“Any panic button in the lab will probably notify the control center. It’s not like calling the police would do any good.”
Ava swiveled her chair so she could look up at him. “Then once all the scientists are in one place, you guys can start rounding up—or knocking out—the remaining guards.”
“Would you rather we have snapped their necks? That’s the easiest way to prevent an enemy from sounding an alarm.”
“Put that way, I guess you guys have been remarkably restrained.” She turned back to the computer and checked then rechecked the images. One misstep would send their plans toppling like a row of dominos.
“What’s the plan?” Ian asked as he returned with Payne.
“Payne, head straight down this hall and collect the three lab rats on your right. Ian, you’re with me.”
“What do I do once I’ve collected them?” Payne asked.
“Keep them from doing anything stupid and bring them to the first lab we saw.”
“Got it.”
Ava took a deep breath and pushed to her feet. “Where do you want me?”
Anywhere and everywhere. He grinned and then said out loud, “Wait for us near the first lab, but don’t go in until we join you.”
Ava nodded. It was unlikely the scientists would give her any trouble, but she was much more comfortable behind a keyboard than pointing a gun. She quickly propped open the door to the control room with a book then headed for the lab.
Watching the workers from an adjacent hallway, Ava waited for Kyle’s return. They moved about at a leisurely pace, apparently unconcerned with what they’d seen earlier.
Payne arrived first, marching his three lab rats in front of him like obedient children. He winked at her as he passed and she followed as he ushered his group into the lab.
“What the hell is this?” the female scientist asked, hopping down from her stool. She spoke with obvious authority, her dark eyes sweeping the entire scene before focusing in on Payne. “Carvel, explain.”
Payne’s explanation was interrupted by Ian and Kyle’s arrival. One of the scientists had his hands bound behind his back and his mouth taped shut. Apparently he had tried to be a hero.
“What is this?” The female scientist crept toward the end of her workspace.
Ava rushed to the counter and ran her fingers along the underside, easily finding the woman’s destination. “A panic button’s not going to help you now.” She didn’t want to provoke the woman, but she couldn’t forget the captives waiting below.
Kyle looked around the room then pointed to the back corner where there wasn’t any furniture or outlets of any kind. “Everyone over there. Sit down against the wall.”
“Want me to secure them?” Payne held up a fist full of zip ties.
“Probably wouldn’t hurt.”
Ian helped Payne, and all of the scientists were soon contained in a nice cluster, wrists securely bound. Except the woman. Kyle had stopped her when she started to join the others. “How many holding cells are there total?”
According to the security feeds there were twelve, but there could be more if they weren’t under surveillance.
“Six on each sublevel.” There was no hesitation in her tone and she seemed almost excited by the intrusion of armed strangers. Who was she?
“Don’t help them, Carly. The backers will kill you.”
She glared at the speaker, one of the young men who had been assisting her. “Thanks for telling them my name.”
“So, Carly,” Kyle paused for effect. “Tell me about ‘the backers’?”
“I’m not telling you anything.” Then she moved closer to Kyle and whispered, “Unless you take me with you.”
“And why would I do that?” Kyle’s brows arched, but his expression remained cold. “We both know you’ve been abusing the people in those cages downstairs. Why would I deal with someone like that?”
“Can we talk somewhere away from them?” She nodded toward the other scientists.
“She’s Osric’s lover,” a thin man with balding hair warned. “Don’t believe anything she tells you.”
“He’s my professional rival.” Carly glared at the outspoken man then returned her gaze to Kyle. “And he doesn’t know half of what I know.”
“We don’t have time for this.” Payne growled and rubbed his forehead. Then he looked at Ian and asked, “What did Quinn do with my clothes? I need to…change into something more comfortable.”
Ian shrugged, yet his focus remained on the huddled scientists. “He either threw them in the back of his truck or left them in the woods. Maybe she can find you a set of scrubs.”