He nodded. “We’ve always got an emergency crew on call.”
“Get them over to Phil’s office and comb the area for a dark gray Dodge van, registration 437 ECH, with antennas on the roof. It should be within a few blocks. Whoever’s doing this will be right there.”
Finnion gave a curt nod. “Okay. Kyle, rustle ’em out. Let’s move it.”
Garsten was still looking incredulously at the screen. “How in hell did they get in? Look at that. . . . Goddamn beer can walking down my hall!”
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Corfe made his way to the rear of the house and found the place where the capped-off pipe that looked like a piece of old dryer vent entered from the outside. The inside end was covered by a painted aluminum plate held by four screws, which the mec removed without difficulty. Peering in, he saw that the way to the outside cap, about eighteen inches away, was unobstructed. There was no more to be done here for the moment. The mec would be best left where it was for the time being, to help carry the additional equipment away when it was brought through. “Okay, I’m done for now, and exiting,” he announced.
“Did you find a way in?” Kevin’s voice asked.
“I think so. It’s time to tackle it from the outside. How’s it going with you guys?”
“Oh, we’re getting there. Talk to you soon.”
Corfe called down the Control menu, exited, and was promptly back in the van beside Michelle. He removed the headset and collar, yawned, and rubbed his eyes with his fingers.
“Taking a break?” Michelle said.
“There’s just a cap to take off from the outside, which shouldn’t be a problem.” He looked up at the screen monitoring Kevin’s video output, which was showing columns of names and numbers. “What do we have there?”
“We’re going through the file indexes. The system’s starting to make sense.”
“Will you be okay on your own here for a while?”
“Sure.”
“I might as well take the extra stuff over now. It shouldn’t take more than thirty minutes at the most. You’re sure you’ll be okay?”
“Doug, stop fussing.”
“You’re right. It’s nerves, I guess.” Corfe indicated the canvas tool bag containing the additional mecs and other items to be sent in from outside, which he had placed inside the rear door. “Can you hand me that?” Michelle tried to reach, but couldn’t turn her seat far enough. “It’s okay,” Corfe said. “I’ll come around outside.” He slid out of the coupler seat and opened the partitioning curtain to the front. Just as he was about to leave, Michelle said:
“Will I need to do anything with this?” She gestured to indicate the panels and controls.
Corfe thought for a moment. Then he took one of the van’s complement of smaller mecs from a storage rack and put it down on the console in front of her. “Here,” he said. “If you need to change anything, get Kevin to couple through into this. He can be the guide.”
“Great. Thanks,” Michelle said.
“Back soon.”
“Good luck. Be careful.”
Corfe squeezed between the front seats and climbed out via the driver’s door. The street alongside the parking lot was quiet, the air cool and fresh after the mugginess inside. He drew in a long breath, stretched, and exhaled gratefully. Then he went around to the back of the van, retrieved the canvas bag from inside, closed the rear door, and walked away along the street.
The vent was at the back of the house, which meant going inside the fence and around. If that looked suspicious, it was a risk that just had to be taken. After a bit of searching, Corfe located the outlet and found that it was partly shielded by the shrubbery, which made him not quite so conspicuous, at least. He squatted down, and working quickly, removed the cap and transferred the mecs and other things from his bag into the opening of the pipe. Then he straightened up, and for the benefit of anyone curious who might be watching, made a show of inspecting the junction box where a power cable from a nearby distribution pole entered the house, and then scribbling in a notebook. Casting a final look around as if he had every right to be there, he returned the notebook to his pocket, picked up the tool bag, and departed back for the van.