Page 73 of Edge of Steele
“Then let’s get this roach inside the building to see if we can safely enter it to check the inventory.” Grady used his controller to bring his roach out of the building.
As much as Finn appreciated this technology, he had to admit to being creeped out by the roach.
Grady picked up the bug. “You two stay here. I don’t want you close to the building until I make sure it’s safe.”
He crossed the property and bent to set his roach in the space under the door then moved his controller, his focus intent on the screen. He maneuvered his controller, and the bug disappeared. Finn knew Grady was not only looking for devices set with a photoelectric cell, but for boobytraps too. He would search the door area, especially around the frame, where a tripwire could’ve been placed to trigger a device when the door opened.
Thankfully, the depot was a small building and could easily be searched. Or at least Finn thought it was easy. He’d never controlled a live bug, but he’d played his share of video games to know eye-hand coordination was the key to success.
Grady looked up from his controller. “Place is clear.”
Finn charged over to Grady. “Then let’s get this lock open and get inside.”
“This is a crime scene now, so if you’re going in, you’ll have to suit up,” Grady said.
“I’ll get dressed and come right back.” He didn’t wait for permission to take a suit from the van but charged up the hill, his legs fueled with adrenaline. If they discovered missing explosives, it could mean the security video could have captured images of the thief.
He chose the largest size of one of the ugly white suits from the box, but he barely fit, and the suit stretched tight on his body. He looked much like the other guys, but he was taller so the legs were even shorter on him.
He jogged back down the hill, put on the booties, and looked at Ryleigh. “Do you remember the inventory count?”
She nodded. “Seventy-two white ones and seventy of the red tubes.”
Grady looked up at the building. “Looks like the security camera is intact, and we could get our bomber on video. I didn’t see a computer inside. Is it stored in the cloud?”
Finn nodded. “Same is true of the cameras on the office building. So we should have footage right up until the explosion took the cameras out.”
Finn looked at Grady and then at Ryleigh. “I know Grady cleared this place, but I want you both to step away. Just in case the roach missed something.”
“It’s not necessary.” Grady moved his roach out of the building and held it up. “I have full confidence in this little guy, but I appreciate your caution.”
Ryleigh lifted her chin. “I have faith in Grady’s assessment and will stay put too.”
“Then you have the key,” Finn said.
Ryleigh slid it into the lock and twisted. The arm dropped open, and she let it fall to the ground.
“Okay, step back.” He trusted the roach—to a point. And really wished Ryleigh had moved away, but he couldn’t force her to go.
He took her spot and held his breath. He slowly eased the door open. Nothing happened. No explosion. No sound, save the groaning door hinges.
He stepped inside.
A few items had fallen to the floor, likely due to the reverberations from the bomb, but the explosives all remained in their boxes on the shelves.
Grady put on booties and stepped inside too, and Ryleigh hung by the door. Maybe she was watching Finn as Russ was going to pitch a fit when he found out Finn had gone into the depot. But he had witnesses here to prove he didn’t take anything.
“I got the red ones.” Grady began running a finger down the tubes.
Finn moved to the white tubes and started counting.
Grady looked back at Ryleigh. “Seventy-two of the white ones on my first count, but I’ll double-check.”
“That’s a match for the inventory,” Ryleigh confirmed.
“Seventy of the red tubes,” Finn announced and tried to keep his disappointment out of his voice.
“Looks like no one accessed the depot then since I was here with Russ,” Ryleigh said. “And the bomber won’t likely be on the video.”
