He checked that his earpiece was working and then dialed Hawk at his offices in Annapolis. He picked up right away.
“You on the move?”
“Affirmative,” Chase answered. “You got the coordinates for where we need to go after the mission?”
“Yeah, shooting the address over to you now.”
Chase’s phone pinged. He glanced at the address as he navigated traffic. “Montmartre.”
“That’s it. Trying to charter a jet to get you out of there, but everyone wants twenty-four hours’ notice. It’s fucking ridiculous.”
Chase could hear the frustration in Hawk’s voice. “This isn’t a HOT mission, Hawk. I don’t expect miracles.”
The other man grumbled. “Yeah, well, I do. And I’m not ready to give up yet, so don’t get too cozy in Montmartre.”
“So do we know where the delivery van is?”
“I’ve got Billy the Kid on it.”
Chase nearly sighed in relief. Billy “the Kid” Blake was a fricking computer genius. “Jesus, that’s awesome he’s there.”
“The other guys are on their way. They all want to help. Dex’s dad came through surgery so he has to stay in Kentucky, but he’s with you in spirit.”
Chase didn’t typically get choked up, but the fact his teammates were rushing back from R & R and joining Hawk was enough to make his throat tight.
“Putting you on speaker,” Hawk said, and then Chase heard Billy’s voice.
“Heya, Fiddler. Hear you got into some trouble.”
Chase glanced over at Sophie. She was staring straight ahead, her fingers curled together over her midsection. The dress she wore was awful and unflattering to her figure, but her profile was still the loveliest thing he’d ever seen. She must have felt him looking at her, because she turned her head and their gazes met for the briefest of moments before he had to put his eyes back on the road.
“A little bit,” he said. “But you’re going to help me out of it, I hope.”
“I’m working it, man. I’ve got the package’s last scan—and I’ve managed to break into the carrier’s network, so I can see where the van is.”
“Damn, dude, you’re the best.”
“Can’t guarantee that Androv’s people haven’t done the same thing, though I’ve added a script that should make it a little more difficult for them. They can hack it, but it should give us a few extra minutes.”
Chase didn’t understand anything about computers. “How do you know they didn’t get there first and add a script to slow you down?”
Billy laughed. “Trust me, I’d know. You worry about getting the package, and I’ll worry about Open Sky.”
Chase had worked with Billy long enough to believe him. “Where am I going and what am I looking for then?”
“There’s an office building two stops before Nash’s apartment. Sending over the coordinates now.” Chase heard keys tapping and then his phone dinged. “The driver has to go inside and up to the third and fourth floors for deliveries. The van will be unattended for several minutes. You’ll have to pick the lock to the bulkhead door. It’s a simple cylinder lock. You get the coordinates?”
“Yes.”
“Good. The package is at location 1045. That’s inside the bulkhead door, to the left, top shelf.”
“Copy that. What’s the van’s ETA to the store?”
“Twenty minutes approximately. Traffic could change that.”
Chase checked the GPS. “We’re ten minutes away. Should be able to get into position and wait.”
“I’ll stay on the line and give you updates.”
“Man, I wish you guys were here.”
“Me too. But we’ll get you through this. Soon as you send me the info from the flash drive, I’ll get to work cracking it. We’ll have Androv’s balls in a vise by tomorrow afternoon, promise.”
“Think I love you right now, man.”
“Course you do. I’m fucking awesome.”
Chase laughed. “Watch it, or Olivia will cut that ego down to size for you.”
“Dude, she’s my number one fan.”
“If this is successful, I’ll be your number one fan. Olivia’s going to have to move over and let me love you for a while.”
Billy snorted. “In your dreams, Fiddler. In your dreams. Now go get that fucking package and let’s bury Androv.”
“Copy that.”
“WHAT DO you want me to do?” Sophie said when Chase finally slowed the car and slotted it into a spot on the divided boulevard where the office building was. A spot, she noted, that had a No Parking sign in front of it because it blocked a driveway.