Page 27 of Conquered Betrayal
“Don’t know, but it probably has something to do with this BDX-32 stuff.”
“We could rent a plane to investigate,” Alina said.
I turned to her with my lips pursed, knowing she suggested it only because she’d recently earned her pilot’s license. “I don’t think that’s necessary if it’s not far.”
Alina shrugged. “Then we should send the drone.”
I nodded. “Do it.” She headed to the roof. “Did you find anything else?” I asked Marley.
“Yeah, I mean a lot. But nothing concise enough to give to our media contacts. They’re going to want videos and images, not me in front of a map full of pins and strings telling them how things are connected. They’ll want evidence they can turn into newsworthy stories, prime-time shit, for this to work.”
“I know,” I said, and tried to keep my bitterness to a minimum. We needed hard facts, irrefutable evidence, sent out all over the world at roughly the same time in order for our plan to work. Everyone needed to learn about what Emerson did to beasts for his own sadistic pleasure. It would put an end to his hunting parties at the arena—wherever the hell that was—and the experiments I’d seen at the compound in Alaska.
He had too much influence. If we only spoke to one media outlet or one law enforcement agency, then he’d snuff them out or pay them off before they could peep a word.
Across the globe, our contacts were ready for our story. Emerson couldn’t silence every voice at once. We’d expose him for who he really was and destroy MBI in the process. All we needed was that sensational, newsworthy evidence we’d been searching for since I’d enlisted the help of my friends.
Alina returned, sliding into the chair next to Marley. “All ready to go,” she chimed.
“Are we going to have any problems with the range?” I asked.
“It should be okay,” Marley said, turning her monitors to the drone’s feed. “It’ll be tight, but it should make the round trip. If not, we’ll have to drive and get it. It is cutting-edge Urick Enterprises’ tech, after all.”
I barely resisted the urge to clap a hand over my face. “Why do you two always sound like an advertisement for him?”
“What?” Alina asked as the drone lifted from our roof. “It’s not our fault he offers quality technology at affordable prices.” The scope of the image grew as it gained height. “If you two make up, you should see if we can get some discounts.”
I rolled my eyes at her as Marley flew it west, the cityscape changing from industrial to residential, then sparsely populated as it flew past Northville and beyond. It took about forty-five minutes before she neared the location of the warehouse.
As the drone approached, details came into view. Floodlights had been installed around a perimeter enclosed in an eight-foot chain-link fence, barbwire curling along the top. Since it was midafternoon, those floodlights weren’t required to see a building made of aluminum and wood. Two guards manned a gate on wheels at the north end of the property, similar to the entry point Emerson had in Alaska—only opened if a person had clearance.
Even more reminded me of the Alaskan compound: the large yard with vehicles, the fence circling the property, the airstrip, the guards patrolling the perimeter. Everything held Emerson’s influence. It made it look like a mini Sing Sing.
“Keep back,” I said, touching Marley’s shoulder. “Don’t let them see the drone.”
Marley nodded, easing off.
“It’s definitely not abandoned,” Alina said, turning to me.
“No,” I agreed with a nod, my mind churning. I needed to find out what my brother was doing inside that warehouse, but hesitated to involve Marley and Alina in a full-blown operation that could turn deadly. The car chase on the freeway had been bad enough. I may have asked for their help, but I wouldn’t sign their death warrants.
“What are you thinking?” Marley’s voice cut into my thoughts, and I found both my friends staring at me with similar speculative gleams in their eyes.
They hadn’t been with me in Alaska and I was glad for it. My brother’s twisted experiments might not apply to humans, but he’d have no qualms about hurting my friends to gain information.
Like Alina could read my mind, she said, “You’re not doing this on your own.”
Shaking my head, I dismissed Alina’s comment. “Bring the drone home,” I said to Marley, and she nodded. The view on the monitor shrank, then changed to foliage as she rotated the drone in the direction of the city.
“We need to find out what’s happening in the warehouse,” Alina asserted, putting the emphasis on “we.”
Of course they knew exactly where my mind had gone, and from the set of Marley’s jaw and the narrowing of Alina’s eyes, they wouldn’t let me do this alone. I would do anything to keep them out of harm’s way, but I couldn’t be in two places at once. I had to trust their military training would be enough to keep them safe.
I nodded, conceding. “Then we go there. Tonight.”
10
LANDON
