Chapter 2 - Thirty Seconds to Clear the Yard
"Everybody back!" Rourke shouted.
A dozen rifles shifted before he stopped them with one raised hand. The woman's eyes stayed on the case. Its beeps came every two seconds, regular as a hospital monitor.
"That's not a bomb timer," she said. "It's a locator. Whatever is listening knows we're here."
"Who are you?"
"Someone who would rather not watch your people get hurt. Move them away from the vehicles. Now."
Rourke hated taking orders from a stranger. But the fear he'd shown at the glowing device hadn't disappeared. He ordered Torres to clear the handlers, sent Cole toward the east gate, and barked for radio silence.
Cole hesitated. "Ma'am, are you coming?"
"Go."
The loudspeaker snapped again. "Colonel, your evacuation is unauthorized."
Rourke glared up at the tower. "Captain Finch, who's on my PA?"
Only static answered. Two security pickups started rolling toward the corridor without being called. Their windshields were tinted dark enough to hide the drivers.
The woman grabbed Rourke's radio, switched it off, and threw it under the nearest bench.
"What the hell—"
"They used your command frequency to move those trucks."
She turned to Torres. "Your dog knows the old tunnel below the west kennels. Take your team there. No lights."
Torres glanced at Rourke. A single nod settled it.
As soldiers ran, Cole opened the red case. Inside were foam cutouts, one empty slot and a laminated service tag bearing the name ELIAS VALE.
"Sir! Somebody removed a transmitter."
The woman's jaw tightened. "Elias has been dead for nine years."
One pickup accelerated. Its grille clipped a metal water barrel and sent it spinning. Rourke shoved Cole behind a concrete divider as the truck charged past. Nobody fired; nobody knew who was inside.
The second pickup stopped by the gate. A uniformed major climbed out, smiling like he'd arrived at a picnic.
"Daniel," he called. "Headquarters sent me to clean up your little visitor problem."
Rourke stared at him. "Major Voss? You retired last month."
The woman stepped forward. "No, Colonel. He didn't retire. He was erased."
Voss saw the red light in her hand. His smile vanished.
May you like
"Mara Keene," he said softly. "I watched them bury you."
THE RED LIGHT PROTOCOL
