Chapter 16 - The Real Shipment
Mara pressed the phone to her ear. “Daniel? Where are you?”
“Listen. The equipment never left Fort Gray. Northwatch was the paperwork. The hardware is under the airfield.”
“Who has you?”
A shadow crossed his face. He looked over his shoulder. “Sloane is moving the last shipment today. Shaw needs the records destroyed before the auditors arrive.”
The video shook. Someone shouted in the background. Daniel's gaze found the camera again.
“Find Hangar Nine. And Mara—don't believe I'm innocent in all of this.”
The screen went black.
Mara replayed the last sentence until she hated the sound of it. She wanted to tell him that surviving didn't require being perfect. She wanted to ask what he'd done. Most of all, she wanted him home.
Reed secured the annex and ordered investigators to preserve every computer. The wounded officer was transported to a hospital, alive and stable. His team found evidence that the fleeing trucks had been packed with empty containers.
“Daniel was right,” Reed said. “Somebody wants us chasing boxes.”
Hangar Nine belonged to a military airfield under Sloane's authority. Reed had jurisdiction to investigate alleged fraud and trafficking, but the military side of the gate required coordinated support. He contacted a regional commander outside Sloane's chain.
Mara called Ortega, who knew the airfield routine. “What's moving today?”
“Supply transport at six thirty. Rourke ordered the ramp crew to sign blank loading sheets.”
“Can you get out?”
“Already did. I sent the order to Reed.”
Naomi drove them toward the airfield while the sky paled. Outside the fence, they saw pallets being loaded into a gray transport aircraft. A black sedan pulled beside the hangar. Sloane stepped out, followed by a woman wearing a civilian coat.
Shaw.
Mara felt Liang lean forward beside her. “That's not the surprise,” he said.
May you like
A third person climbed from the sedan. Hands bound, face bruised, but walking under his own power.
Daniel Bennett.
