Page 84 of Run

“Yeah.”

They wound their way through the streets, coming in behind the property, where the houses were smaller and closer together. A large, rustic-looking pub took up a corner of one of the streets. Abasi drove into the parking lot behind it and parked in a spot reserved for management.

He pointed to the corner, where the trees and bushes were thickest. “There’s a gate through there. It opens up to a narrow alleyway that’s too small for cars and blocked at both ends. The alley runs between the bottom of the back gardens for the rows of houses on two streets. At the end of the alley, there’s a private garden, which the residents share.”

“The garden backs onto Tommy’s property,” David guessed.

Abasi nodded. “The northeast corner, to be precise. Tommy made sure the wall was fortified, and there are several cameras—none of which have worked for years. The security room receives a loop that changes depending on the season, time of day, and the weather.” He cocked his head. “It utilizes a program Elle wrote for Tommy years ago. One of the many he didn’t understand. I like to think there’s a certain kind of harmony in his weakest point being created by the work he made Elle do for him.”

“What about his army patrolling the place?”

“Tommy likes them big and dumb—picks them because they look the part rather than knowing how to do the job. We designed their patrol patterns and shifts years ago, leaving gaps in this corner. Nobody’s ever said anything about it. Don’t think they noticed.”

David nodded; that sounded like Tommy. All flair and no substance. The man had been getting by on reputation and arrogance for years.

“Once we’re in and over the wall, then what?”

Abasi pulled out his phone and brought up an aerial image of the house and grounds on Google. “I’ve often wondered how many people know how much you can find out about where they live from this thing.” He pointed at the screen. “We’re going in here. We skirt the pool building, using the hedges for cover. Our access is the mudroom door.” He tapped a longer part of the building attached to the cube shape of the main house. “That’s where the problems start. The cameras in this part of the building definitely work, so we need to take them out. This part of the house doesn’t get much in the way of security cover. It’s for staff, and Tommy doesn’t give a shit about them. But there are still cameras.”

“Any idea where Elle would be?”

“Depends how Tommy wants to play it. If he starts out slow, questioning her in the hope she’ll give up everything she knows, then she’ll be in his study.” He pointed to the front corner of the main house. “If he just wants to hurt her, she’ll be in a hidden room off the wine cellar that he uses forinterrogations.” This time, he pointed to the back of the house. The rooms were in opposite directions.

The way Abasi said the word made the meaning clear. “He’s got a wet room.”

“Several. But this is the one he likes to play in.”

“Okay, it’s clear it’ll get nasty once they know we’re there. What are the chances of Tommy killing Elle if he thinks he’s being raided?”

“One hundred percent.” His jaw tightened, and his eyes went flat. “He hates your girl.”

“Then we need to split up, take a location each. You take the office, and I’ll take the wet room.”

Abasi shook his head. “Won’t work. The problem isn’t getting into the house; it’s getting out. As soon as Tommy knows he’s under attack, he’ll call in every syndicate member he can find. The house is gonna be overrun by guys who want to prove themselves to the boss by taking us out. We need to watch each other’s backs. It’s our only chance of getting out of there alive.”

“And you were going to do this alone?” David cocked an eyebrow at him.

“At night. Stealthily. In and out without anybody noticing, leaving Tommy with a bullet in his brain.”

“Elle doesn’t have until nighttime.” David ran a hand down his face. “Okay, best guess, where’s Tommy more likely to take her?”

“If I’m wrong…” For the first time since he’d met Abasi, the man seemed unsure of himself.

“Everybody dies. That’s what happens if we pick the wrong location and Elle pays the price. Everybody. Dies.”

Abasi let out a stream of curses. “Best guess, she’s in the basement. Cellar entrance is off the kitchen, at the back of the house.”

David nodded. “Then let’s get going.”

They climbed out of the car, and as Abasi rounded the hood to join him, David paused.

“Gimme one sec,” he said as he fished his phone from his pocket. And then, he did something he’d never thought he’d do after years of working alone—he called his team. “Joe? Yeah, Knight here.”

“What do you need?” was Joe’s instant response.

“I’m going after Elle. Abasi is with me, and it’s possible we’ll need backup.”

“I’m at the hospital with Julia and Rachel. Ryan’s been taken into surgery, and Megan’s being kept in overnight for monitoring. Which means you get me and Dimitri. Where are you?”