Page 46 of Run

“Again, with the girly,” Megan said. “Stop being such a sexist old man.”

“Yeah,” Elle said. “Try being a whiny man-child, like David instead.”

David took a deep breath before focusing on the mission. “Ryan, run us through it again.”

The rest of the team were in vehicles behind and in front of them—except for Julia and Rachel, who were back at the safe house.

“My grandparents live in a standard seventies-built semi-detached house in a small estate near Victoria Park,” Ryan said. “They share the house with my great-uncle and his wife. This time of day, it would only be the women who’re home. Granddad should have been at work—he’s on retainer with Benson Security and is building something in Callum’s house right now. So, the police shutting down the office shouldn’t have stopped him from going to work. I don’t understand why he’s home.”

David recognized the clipped, hard tone of Ryan’s voice. It was the tone of a man who was mad and had the training to do something about it. “What about the neighbors? Would they notice something going on at the house?”

“Absolutely. It’s a tight community. They’re all older and in each other’s business. I’m surprised somebody hasn’t called the cops by now.”

“The James Family must have gone in quiet,” Callum said. “Wouldn’t be surprised if they picked up your granddad while he was working and took him back home.”

“That’s how I would have done it,” David agreed. “A stranger walking up to a door in a tight-knit community can attract a lot of attention, especially if they seem out of place anyway. But somebody the homeowner brought home? They wouldn’t warrant so much as a second glance.”

“Wish we knew how many we were up against,” Callum said.

“I never should have let Granddad talk me out of installing security cameras,” Ryan said. “As soon as this is over, that house will be wired with everything I can throw at it, whether they like it or not.”

Nobody pointed out that was a case of closing the stable door after the horse had already bolted.

“That’s our exit,” Elle said coolly from the passenger seat.

David wanted to hit something. They were heading into a dangerous situation, and she was mad at him.That would help.

Ryan and Callum’s car took the exit she’d pointed to, and David followed.

“I’ll do a loop of the area first,” Ryan said. “Get an idea what we’re up against. You hang back.”

“We don’t have much time to spare,” David reminded him.

“I know,” was his terse reply.

The area was classic London—a mixture of building types interspersed with the greenery of public parks. There were tall apartment blocks overshadowing Victorian terrace houses and a whole bunch of newer builds that were smaller and tweaked to appear less uniform. Ryan’s grandparents lived in one of the newer builds: a caramel-colored brick semi with small windows and a postcard-sized garden, sitting at the end of a cul-de-sac. Hertford Union Canal ran behind the house, and beyond that, Victoria Park Green Belt. There was no doubt that Ryan’s grandparents had managed to secure one of the coveted spots in a very built-up area.

Unfortunately, the things that made their location attractive also made it hard to surveil their house without Elle’s brother noticing.

“Can you get to the canal from their house?” David asked.

“There’s a gate at the end of their garden,” Ryan answered. “You think Marcus came in by boat?”

“I don’t know.” David parked, engine running, at the end of the street, behind a large white plumber’s van that obscured their view somewhat. Callum and Ryan were driving the cul-de-sac road to get an idea of what was happening in the house. The rest of the team sat in another vacant spot farther up the street.

“Any cars in the drive?” David said.

“They don’t have a driveway,” Ryan replied. “But there’s nothing out of the ordinary parked on the street, and the garage door’s closed. Curtains are drawn too. If I didn’t know better, I’d say no one was home.”

“Any neighbors out and about?” David said.

“No, it’s a ghost town.”

“We have to assume he’s in there,” Callum said.

“Wait,” Ryan said. “My cell’s ringing. Everybody, stay silent; I’m answering it while I keep the other phone on speaker.” There was a pause. “Marcus?”

“No, it’s your granddad.” And he was clearly angry.