Chapter 10 - Shadow on the Perimeter
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The Carter family estate was a massive, fifteen-acre property located in the affluent suburb of Lake Forest, north of Chicago.
It was surrounded by an eight-foot wrought-iron fence and dense pine trees. Rain was pouring heavily as Sergeant Vance and I crouched in the tree line overlooking the dark main gates.
The mansion was completely dark, but three unmarked black SUVs were parked in the front circular driveway.
"Perimeter is compromised," Vance reported through his night-vision scope. "I count at least six armed guards patrolling the estate grounds. They aren't local police."
"Syndicate mercenaries," I murmured, adjusting my night-vision goggles. "They're searching the house for Ethan's drive."
"How do you want to play this, Commander?"
"Quietly," I replied. "We enter through the underground wine cellar service door on the east wing. We retrieve the drive from Ethan's room and slip out before they realize we're inside."
We slipped through a gap in the perimeter fence, moving swiftly through the rain-soaked shadows.
We reached the side door of the estate in under two minutes. Using a tactical lock-pick set, Vance breached the electronic lock in seconds, and we slipped inside the quiet, cavernous basement.
The air inside smelled expensive—leather, old wine, and polished marble. But underneath it, I caught a sharp, familiar odor.
Gunpowder.
I held up a hand, signaling Vance to halt.
On the floor near the grand staircase lay two private security guards who worked for my parents. They had been shot once each in the chest with surgical precision.
"They cleared the staff," Vance whispered, his hand tightening on his weapon.
May you like
Suddenly, heavy footsteps echoed from the second-floor balcony above us.
"Search the boy's bedroom again!" a harsh voice barked from the shadows. "The Boss said if we don't find that drive in twenty minutes, we burn this entire estate to the ground!"
