Chapter 28

28

The van's interior hummed with nervous energy, the air thick with the acrid scent of coffee, sweat, and ozone from overheating electronics. Paige settled into her usual spot, the worn leather seat creaking beneath her. Her skin prickled with hyperawareness of Cody's presence beside her, his warmth radiating in the cramped space. It felt surreal, working together like this again. Not like Croatia, where he'd been playing them all. She shook her head, marveling at how much had changed in just a few days. Their last op felt like a lifetime ago.

Bridger's voice crackled over the comms, the static making her wince as he updated them on the team's progress. Paige's fingers flew over her keyboard, the rapid-fire clicking a staccato counterpoint to her racing heart. She monitored their approach to the high-rise where they hoped to find answers about the missing lab tech, her eyes burning from the intense focus on the glowing screen.

Tai's calm voice cut through the tension like a knife. "No heat signatures in the apartment. No one home. No pets." The words hung in the air, heavy with implication.

Graham leaned forward, his brow furrowed, the scent of his woodsy cologne momentarily overpowering the van's stale air. "How are they getting past the doorman?"

Paige smirked, a hint of pride in her voice. "I've routed the building's comm system through my laptop. When the doorman calls up, I'll take it." Her fingers hovered over the keys, ready to spring into action.

"Won't he recognize you don't sound like her?" Graham's skepticism was palpable, his doubt a palpable weight in the air.

Cody winked at Paige, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Watch and learn, dude. This woman's sharp." The praise sent a jolt of electricity down her spine.

Heat bloomed in Paige's cheeks at the compliment, but she fought to keep her expression neutral. The air between them crackled with unspoken tension, growing stronger by the minute, making it hard to breathe in the confined space.

As if on cue, her laptop chimed, the sound sharp and jarring in the tense silence. Paige took a deep breath, the scent of coffee and fear filling her lungs as she slipped into character. "Hello?" she answered, her voice pitched slightly higher than normal, the words tasting foreign on her tongue.

As she ended the call, Paige caught Cody's admiring gaze. She allowed herself a small, triumphant smile. Maybe, just maybe, they could pull this off after all.

The van fell silent as they waited, tension building like a coiled spring. The only sounds were their collective shallow breathing and the faint hum of equipment. Suddenly, the comms crackled to life with the sound of the team talking to the doorman, making everyone jump. Paige's fingers hovered over her keyboard, muscles taut and ready to spring into action.

As the house phone rang, she hit a button. The thunderous sound of a shower filled the van, the artificial roar of water nearly drowning out her own voice as she yelled, "Hello?" The noise reverberated in the small space, setting her teeth on edge.

The doorman's gruff voice came through clearly, cutting through the cacophony. "Ms. Michaels? There are some people here to see you. They claim it's urgent."

"It's the repair team. Send them up!" Paige shouted over the artificial water noise, before dramatically hanging up. The sudden silence that followed was deafening.

Graham let out a low whistle. "Impressive tactics, Paige." The praise did little to ease the knot in her stomach.

Cody nudged Graham, a smirk playing on his lips. "See?" His arm brushed against Paige's, sending a shiver through her despite the van's stuffy warmth.

Her cheeks warmed at the compliment, but there was no time to bask in it. Bridger's voice cut through, all business. "Heading for the elevator." The words hung in the air, charged with anticipation.

Minutes ticked by, each second feeling like an eternity. The tension in the van was suffocating, pressing down on them like a physical weight. Tai's calm report of "No activity in the hallway" did little to ease the mounting pressure.

Kate's voice broke the silence, startling everyone. "Sending a photo of the lock." The image appeared on screen, the high-resolution details almost too sharp, too real.

Cody leaned in, his shoulder brushing against Paige's. The brief contact sent a jolt through her, her skin tingling where they touched. "Standard Consortium tech," he muttered, his breath warm against her ear. "We can bypass it by …"

As he outlined his plan, the team sought Paige's approval. She nodded, surprised by the weight they gave her opinion. "I agree. Tai?"

"Affirmative." The word was clipped, tense.

They collectively held their breath as Fenn implemented Cody's suggestion. The soft click of success was barely audible over the comms, but it might as well have been a thunderclap for how it made Paige's heart leap.

"We're in," Bridger announced. But his next words sent a chill down Paige's spine, her blood turning to ice. "Something's wrong. We've got a body. Female. Tall, dark hair."

Cody groaned beside her, his face falling. "Lorna." The name hung in the air like a death knell.

Paige's heart raced, blood pounding in her ears as she requested video confirmation. Her fingers trembled as she typed, fear and adrenaline coursing through her veins. The footage appeared on screen, the harsh clarity leaving no doubt—their lead was gone. The image burned into her retinas, a grim reminder of the stakes they were playing for.