Stealth Insurgence by Vikki Kestell

Author:Vikki Kestell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Mystery & Suspense, Action & Adventure, Contemporary Romance, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Christian Books & Bibles, Thrillers & Suspense, Speculative Fiction
Publisher: Faith-Filled Fiction
Published: 2021-12-02T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 23

Hands on his hips, Zander stood in the shadow of a tall euonymus bush and surveyed the house across the street. It was as Izzie had described it. He took in the sprawling, two-story adobe Santa-Fe-style structure and wondered how Easterly paid the lease on his salary.

I couldn’t afford something like this when I was the young adult associate pastor. Maybe Easterly collects rents from his housemates.

Another thought occurred to him. Or, maybe someone else, someone with even greater sinister intent, is backing him.

He snorted. Yeah, and maybe I’m entertaining wacky conspiracy theories.

“Nano, as soon as we’re inside, please provide me with the layout of the place—including who’s presently in the house and where they are.”

Yes, Zander Cruz. We will.

“Nano, cover me, please.”

As the nanocloud deployed their mirrors, Zander, as invisible as a breeze, cut kitty-corner across the street and headed toward Izzie’s car. It was right where she said she’d parked it. He peered through one of the windows.

Zander Cruz, Izzie’s car has not been tampered with.

“Good to know. Thanks.”

He checked the time before he started toward the front door: 9:45 a.m. He strode up the walk and steep porch steps and stood before the impressive front door. Nanomites flew from him and penetrated the door’s thick wood, streams of them going this way or that way, sending scouts into every corner of the house. A thread of them attacked the alarm box located inside the foyer. Within seconds, the door opened on nano-greased hinges.

We have defeated the house’s security system, Zander Cruz.

“Well, hey—you hacked the White House, Nano. After that, the rest is Tinkertoys, right?”

Indeed.

Zander smiled to himself. The nanomites’ one-word response had been dry. Mildly amused and complacently superior.

Soon a 3D schematic of the house appeared before Zander. He closed his eyes and stepped into the model. Immediately, he was immersed in the house’s virtual layout. Before going any farther, he studied what the nanomites had tagged.

No one other than himself appeared to be on the ground floor, even this close to 10 a.m.

Well, it is New Year’s morning, and according to Izzie, the household partied hard last night.

When he scanned upstairs, he counted eight individuals in four bedrooms—all of them sleeping. Two individuals occupied each bedroom, and the nanomites had placed nametags on each bed. Sure enough, the largest bedroom housed Easterly and Stan Missing.

“I’ll try to be quiet, Nano, but let me know if anyone wakes up.”

We will, Zander Cruz.

He left the entryway and moved soundlessly through the living room—a virtual living room in the warehouse that mirrored his movements in the actual living room. Whatever he focused on in the warehouse, the nanomites brought closer, providing salient details for him.

Zander was particularly interested in the two locked rooms Izzie had mentioned.

“I had the run of the place except for two rooms on either side of the big family room. The doors to those rooms were always locked. It was like they were hiding something from me.”

Zander walked toward the room on the right of the living room.

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