Maitho practically leaped from landing to landing. When he finally reached the lowest floor, he waited near the door, checking to see if he heard any sounds on the other side. It was silent. he opened the door and stepped into the hallway beyond.
He had returned to the rear entrance that they had used earlier. There were only two ways that Jennifer and the agent could have used, unless there was another way into the building. One of was the door he was standing near to and the other was the main entrance. He checked the rear exit to see that the door was closed. The handle was still broken from Bevan's forced entry. He couldn't remember if they had left it open before taking the stairs. The exit needed a keycard and there was no way the agent could have known that Bevan had practically ripped the door open.
The only option the agent could have chosen was the front entrance. He wondered how they could have passed security. Then again, Jennifer was a resident of the building. She could have easily convinced anyone that she was with her relative. Or a close friend.
Back in the apartment, Maitho had heard the lead agent instructing his partner to take Jennifer to the parking lot. Maitho guessed that if a building such as this had a space for vehicles, then it could only be underground. He could not take the elevator there, knowing that he might be captured on a security camera. Which meant that his only choice was to take the parking exit that should be located outside.
Maitho ran out the building using the rear exit. He emerged outside and looked both ways. He picked one direction at random, knowing that he would eventually circle the building to arrive at the front. He hoped that he didn't pass another camera, but he had no way to avoid them at this point.
When he reached the front of the building, he didn't notice anyone. But that was a given. Jennifer had a head start. She could have left the building for all he knew. They had to have left using a vehicle. It would be poor planning on the part of the agents if they didn't have a vehicle ready to take Jennifer to safety.
He listened, trying to hear the sound of a running engine. He couldn't hear anything. He could try to search the area furhter. But that could mean he might run into security. The gunshots in the apartment were loud and there was no way one of the neighbors hadn't heard them. He only hoped that Brigid and Epona would exit the building soon.
He fished out his phone and paused, realizing that he didn't have the numbers of the other Guardians. There was an option. He could check Bevan's phone for contact details. No sooner had that idea appeared in his mind than he pushed it away. He's not going to risk doing that here.
Thankfully, his phone rang. The caller ID said unknown, but he knew that there were few people who would give him a call.
He answered. Epona spoke on the other end. "Did ye find her?"
"I see no one," said Maitho. He heard running footsteps behind him. Turning around, he spotted Bevan come to a stop near him.
"There was no one in the parking space," he said. "That was a diversion. They wanted us to be distracted."
Maitho spoke into the phone. "Did you hear that?"
"Ah did," said Epona. "Then they coud still be in the buildin."
"No, that would be too risky. Why create a diversion if they simply wanted to keep Jennifer inside where they might be cornered?"
"Then it means they found a way tae escape. Ah think—" Epona didn't continue further.
Maitho checked his phone to see if it was still connected. It was.
Epona spoke again. "Brigid got a call from Quinn. He spotted two women enter a grey sedan ootside the buildin. He says he wouldnae have spotted thaim if he haednae been passin bi thon area."
Maitho was thankful that he had asked Quinn to drive around. "Where's he right now?"
"He's headit towards us. He can track the car now, sae he will know everywhere it goes."
Within the next minute, Brigid and Epona joined the two Guardians waiting outside. Together, they exited the building compound using the back entrance. Quinn was already waiting for them outside.
As soon as they stepped into the car, Quinn's navigation system switched on. A red dot appeared to be moving along a blue line. "That's them," said the car. "We don't have to worry about losing them now."
Quinn took off. He proceeded to take turns and use roads that seemed random at first, but Maitho knew that he was using the best route to get to their target. The red dot was always in the center of the nav screen. It would often double-back on itself and take circuitous routes, often circling the same area.
"They're trying to throw off any tails," said Quinn. He sped up. The windows of the car began to form a dark tint. "An extra precaution. If we come across our target, we don't want her to identify you lot easily."
After nearly an hour of aimless driving, the red dot came to a stop. Maitho tried to read the names of the buildings on the nav screen. "I don't recognize this place."
"It's a community of houses," said Quinn. "All low-density houses made for a single family."
"What do you think she is doing there?" said Bevan.
"If I had to guess," said Maitho. "It might be a safe house of some kind."
After another thirty minutes of driving, Quinn entered a two-lane street. Houses lined on both sides, their shapes and colors matching whatever ideas the owners might have deemed as aesthetically pleasing. Most of the houses featured two floors, with front yards and white picket fences. It was an idyllic place, meant for anyone who wanted to be part of a community, but still have access to modern luxuries.
On the nav screen, the red dot had moved away from a blue line and into a blank space. "Their vehicle must be inside a garage."
"Agreed," said Quinn. "But I'll know where they are." The map on the screen zoomed out, displaying even more area. A yellow triangle appeared at the bottom of the screen. "That's where we are." The red dot was still unmoving.
Maitho noticed that they were on the same street as Jennifer's car. He began to look around, hoping to see any sign of the gray sedan.
After about a minute, Quinn announced. "We are nearly there. You should be able to see the car soon. Or your target."
Maitho looked outside his window. He was hoping to spot at least an agent in black clothing.
Instead, he passed by Jennifer, who was looking directly at him.
He panicked, his heart racing. For a moment, he thought that she had discovered them. Then he realized that Quinn's window tint had indeed saved them. The woman could not see into the car.
"You guys see her too?" said Maitho.
An agent appeared beside her, who was not the same woman partner of the lead agent. Behind her, Maitho noticed two other agents, both men, standing next to the house's entrance.
The female agent next to Jennifer had her eyes trained on Quinn. She kept looking at the car, which did not slow down nor increase its speed. At the end of the street, Quinn took a turn. When they were out of sight of the agent, he changed his body into a luxury vehicle, but did not remove the tint. "I hope none of the residents saw that," he said.
"Even if they did, who's going to believe them?" said Bevan.
After taking another turn, Quinn drove for a while before coming to a stop in front of a cream-colored house.
"Why are we stopping here?" said Brigid.
"See that grey house further down the road?" said Quinn.
Maitho did. The house featured a tiled roof.
"What about it?" said Brigid.
"That's the house directly behind the one Jennifer is held in."
"Why aren't we stopped in front of it?"
"What if the agents are in both houses?"
That was a good point and Maitho was genuinely impressed with Quinn's deduction. "I truly wish you were a Guardian," said Maitho.
"Who says I'm not, my dear?" came the reply. Maitho could imagine the car smirking if he had a face.
"You guys ready?" said Bevan. "They could be watching us."
"Na point thinkin," said Epona and stepped outside. The others followed.
"I'm going to circle around to the front," said Quinn. "In case my theory is wrong, then you will need a quick getaway."
Saying that, the car drove away.
"Let's not walk in a group," said Brigid. "Bevan and I are on one side. Epona, you and Maitho approach the building directly."
"In that case, Epona and I will try to find a way in," said Maitho. "You guys be ready for anything."
Maitho and the others took a moment to compose themselves and began walking. The streets were nearly empty at this time of the day, but they did spot a few people. A jogger sped past them. A man was taking a dog out for a walk while he was busy speaking into a phone. Three teenagers on bicycles raced past them, their words mixed with sporadic laughter.
Epona walked beside Maitho in silence. There was no need to exchange words, as they were not necessary. He could imagine that she, just like him, was running on adrenaline.
When he neared the houses, he noticed that the blinds on all windows were drawn. He couldn't accurately say whether the occupants valued privacy or whether they were trying to hide something. He checked the opposite side to see Brigid and Bevan walking slowly. They were still moving, since standing still could attract suspicions from passersby. Yet they were moving slow enough so they could react if necessary.
Maitho approached the house. There was a front entrance. He also saw a small path between the house and the fence of the nearby property. He decided to take the path. He needed to check inside the house to see if there were truly any agents.
It seemed as though he didn't have to do anything.
The rear door opened and an agent stepped out.