Chapter Twenty-Seven
RILEY SETTLED BACK in her seat inside the jet’s cabin and glanced at Andre. “Do you believe we can do this?” For now, they didn’t have enough information to discern the odds. Her lips curved. Maybe that was for the best.
“Depends.”
Not what she wanted to hear on the eve of a battle to stop a terrorist attack. “On?”
“The number of enemy combatants on site. I’m afraid we’ll need a third team to improve the odds of being successful.”
“If we pull this off, we’ll put a large dent in crime in the Chihuahua region. Although several groups are fighting for dominance, Obsidian Storm has the strongest hold.”
“How do you know this?”
“Veronica Walker sent me an updated threat assessment from one of her contacts at the CIA.”
He stared. “They knew and did nothing about the threat?”
“Obsidian Storm wasn’t a priority since no one thought a threat was imminent. Now that the threat is looming, all eyes are on them.”
“But no boots on the ground.”
“No boots. Since President Martin gave us the nod, The Company sent agents to the area with orders to sit back and watch. They’ll do cleanup if we’re successful.”
“And if we fail, they won’t come to our rescue.”
“You’ve got it.”
“Unbelievable. That’s why I’m glad I joined Fortress Security. Our teams aren’t disposable. If one team is in trouble, the others rush to help. Seems like CIA agents sink or swim on their own.”
“I don’t know about other handlers, but that’s the way my handler worked.”
Andre cupped her nape, his thumb caressing her jaw. “I hate your being alone for eight years.”
“I’m not now.”
As the jet leveled off, Seth stood at the front of the cabin and faced the operatives.
“We have seven hours before we land. Zane just sent updated information on the compound and Obsidian Storm’s hold in the region. Check your email, then let’s adjust our plan and make new backups.”
Except for Brent, the operatives groaned.
“Yeah, yeah,” Seth said. “You have five minutes, then we’ll talk.”
As she read Zane’s email, Riley’s gut knotted. This wasn’t good.
Andre shook his head, grim-faced. “I’m glad we don’t have a bookie taking bets on the odds of Fortress succeeding this time.”
“No kidding.”
At the five-minute mark, Seth stood. “Let’s get to work.”
The operatives and Maddox adjusted the plans they’d already devised and created new backup plans.
By the time the sixth hour rolled around, Seth and the others were refining details on five plans and five backup plans roughly outlined.
When they ran through all the plans, the operatives would improvise.
It’s what they did best, pivot and change directions in an instant.
Perhaps their ability to pivot and their over-the-top training at Personal Security International were why Fortress teams succeeded against the odds. The Delta Force soldiers in charge of operative training didn’t pull any punches and accepted zero excuses.
Seth stood in the center aisle. “Let’s get to work, folks.
We have one hour to revise the primary plans and the backups.
Find the flaws and come up with ways to work around them or ditch the plan.
Because we’re short on time, divide up by teams. David, you take plans one and two.
Echo will take plans three and four. Artemis will take plans five and backups one and two.
“After we’ve revised and discussed the plans, we’ll tackle the remaining three backups as a group. Brent, if you don’t mind, look at the final three plans and come up with recommendations to strengthen them.”
“Copy that.”
Iona stood. “Artemis will meet at the back of the jet.” She smiled at Andre. “Sorry, my friend. You’re not invited to this gathering.”
Operatives scattered around the cabin laughed.
David rose. “M team is in the middle.”
“Echo, move to the front.” Seth motioned toward the empty seats beside him. “Go.”
The operatives gathered around their team leaders and began the hard task of devising plans to gut Obsidian Storm and destroy any virus they found in the lab.
Near the end of their planning time, Riley turned to Violet. “I don’t know about the other teams, but we haven’t talked about how to destroy the virus. Please tell me you have some ideas.”
Teagan scowled. “We have to get inside the lab first, and that won’t be easy. Obsidian Storm must have top-notch security to keep the germs and virologists safe.”
Iona held up her hand. “While that’s true, we can’t wait until we break into a lab with dangerous substances to ask ourselves how to kill the germs. So, Violet, how do we prevent anyone from using the weaponized virus against the US?”
“Or us.” Rayne shuddered. “Gives me the creeps thinking about it.”
Violet’s lips curved at the corners. “It depends.”
Silence greeted her statement.
Rayne stared. “Tell me you’re kidding.”
“I’m afraid not.”
Iona folded her arms across her chest. “Explain.”
“We suspect Obsidian Storm has weaponized the flu virus because that’s what they were close to perfecting a decade ago. Ten years is a long time to wait for revenge. They might not have followed the same plan their fathers used. They could weaponize the flu or something else.”
“A germ is a germ.”
“That’s just it. It might not be a germ.”
“What’s worse than that?”
“Ricin, for one. They might have used many things that are several cuts above the flu in terms of danger.”
Riley thought about that, then shook her head.
“Since Zane confirmed four scientists, two of whom are virologists, are missing from Chihuahua Province, I think we were right in assuming they’re weaponizing a virus.
” All the options Violet laid out made Riley cringe.
She didn’t want to imagine a world in chaos following the release of a germ or deadly toxin.
Riley turned to her friend. “So, back to my original question. Assuming they’re working with a virus in that lab, how do we destroy a weaponized virus?”
“I have some ideas, but I’m serious when I say it depends. I don’t know what equipment they have in the lab, so I can’t say how we’ll get rid of it. Dr. Sorenson and I discussed various ways to destroy the virus.”
Rayne looked exasperated. “Can’t you give us a hint? It’s creepy knowing I’ll be in a lab with germs that could kill me if they got loose.”
Teagan raised her hand. “Same.”
Seth stood at the front of the jet. “Let’s hear what plans you came up with. Iona, you go first.”
They went from one team to another, tossing plan corrections out and tinkering with others until ultimately they chose the plan with the strongest chance to succeed.
After that, they arranged backup plans in order of attractiveness and chances of success.
Seth looked at the teams. “If we reach the end of the list, what should you do?”
Brent stood. “Create another one on the fly. It better be a good one because my daughter has a dance competition in two days, and I don’t want to miss it.”
“Copy that, sir.” David Montgomery looked at the rest of the operatives. “You heard the man. We go in, take care of business without exposing ourselves to the virus, and go home.”
When the jet landed on a private airstrip an hour outside of Izamal, the operatives were geared up and ready to roll. Four SUVs lined the side of the tarmac, each with a man waiting near the hood.
Were the four strangers waiting for them friend or foe? Would they turn on Fortress?
Brent didn’t have such reservations. He descended the stairs with Seth and David on his heels.
Rayne frowned at Iona. “Why didn’t you go with them? You have the right to be involved in discussions important to the safety of Artemis.”
“We’re Fortress’ secret advantage. In this business, people don’t expect many women to be part of black ops. Brent wants every advantage we have to deal with Obsidian Storm.”
“They already know we exist. That’s why our team is now a target, too.”
Riley scowled. “Our team is a target because of me. I’m the one who got us into this mess.”
“Stop.” Iona pointed at her. “Artemis didn’t exist when you assassinated Garcia.
This isn’t your fault. If anything, you gave us ten years of safety because you stopped the Storm leadership in its tracks.
It’s taken ten years to rebuild their infrastructure and leadership to this point. That’s what your work accomplished.”
She blinked hard to dispel the tears gathering in her eyes. “Thanks for saying that.”
“I’m speaking the truth.”
“I wish I’d known about the virus. I might have been able to destroy it back then.”
Teagan shook her head. “Would have been a suicide mission. It’s possible you might have caught the virus and died. On top of that, you didn’t have backup.”
Rayne turned toward Riley. “And now you do. I think we have a better chance of succeeding now than you would have ten years ago. You didn’t have Artemis, Echo, and M team on your side. We’ll make all the difference this time. You’ll see.”
She hoped her friend was right. Artemis, Echo, and M team were at the top of their game. The one thing she didn’t want was for these men and women to be seriously injured or lose their lives for something she started.
Riley straightened her shoulders. This was her fight. She needed to finish it.
Iona turned from the window. “Time to go. The four men are leaving.” She gave the signal to move out the moment the men were out of sight.
The women of Artemis descended the jet stairs to the tarmac and joined their Echo partners. Within minutes, the three teams climbed into the SUVs, and the caravan began its journey to Izamal with Brent Maddox at the wheel of the lead SUV.
Andre glanced at their boss, amusement in his eyes. “You know, sir, I think you’re enjoying being back in action.”
Brent chuckled. “It’s light years away from sitting behind a desk all day. I don’t tell Rowan, but I miss the action. Don’t get me wrong. Although I wouldn’t trade my family for anything, I miss the adrenaline rush of combat. What I don’t miss is losing friends and colleagues to the enemy.”
“Same, sir.”
“Stay alert. Though I don’t think Garcia and Mendoza know we’re here yet, we can’t be too careful in this province.”
“Copy that, sir.” Andre twisted in his seat to have a better view of the area on the right side of the SUV as they passed.
Riley kept watch out the left side of their vehicle. One thing she’d always disliked about Mexico was the utter darkness in the countryside. Many of the Fortress assignments were in areas that didn’t waste funds on frivolous lighting.
She shuddered. Riley hated darkness. That was the reason she had night lights in every room. Her gaze shifted to Andre for a beat. He never mentioned them when he visited her home. Would needing a light in every room make him see her as weak?
Riley shifted her focus once again to the left side of the vehicle. If Andre had a problem with the lights, he’d have to get over it. Many people were phobic about the dark. She was in good company.
Half a mile from the Storm compound, a heavy fog drifted across the landscape and roads. Nice. Finally, something was going their way. The fog would help conceal their presence and movement inside the compound.
Brent tapped his earpiece. “Good tree cover here for the SUVs. Excellent work selecting this site, Seth.” He stopped in the roadway and backed into the deep shadows of the trees.
As soon as he turned off the engine, Riley and Andre exited and circled to the back of the SUV to grab their bags. After making sure their equipment was operational, the three of them joined the other operatives.
Seth made a call. “Zane, we’re ready for you to join the loop.”
A moment later, he said in their earpieces, “Copy that.”
“Any signs of change in the compound?”
“Not so far.”
“I need to know when that changes.” Seth turned to the others. “You have your assignments. Stick to Plan A until I say otherwise. Questions? This is your last chance to ask them.”
No one spoke.
“Load up and divide into your groups. Do your jobs but watch each other’s backs. Wait for my signal to move out.”
Two minutes later, the operatives were ready. Seth looked at David. “M team, go. Watch your backs.”
With a wave, they merged into the shadows and disappeared from view.
Riley wrapped her hand around Andre’s and squeezed. “Don’t forget I have plans with you.”
“I have plans with you, too.” He cupped her chin in his palm. “I love you.”
“I love you, too, Andre.”
“Artemis, you’re next.”
Riley joined her teammates and waited for the signal to go.
A moment later, Seth pointed at Iona. “Go. Watch yourselves and be safe.”
Teagan glanced over her shoulder at her husband and winked, then she and the rest of Artemis moved into the shadows of the trees.
Iona signaled Artemis to spread out. After Riley and the others separated from each other, they made their way through the woods, placing their feet with care to prevent announcing their presence as they approached their designated entry point into the compound.
Their orders included a silent, undetected entry. In an emergency, they each carried explosive devices. If her team had to use Grant’s bombs, they were in deep trouble. She’d prefer to avoid that if possible. Riley had plans with Andre and didn’t want anyone or anything to interfere.
Riley shifted to the left when Iona gave the signal and surged ahead of her teammates to scout for trouble. Five hundred feet later, she paused.
She crouched to examine a place where the dirt lay in an unnatural pattern. A stake in the ground? When Riley inched closer, she caught the glint of light from the compound’s exterior lights on a wire strung from one stake to another.
She tapped her earpiece. “Stay sharp. Tripwires.”