The in Death Collection Books 11-15 - J. D. Robb [424]
When they pulled up behind the surveillance vehicle, she hopped out, demanded status. She detailed the situation, gave her orders quickly.
“Seal hasn’t been breached,” Whitney commented as they approached the front.
“He wouldn’t use the main door. There are three other entrances, twelve first-story windows.” She detoured at a jog to the side of the house farthest away from the surveillance. “Broken glass,” she reported. “He’s in there.”
Both she and Whitney pulled out masters. “I beg your pardon, sir.”
“No. Forgot myself. Go.” He replaced the master with his weapon.
She uncoded the seal. “On three.”
“She likes to go in low,” Roarke told Whitney, and on Eve’s count went in the door with her, high.
They speared off, three arrows. Eve called out the required warning as she took the stairs to the lower level with her back to the wall.
The droid met her at the bottom.
“I am programmed to deflect, restrain, or impede any and all unauthorized intruders on these premises. If you attempt to come any farther, I will be forced to cause you physical harm.”
“Back off. We’re the police, fully authorized and warranted to enter these premises and remand Lucias Dunwood into custody.”
“I am programmed to deflect, restrain, or impede,” he began, moving toward her.
“Fuck this,” she muttered, and blasted him.
While he sparked and shuddered, she kicked him aside. “Lights on,” she ordered, and didn’t bother to swear when her order was ignored. She moved in the dark, leading with her weapon each time she approached a doorway.
At the soft sound of footsteps behind her, she whirled, finger twitching. “Goddamn it, Roarke.”
“You have two men covering the first level. Additional backup on the way. This’ll go faster with two of us down here. And,” he continued, moving up to guard her back, “down here is where he is.”
Her instincts told her the same. Which was why she’d taken the area personally.
“Lab’s going to be straight back,” she said quietly, though she’d already picked up the security cameras tucked into the corners of the ceiling. “He’s boxed in, but he’s ready for us.”
The door was locked.
“I’m going to bypass,” she whispered in Roarke’s ear. “He’ll expect us to rush. That’s what he’s ready for. Don’t go through the door until I give the signal.”
She slipped the locks, kicked the door, then spun away.
The move saved her. Something crashed in the dark near the toes of her boots. She saw the smoke, heard the hiss, and was forced to sidestep before the acid eating into the floor hit leather.
There was a flash from inside. She felt a bright, shocking pain in her left shoulder. “Shit!”
“You’re hit.” Roarke dived across the open doorway, blocked her body with his as another series of blasts shot through like lightning bolts.
“Just glanced me.” Her arm was numb now, shoulder to fingertip. “Get my communicator out of my pocket. My left hand’s dead.”
He pulled it out. “Lowest level, east end,” he said into it. “Dunwood’s armed. The lieutenant’s been hit.”
“Minimal damage,” she snapped, irritated. “I’m not down. Repeat, I am not down. Security panel’s over there.” She jerked her head. “Bypass the damn voice command and get the lights on. Dunwood!” she shouted, duck-walking to the doorway with her left arm hanging useless and her weapon in her right hand. “It’s over. The house is surrounded. You’ve got nowhere to go. Throw out your weapon, and come out with your hands up.”
“It’s not over until I say it’s over! I’m not finished.” He fired again. “Do you think I’m losing to a woman?”
The lights went on, and gave her a good look at the blackened hole in the floor only inches from her feet. “Seduce and conquer. We accessed your game, Lucias. Not too smart of you to write it all down so nice and tidy for us. We know you did Kevin. That was slick, but you don’t know as much about law as you do about chemistry. His confession stands. And you were stupid enough to leave traces of putty and base in your bathroom. Really losing points fast.”
Glass crashed inside the room, and his voice raged