He waited for Harv and Grangeland. They formed up and huddled in the shadow of a cargo container. “I only saw two cameras. One covering the front door and one covering the rear loading dock. The building’s tall enough to have a second floor office.”

“Concur,” Harv said.

They circled back to the narrow alley bordering the rear of the warehouse to the east and stopped out of camera shot at the northeast corner of the fenced truck yard.

Harv spoke quietly. “If anyone runs, they’ll come out that fire exit and head straight for the open gate.”

“This position isn’t going to work,” Grangeland said. “There’s no place to hide if a car comes by. I should use that fishing boat behind us. It’s a little farther away, but it should be okay.”

“Nate?” Harv asked.

“Sounds good, but don’t move from that position without telling us. We want to know where you are at all times. If anyone bolts, give a verbal command to get on the ground. If they make a threatening move, drop ’em. You’re only watching the rear of the warehouse until I finish the video splice.”

“Understood.”

“Okay, let’s hustle back to our vehicles. We can’t walk along this alley without being seen by the camera. We’ll have to detour to the east by half a block.”

Back at Harv’s Mercedes, they went over the plan one final time.

“Grangeland, grab your change of clothes. At a full sprint, how long will it take you to get from the fishing boat to Harv’s position at the southwest corner of the warehouse using the route we just took? Best guess?”

“Thirty seconds.”

“Okay. Everyone ready? Here we go.”

Chapter 27

Chapter  27

An uncertain part of tonight’s operation involved bypassing the surveillance camera eyeing the front door. Nearly everything hinged on Nathan’s belief that the monitor wouldn’t be continuously watched.

“Grangeland, once again, your threat area is only the rear of the warehouse. Harv will cover the west and south, I’ll take the north. I’ll have a clear view if anyone approaches from that direction.”

“Understood.” She hustled down the street and disappeared into the shadows.

“Harv, I’ll circle around to the north corner of the building again. I’ll take the exact same route and radio when I’m in place.” He pulled his gloves a little snugger and grabbed the duffel.

Thirty seconds later, Harv stayed behind at the southwest corner of the warehouse while Nathan entered the alley with the white delivery vans. If anyone drove by, Harv could duck behind the recycle bins next to the warehouse.

Halfway down the alley, he heard a door open on his left.

Crap!

The timing couldn’t have been worse. He had no cover. If he ran for the containers twenty yards distant, he’d be seen for sure.

“Harv, I’m busted,” he whispered. “Stand by.”