After less than half an hour they were all back in the meeting room. Markus showed them the plans of the five buildings with the entrances, possible hiding places for the sentries, escape routes. When he had finished, he handed out PDAs to everyone on which he had loaded the files.
"Explosives?"
Leon nodded, "All set."
"Let's go then," said Christopher. In the corridor Markus flanked him. "You don't have to come."
"But I want to. I will not leave your brother in the hands of those strays. I am a lone wolf, and you are my friend. I choose my battles."
"Thank you." Christopher knew the value of Markus not only in front of a keyboard, but also with a weapon in his hand. "Lucian, go west with Ty then. Leon and Raeg will go south."
The werewolves nodded and climbed into their cars. The three SUVs separated at the exit of the mansion, each heading for their own targets.
***
When they reached the railway carriage factory they knew they had finally found their target. Located on the north-western outskirts of Oldgrove, it consisted of three U-shaped bodies around a large central clearing with tracks that connected to the secondary railway line. The place looked as dilapidated as the previous two they had scouted, but Markus' experienced eye was quick to spot the surveillance cameras mounted on the outer structures. The old fence had not been fixed, but it too was well guarded.
Christopher called Raeg and Ty and told them to join them, then stood observing the crumbling structure.
"What doesn't convince you?" asked Markus finally.
The pack leader shook his head. 'This must be the training centre Natalie had told us about, but I don't think Nereus lives in there. When I saw him, I noticed he was wearing designer clothes and shoes. Apart from the scar on his face, his appearance was very well groomed. I don't think he would elect such a place as his residence."
"Are you thinking of any mansions?"
Chritopher nodded.
"And would you keep the prisoners in your private residence?" Alex looked at him thoughtfully.
"He would have them at hand. And he could make sure they are not killed by mistake. His is a pack of poorly trained strays. Some are even recent wolves. Aggression and unpredictability increase exponentially in such a situation. I don't think he would risk losing a prisoner like Michael by entrusting him to the inexperienced hands of his men."
"Then I will research the latest building sales in the city," Markus said.
"It is not necessary." Alex's eyes shifted from Markus to Christopher. "There are only three historic residences in Oldgrove. One on Grafton Street, one near St James Park and one in Regent Square."
"The one near St. James Park is a Barclay residence. We only have two to check out. Markus, go back to the mansion and research these two residences. We will wait for the others, then move into town."
Markus smiled. 'That's not necessary,' he said, pulling a laptop out of his backpack.
***
The Grafton residence was a Victorian-style house. Christopher and Alex looked at the white façade before turning their attention back to the floor plan Markus was showing them. "... and in the basement level are the storerooms and cellars," the latter concluded, changing pages on the tablet.
"There are cameras all over the perimeter wall," Christopher said, putting down his binoculars.
"May I?" asked Alex, extending a hand. The werewolf nodded and handed it to him. Alex took a long look at the front of the building and the position of the cameras. "Is there no way to rule out at least one of the cameras?"
"Sure." Markus' grin was a clear sign that this was child's play for him.
"Then I can come in."
Christopher raised an eyebrow. "In a werewolf lair, alone? The best way to provide Nereus with a new hostage."
Alex looked at him seriously. "Among my talents is that of flat thief. I doubt that either of you have experience in this field."
Markus shrugged. "I certainly don't."
Alex shifted his gaze to Christopher.
"No," replied these. "But I still don't think it's the best option."
"If you came in force they would kill them immediately. I might be able to go unnoticed."
"The girl is right," Markus said, looking at the pack leader.
"So be it."
***
Markus gave Alex an earpiece and a locator. 'So we can follow you,' he explained to her. He then disappeared with a small gadget in his hand, returning a few minutes later. He went to his laptop and his fingers began to move quickly and confidently over the keyboard. "OK, where do you plan to enter from?"
Alex studied the ground floor plan. "East side: it looks like there are service rooms. It is possible that some shutters have been left open."
Markus nodded. 'Then I will blind this camera,' he told her, pointing at it.
Alex nodded.
"Go, but before you climb over wait for me to give you the go."
"OK." Alex got out of the car and approached the wall surrounding the property. It was a couple of metres high and therefore easy to get over without the cameras guarding it.
Markus' voice reached her a few moments later. "All clear!"
With a leap Alex hooked his hands onto the wall, then hoisted himself up. The foliage of a tree covered her from the view of anyone who might be inside the garden. She stood still long enough to make sure no one was there, then jumped down.
Now he had to find a way in. From the shelter of the tree he observed the building, and his lips curved into a smile. The balcony on the mezzanine floor was open, as was a small service door on the lower left. A couple of the windows on the first floor were also open. They were definitely not expecting guests. From her sheath she drew one of the daggers, then keeping low among the bushes and hedges she approached the back door. She asked Markus where it led.
"Kitchen area and storerooms, then the stairs to the cellar."
Silently Alex reached the opening and stood waiting. Hearing no noise, he stretched his head to check, but the room, a kind of storeroom, was deserted. He advanced silently to the door. Beyond, a corridor branched off in both directions.
"Left," Markus' voice addressed her.
Alex walked the few metres, then flattened himself against the wall, listening. Hearing nothing, he turned right. The corridor ended with an open door. Beyond it, he could see the stairs descending to the basement. Neon lamps hanging on the walls illuminated the low passageway and the stone stairs.
Arriving at the end, Alex found another hallway onto which five doors opened, all closed. None of them seemed to make a sound, so she decided to test the first handle. It was open, and gave way under his pressure. From the crack came a musty, closed smell. Inside it was dark.
The sound of footsteps in the corridor above removed all doubt from her: she entered the room, closing the door behind her. She waited in silence as the footsteps approached. Her heart thudded loudly in her ears and her hands pulled the second dagger from its case. The footsteps passed the door he was hiding behind and stopped a little further on. There followed the click of a lock and the sound of moving metal objects, then the footsteps returned into the corridor, to stop again. A lock was opened, and the footsteps crossed the threshold.
"So, which way do you want me to start?" The voice, filled with mockery, was covered by the sound of a flex.
Alex drew a breath and stepped out of his shelter. She reached the open door on the opposite side and peered inside. A tall, strong man with a shaved head stood with his back to her. Beyond, hanging from chains that hung from the ceiling, were Michael and, next to him, Andy. Their eyes were fixed on the tormentor who was holding the lit flex in his hand and approaching Michael.
Alex's rage mounted in an instant. In two strides he reached the werewolf from behind. With the first dagger he severed the tendons and ligaments of his left knee, with the second he sliced clean through the throat, preventing the man's scream from taking shape. He took the flex from his hand and switched it off. Then he ran towards Michael. His eyes were filled with surprise. His face swollen and bruised... his torso, naked, completely battered and covered in blood.
Alex fixed his eyes in hers. "I'll get you down." And without adding anything else he lowered himself and began to rummage through the corpse until he found some keys. He freed his ankles from the shackles, then went to the wall where the chain was attached. He fumbled until he found the right key, then slowly lowered it with the pulley.
Michael's legs, however, were unable to hold him up. When they hit the ground they sagged as if they were made of rag. Alex reached him and propped herself under his left arm, then released her wrists as well. His weight fell back onto her shoulders. Michael's knees buckled, but she managed to support him and helped him sit up by leaning his back against the wall.
"I found them," he said into the earpiece. Then she began to fiddle with the chains that imprisoned Andy. "It will be fine," she told him when a blue eye fixed itself on her.
"How are they?" Christopher's voice suggested concern.
"Alive," Alex replied. "But I need a hand," he concluded as he supported Andy.
The two prisoners did not have sufficient strength to walk out on their own legs.
"We'll catch up with you."
Alex drew the gun Christopher had handed her from the holster and flattened herself near the door so as to keep an eye on the stairs. The foreman had briefly explained to her how to operate it, but she did not know how effective she would be with that weapon.
Meanwhile, Michael tried to regain his upright position. He felt his legs heavy as lead and devoid of feeling, but he clenched his teeth and, one step after the other, moved forward, approaching the door. He understood that he could not help in the event of a battle, but he would still try to protect Alex if necessary.
"It's us!" Christopher's voice made Alex lower his gun, and he stepped through the door and motioned for them to join him.
Christopher lost only a moment in squaring up to his brother and friend, then put Michael's arm around his shoulders and passed his own around his chest to support him. Then, carrying him almost by weight, he reached the stairs. Markus did the same with Andy.
Christopher's gun coldly shot the werewolf they encountered in the corridor. They turned quickly to the right, into the room they had entered. Here a man lay lying prone in a pool of his own blood.
They had not reached the door when some calls echoed through the house.
Christopher and Markus rushed out, turning and pointing their guns in the air. Shots rang out as from upstairs Nereus' men, alerted, tried to block the intruders. As Christopher passed Andy to Markus to get over the boundary wall, Nereus' werewolves arrived in the garden. Markus shot three of them dead as Christopher and Alex climbed over, then leapt into the street himself.
The SUV was finally leaving Nereus' mansion behind when Christopher turned to look at his brother lying with his head resting on Alex's chest. One of her hands gently caressed his dishevelled, blood-encrusted hair. The pack leader's eyes lit up with fury as they scanned the numerous wounds on Michael's body. In the other corner, Andy lay with his head abandoned against the seat, his face deformed by torture, his eyes narrowed.
The pack leader looked back at the road, took his mobile phone out of his pocket and dialled a number. "Destroy everything. I don't want any survivors!"