. We’ll get that information for you tonight.”
“Perfect.” Spencer took a deep breath. “So, if they’re scrambling, they’ll be able to shut down Lara’s security system, too.”
“That’s my next stop. I’ll bring her back to the house until we can stop them from interfering with the electronics down here.”
“I think the sheriff needs to be aware of what they’ve been up to. It’s an alarming safety scenario. If they can shut down vehicles, even the police won’t be able to get to an accident—ambulances as well. Not to mention, if the jail is electronic in nature, they won’t be able to keep cells locked. Doors too.”
Tate inhaled deeply, then let it out in a whoosh. “I’ll pick up Lara and we’ll head to the sheriff’s office. Why don’t you have Henry and Adelaide search for a couple of older vehicles for us to drive? Something immune to their scramblers.”
“I’ll do that. Be careful.”
“You, too. The stakes just got higher.”
Chapter30
Lara pulled a pan of cookies from the oven and set them on her table to cool a few moments before transferring them over to the cooling racks.
The lights in the room went out and the soft music playing in the background stopped. Immediately, she felt a sense of dread in her stomach, and she crept forward into the bakery and looked around.
She didn’t hear the doorbell but looked around just the same. Then she opened and closed the door and was met with silence. Her doorbell didn’t work. She swallowed the lump that formed in her throat and twisted the lock on the door.
Slowly, she pulled her gun from its holster and held it in front of her. Her hands shook and her heart beat so hard and fast she worried she’d pass out. It made her entire body shake from the force of it.
She stepped to the side of her office door and noted it was slightly ajar. But, she seldom closed it because it cooled off too much and working in there was uncomfortable.
Listening for any movement, her breathing came in shattered spurts and if someone was in there, they’d hear her before she’d hear them. She pulled the door closed tightly and picked up the chair closest to the office and set it in front of the door. If someone was in there, they’d need to push it aside to get at her, and that just might give her the time she needed to get out of the building.
Ambling forward, she stopped just before the utility room door next to the office. It was smaller than her modest office and with the bucket and mop in there, it wouldn’t be easy to hide. But determined people did surprising things.
A pounding on her back door made her jump and scream. Grateful she didn’t have her finger on the trigger, she scooted passed the utility room door toward the back door. The pounding sounded again, but this time Tate’s voice bellowed out.
“Lara. Open up, baby, it’s me.”
Her shaking fingers opened the locks on the door and as soon as she’d had them unfastened, Tate burst through the door.
He froze when he saw her holding her gun. “Is everything okay in here?”
“I don’t know. My doorbell doesn’t work and when the lights went off, I walked to the front to see if anyone had come in without me hearing them. I locked the door, but then wasn’t sure if someone was in the building or not. I’ll be honest, my heart is beating so loudly I wouldn’t have heard tap dancing.”
“Okay, safely holster your gun.”
She swallowed but slowly slid her gun into her holster as asked. His eyes locked on hers. The second she’d holstered her weapon, she threw her arms around his neck and held him close.
His arms wrapped around her waist for a moment, then he whispered, “Let me check the place out and make sure no one is in here.”
“Okay.”
She stood back and watched as he pulled his gun out and stalked through the building, looking much more comfortable with his gun in hand than she ever would. He moved methodically and slowly from room to room. Before he moved the chair away from her office door, he glanced at her and she shrugged.
He quietly lifted the chair; using his foot, he pushed the door open. With his left hand, he pulled a flashlight from his back pocket and shone it into the room.
Confirming it was empty, he holstered his weapon and sauntered toward her. “It’s clear.”
“I didn’t hear your truck.”
