The Buried by Brett Battles Read Free Book Online Page A

ago in a criminal investigation by some forgotten government agency. Control of the building had eventually shifted to the NSA, who loaned it out to other US intelligence divisions on an as-needed basis. It seemed odd to be raiding one of their own locations—it certainly was a first for him and his team—but orders were orders.
    They approached via the backyard of the house directly behind the target.
    Upon reaching the rear fence, Stevens raised his night scope and examined the other side. He picked up no heat signatures in the backyard, and also none near the windows, all of which had their shades drawn.
    “Go,” he whispered into his mic.
    One by one, the team scaled the fence and crept across the open grass, each man to his assigned location. Stevens went last, joining the two men covering the sliding door at the back.
    A click over the comm signaled red three and red four were in position. A few seconds later a double click confirmed the same for red five and red six.
    Stevens clicked his mic button three times, signaling everyone to move in.
    Safe houses were modified to make them difficult to enter—unless you had ties to the agency overseeing it. Master keys had been waiting for them in the Suburban, keys that not only freed the locks but also contained micro-transponders that disabled the home’s security system. After the glass door slid open, everything remained nice and quiet.
    Red one entered first, pausing just inside for a quick look around before motioning to Stevens and red two that it was clear. Silently, they made their way through the family room into the kitchen and the dining room. There they linked up with red five and red six, who indicated the front of the house was also clear.
    On the other side of the first floor was a hallway that led to a guest room, a bathroom, and the garage. Stevens looked down it as red three and red four emerged from the guest room. They informed him no one was in that part of the house.
    So far things were going even better than Stevens had hoped. No one on watch meant the targets were likely sound asleep in the second-floor bedrooms.
    He silently instructed red five and red six to remain at the base of the stairs before he headed up with the others.
    Another hallway ran the length of the second floor. To the left was the massive master suite, and to the right four more bedrooms, a bathroom, and a linen closet. Leaving red three and red four to hold at the top of the stairs, Stevens went left with the other two.
    At the master suite, red one did the honors of opening the door and pushing it inward. When they heard no response from inside, they slipped through the gap, but within seconds all three lowered their weapons.
    The bed wasn’t just empty, it had no sheets on it, only two pillows and a folded blanket stacked at the foot of the mattress, waiting for the room’s next occupant.
    Stevens directed red one to check the bathroom and red two to check the walk-in closet, but both returned shaking their heads.
    Apparently the targets didn’t feel the need to use the best room in the house. That made a certain amount of sense given that Stevens had been told one of the targets was a hostage. Her captors must have felt it necessary to stay in the same room as she. It’s what Stevens would have done.
    They moved back into the hall and headed to the other end, taking red three and red four with them.
    The first bedroom was exactly like the master—stacked blankets and pillows, no sheets.
    The same was true of bedroom two.
    And three.
    The bathroom was also clear.
    Stevens felt both confused and irritated as they approached the door to the final bedroom. As red one moved to open it, Stevens tapped him on the shoulder and signaled that he would do it. He turned the knob and pushed the door inward.
    The room was empty.
    Cursing, he pulled out his phone.
     

CHAPTER 8
     
    TACOMA
     
    T HE ALARM ON Quinn’s cell went off exactly four hours after he’d laid his head down.