A Touch of Deceit (Nick Bracco Series #1) by Gary Ponzo Page B

relayed the image to a handheld screen. With one hand holding the screen, Jake used his free hand to twist the fiber optic tube into position. It allowed Jake to scan the brightly lit kitchen. He maneuvered the tiny screen so Nick could see the image. The camera showed a man tied to a chair, swinging his leg wildly against the floor and the stove and anything else he could kick.
    “Recognize him?” Jake asked.
    Nick examined the image. It was definitely Phil. He was tied to a chair and swinging a free leg against the wall, thumping for attention. Nick realized that Phil was left alive for tactical reasons and it almost worried him more than seeing him dead. His brother’s survival was no oversight. He nodded to Jake. “It’s him.”
    Quietly Evans spoke into his radio, “What do you see on the east side, Cliff?”
    “Nothing,” a voice came back. “I don’t see a thing in either room.”
    “What about the south side?” Evans said.
    “It’s empty over here,” a different voice responded.
    “North?” Evans asked.
    “Zippo,” a third voice said.
    Evans looked at Nick. “The bottom floor is clear. We’re going in.”
    Nick couldn’t put it together, but he knew they were in danger.
    Evans waved for his men to fall in behind him. They moved toward the back door. Nick followed. Everyone had guns drawn except for two of Evans men who stood facing each other, gripping a large door ram between them. They rocked the steel pole, preparing to smash in the door. Evans pressed the button on his radio and was about give the order when Nick held up his hand.
    “Wait,” Nick said.
    Evans seemed confused. “Wait for what?”
    Nick thought for a moment. “The lights,” he said. “There’s a reason all the lights are on.”
    “You think they’re upstairs with night vision goggles?” Matt said. “We go charging in there and they shut off the electricity and ambush us with night gear.”
    Evans radioed everyone to have their infrared gear ready.
    Again Evans wanted to move and again Nick interrupted him.
    “This is what they want,” Nick said. “There’s a reason my brother is allowed to move around in there. They’re using him as bait.”
    This time Evans’ voice had an edge to it. “Listen, Bracco, we’ve got them surrounded and outnumbered. The longer we wait, the less chance we have of saving your brother.”
    “Believe me, I want him out of there more than you know,” Nick said. “There’s something very wrong here. Just give me a minute.”
    Evans eyes narrowed. For the first time since Nick had arrived in Las Vegas he considered who had rank. He could see that Evans was pondering the same question. Evans pushed the button on his radio while looking into Nick’s eyes. “Stand down,” he radioed. “We move in three minutes.”
    Nick returned to the side of the house with Matt alongside. Jake was still playing with his fiber optic toy when Nick asked him to step aside. Without ceremony, Nick took the butt of his gun and busted a hole in the kitchen window. The soprano pitch from the glass shattering sprung a couple garage lights to life. Evans looked thoroughly disgusted as he radioed his team a play-by-play description so they understood the noises being made.
    Nick slid the shade aside with the muzzle of his gun and caught a glimpse of his brother kicking his heel into the oven door.
    “Phil,” Nick called.
    Phil sat still, swinging his head from side to side, searching for the owner of the voice.
    Nick said, “Phil, don’t move.”
    Phil’s eyes frantically delivered the screams that he couldn’t get from of his taped mouth.
    “Do you want me to come get you?” Nick asked.
    Phil closed his eyes and shook his head violently.
    “No?”
    Again Phil shook his head. This time he arched his head toward the back door entrance to the kitchen.
    “What?” Nick asked. “You want me to go through that door?”
    Clearly frustrated, Phil glared at the door, desperately trying to draw Nick’s