Chapter 9 #2
“We’re on strategic rest, and likely will be for the next four days.
” Adam nods agreeing with my plan. “Okay, I can be there in the next two.
I'll land in the afternoon and meet you at a motel just on the outskirts.
I'll text the address to this phone and meet you both there, it'll be from a burner.
When I text you the address and time, get here for then.
I'll message you five minutes before to make sure you're outside.
When you respond, I'll let you in.” Jesus, why does this feel more covert than our current mission?
I suppose we technically have just gone off and started a shadow mission just Adam and I.
“Got it, see you then.” Just before I hang up, Ashley catches me as she says, “Brodie?
Be careful, both of you. You keep this between only the two of you.
You have no idea what you've stumbled into.” With that she hangs up, leaving a sharp chill in the air.
I hand Adam back his phone, looking down at it with a frown.
“Okay, so this isn't weirding me out right now” he says, turning the screen to me to show me that Ashley’s once active website is now blank with a message reading, Under construction, all existing orders have been completed and we'll be back shortly.
I swallow. “Well, that screams, we’ve 100% uncovered something we shouldn’t have.
” I turn to head back to the base, the only sound between us is our slow footsteps crunching in the gravel.
“I’ve got a bad feeling about all this Adam, more so than before.
I wish I hadn’t involved you in this.” I grind my teeth “Sorry for bringing you down with me.”
He grips my bicep and spins me to face him “I told you Nyx, I’m with you.
And after that call, there is no way in hell I’m letting you go out there alone.
” He gives me a tight smile; one I try to return.
Some partners bond over beers, but us? We bond over classified information and trying to stay alive to uncover it all.
That evening, we’re called in for an update on our next mission.
Blitz and Phantom are sitting on the camping sofas when we arrive, whilst Hawk is leaning over the table, flicking through the tablet whilst adding notes to the newly featured map.
We’re using it for our objections - photos, notes, and lines all interconnect our strategies.
Adam and I seat ourselves down, him thumbing his boots up on the table and lounging, alerting Hawk to our arrival.
Hawk stands back, arms folded and in a wide stance.
He nods to himself as he looks over the MO.
“Evening devils” he smiles, picks up what looks like a - is that a branch?
Christ’s sake. He whips it in his hand and starts off on his performance.
“656 had an interesting update for us last night on the vehicles we were monitoring. We managed to track Volokov and more of his men heading to the same location. It’s a shady nightclub just outside of Saint Petersburg, about a three-hour journey from here.
This is looking like their hub, only retreating from there to split into separate groups and go underground. ”
Blitz scoffs, “So it’s a lie?” All heads turn to look at her, I’m intrigued to hear where this is going.
She stares right back at each of us, as if we were the ones who just said the most random thing.
She shrugs “The wicked do in fact, need their rest.” Then she turns her full attention back to Hawk and smiles.
I often wonder what goes on in that little head of hers.
Hawk's still staring at her before he clears his throat “Okay.
Anyway, as I was saying. The last two weeks have shown they've had this pattern. We're going to give it one last weekend to check over before we intercept.” Then, as dramatic as ever - he uses his improvised pointer to flick to the board.” I shift in my seat as Adam asks “Shouldn't we be monitoring for a bit longer sir? Could be a coincidence it’s been the last two weekends.” I have to agree, but Hawk gives a tight smile.
“Normally we would Adam, but time isn't on our side. Intelligence ran checks on the building, and sure enough, the surname of the owner is Volokov.” He picks up some more pieces of papers, before adding them to a town outside of South Peterburg “He uses this place as a source of income, along with picking off victims for trafficking. It looks like quite the place to blow off some steam.”
Phantom's deep voice comes from my left. “So what's the plan for next weekend?” Hawk’s eyes go from him to the corridor again. “I’m going to send you guys in on a little undercover mission.” He smiles and Biltz loudly whoops, happy that she gets to play dress up and leave the base.
I, on the other hand, feel my heart fall out my ass at the chance of seeing Noc.
“You won’t be intercepting, only spending an hour or so in there.
Get a feel of the layout, see what you get inside.
Funnily enough, there’s no CCTV in the area.
” He shakes his head, what else would we expect from a world wide terrorist in the making?
Hawk begins to speak again before dismissing us for the night.
“Oh, and while you're all here, Graves has gone back to the US for the week.
He's arranging for 656 to join us on his return and will brief them on where we are so far. If anyone needs anything while he's gone, you know where I am.” We’re dismissed as he exits the command room, and I let out a little sigh of relief.
With Graves gone, it should be easier to meet up with Ashley, and the anxiety in my chest loosens a fraction.
The last thing we need is to get caught sneaking around by the Commander.