Shadow Tyrants (Oregon Files 13)

“I found the door to the emergency stairs,” Eddie said. “It’s in the hallway to the bathrooms.”

“Anyone guarding it?” Linc asked.

“One guy. He looks serious about keeping people out of the stairwell.”

MacD looked in that direction, but the guard wasn’t visible from the main room. “Is it alarmed?”

“Doesn’t look like it.”

“Then all we need to do is keep the guard occupied for a few minutes while you’re gone,” Raven said. “I can do that.”

“You might be missed,” Eddie said. “The bathrooms are close by, though. Give me your perfume.”

She handed him a small spray bottle, which he pocketed.

“Do we know where Mallik’s office is yet?” Eddie said to Murph.

“Got it,” Murph replied. “It’s on the floor right above you.”

“You’re sure?”

“Yeah. I found a video of his wife before she died. She was giving a tour to one of those Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous–type shows just after they finished construction on the building. She showed off her husband’s office, and I could read the floor number when she got off the elevator.”

“Okay,” Eddie said. “Linc, you come with me. Nobody will think it’s odd if her bodyguard is gone for a few minutes given how secure this building is.”

“What should MacD and I do?” Raven asked.

“Keep an eye on the hallway to the bathrooms. Let us know if anyone is coming.”

“And try not to talk to anyone else,” Linc said.

MacD smiled. “With the way we look, it’s gonna be hard to keep people away from us.”

“Then you do all the talking,” Linc said. “That’ll drive them off.”

“Because of this honey-smooth voice? It’ll be a challenge, but Ah’m up to it.”

Raven rolled her eyes and continued to wear her most dour and unapproachable expression. Eddie thought that might actually work.

He and Linc crossed the room and entered the hall to the bathrooms. They both nodded as they passed the guard before going into the men’s room.

After a quick check to make sure it was empty, Eddie said to Raven, “Anyone coming our way?”

“You’re clear,” she said.

They both went back out. Eddie was clutching the perfume bottle. Without a word, he lifted it and sprayed it in the guard’s face.

The guard sputtered for a second in surprise before the sedative gas took effect. He sagged into the waiting arms of Eddie and Linc, who quickly dragged him into a stall in the men’s room.

They sat him on the toilet seat, and Eddie used zip ties to secure his wrists to the gold-plated grab bars on either side. At the same time, Linc gagged him with a handkerchief just in case he woke up before they left the party. They took his radio, then Linc exited the stall so Eddie could lock the door from the inside and climb out.

“Three women coming your way,” MacD said.

Linc and Eddie left the restroom and smiled at the women entering the ladies’ room. When they were alone, Eddie handed the radio to Linc and said, “Wait here and pretend you’re checking your phone. Let me know if anyone misses the guard.”

Linc tucked the radio into his coat pocket and inserted the earpiece. Instead of saying “Good luck,” which was actually considered bad luck in the Corporation, he said, “Good hunting.”

Eddie entered the stairwell and bounded up the steps two at a time. He was about to open the door to the floor where Mallik’s office was when he heard voices through it.