Page 75 of Until the End

“Sure you wouldn’t prefer to crawl?” Castle flashed a half grin.

“Positive.”

They hit the bottom landing. “The dock is this way.”

Passing a darkened corner, they walked down a hall and pressed on through double doors. Receiving was a flurry of activity, full of trucks unloading, boxes being stacked and piled on dollies. At least four workers stayed in constant motion.

Lenny went up to the pickup window and addressed the clerk. “Hi. Professor Mendoza.” He flashed his MIT ID. “I’m expecting a package. Should’ve been delivered this morning.”

“Sure thing. Gimme a sec.” The clerk moseyed over to a stack of packages and started checking them.

“Shit,” Castle said low, where only she and Alistair could hear. “Wheeler is sending two more this way from outside, in through the dock.”

Kit turned toward the open bay, peering in between the vehicles.

“Mendoza,” Castle said. “Hurry it up.”

“What do you want me to do? Put a gun to the guy’s head?” Lenny snapped, drawing a wary glance from the clerk. “Figure of speech. Sorry.”

“Two down upstairs,” Alistair said over comms.

One good thing at least. But how many more were there?

“I found ID,” Alistair continued. “They’re from Zanteon. Contractors.”

Contractors? Hired to do what exactly? And by whom?

“Sweep the first floor for other threats,” Castle ordered, “and clear an exit.”

“Always so demanding,” Alistair said. “Do this, do that. How about a thank you every now and again?”

“Are you feeling unappreciated?” Castle asked.

“As a matter of fact, I am.”

“Boo-hoo. Get to work.”

How did they juggle banter with riding-the-edge-of-death covert operative stuff? Kit could barely think straight much less come up with a witty retort. Maybe it was their warped way of dealing with things.

“It’s not here.” The clerk rifled through the boxes and large envelopes a second time. “Nothing for Mendoza.”

“Kit, are you sure it’s been delivered?” Lenny asked, his brow furrowed.

“FedEx said delivery no later than nine.” Kit looked at the clock on the wall. 8:45. “Maybe it’s not here yet.”

“We have to go,” Castle said.

“Not without the hard drives.”

“Those Zanteon guys will be here any second. We can’t wait.”

25

They couldn’t leave empty-handed, not after coming all this way. “Can you check the mail set aside for EECS?” Kit asked the clerk. “A box, eleven by eight by four. Please.”

“From FedEx,” Lenny added.

The clerk huffed a sigh and schlepped back to the deliveries.