While the machine worked, Allie opened drawers and riffled through the contents. In the third drawer, she found a stack of file folders.
“Annie’s in,” Linc said. “That was almost too easy.”
“He’s not worried about someone breaking in here. He keeps it locked up 24/7 and he’s got guards all over the place outside. As far as he’s concerned, no one’s getting in.”
“As long as you can get out.”
Allie set the folders on the desk and opened the first one. It looked like legitimate business information, but she took pictures of it anyway and sent those while she went to the next folder. More pictures. Not what she was looking for, but one never knew what would come in handy.
“Hurry up, Allie, you’re taking too long.”
“I’m fine. Nevsky’s not due back for a while.” Finally, at the last folder, she opened it and gasped.
“What is it?” Linc asked. “Are you okay?”
“Yes, but you’re not.”
“What do you mean?”
“They’re watching you.” Quickly, she worked her phone’s camera. “And sending pictures to Nevsky.”
“Me? Why would they be watching me?”
“I don’t know.” She paused and bit her lip. “Unless my cover is blown and they’re trying to figure out who I’m communicating with.”
The next picture sent her reeling. “He’s got a picture of us together, but you can’t see my face. The date stamp is from a week ago. It’s when we met with Henry at the hotel in Irmo.”
“You need to get out of there.”
Allie’s stomach twisted. “He’s got pictures of your family too,” she whispered.
“What?”
“You and Brady and Chloe playing basketball in your parents’ drive. The dates on the pictures are from last Sunday afternoon.” Terrifying, but still not what she was searching for.
And another picture of her and Linc sitting on his parents’ back porch swing. Stomach in knots, she shoved everything back where she found it and went to the next drawer. Locked.
“He probably thinks we’re a couple, Linc. And he most likely knows who I am.” Or at least that she was there under false pretenses. So why was she still in his home and still alive? Something was off.
“Allie—”
She pulled the specialized knife from her front pocket and opened the tool that would give her access to the lock. Within seconds, it popped and she pulled the drawer open. More files. She opened the one on top. “Oh my,” she whispered.
“Allie,” Henry’s voice came through her earpiece this time. “Put everything back now and leave.”
“He’s got a whole list of military equipment for sale,” Allie said. “Where would he be getting that stuff?” She snapped pictures, then shoved everything back where she found it. She stood there for a moment while she sent the pictures to Henry.
“Get. Out. Of. There. Now,” Linc said. “Walk out of the house and head to the van.”
“Working on it.”
The door to the office opened.
Allie jerked her head up. “Uh-oh.”
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
A huge thanks to the whole team at Revell for all their hard work. I sure couldn’t do this without you!
Thank you, as always, to Dru Wells and Wayne Smith for your amazing feedback on all of the law enforcement details. I always do my best to make sure things are accurate. Any law enforcement errors are completely on the author’s shoulders. :)
Thank you to my family who always supports me—even when I’m pulling out my hair because time is going too fast!
Thank you to all of my lovely and talented critique buddies and prayer partners: Lynn H. Blackburn, Emme Gannon, Linda Gilden, Edie Melson, Alycia Morales, and Erynn Newman. Y’all are simply the best. Thank you for letting me do life with you.
A special thank-you to Jason Fort for answering tons of Police Procedural questions with accuracy, honesty, and lots of humor! I appreciate you!
I have to give a shout-out to my brainstorming buddy, DiAnn Mills. You have a wonderfully wicked mind. I love it and you, sister!
Another ginormous thanks goes to Carrie Stuart Parks. You simply have THE best ideas and I love picking your fascinating brain. Thanks for letting me!! I love you, my friend—even if you are a
And last, but not least, thank you, Jesus, for allowing me to do what I do. I couldn’t do it without your blessing and you keeping your hands upon mine as I work each day. Thank you for the stories, thank you for the words, thank you for the lives you allow the books to touch.
Lynette Eason is the bestselling author of the Women of Justice series, the Deadly Reunions series, and the Hidden Identity series, as well as Always Watching, Without Warning, Moving Target, and Chasing Secrets in the Elite Guardians series. She is the winner of two ACFW Carol Awards, the Selah Award, and the Inspirational Readers’ Choice Award. She has a master’s degree in education from Converse College and lives in South Carolina. Learn more at www.lynetteeason.com.
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Code of Valor Page 29