Code of Honor

Chapter Thirty-five

Blair grabbed her cell on the first ring. “Hello?”

“An operation is under way to locate the compound and execute an aggressive rescue,” Valerie said.

“You know where to look?” Blair held her breath, everything disappearing except the sound of Valerie’s voice.

“We have a general area, and we have the kind of surveillance we need to locate individuals on the ground. The aircraft are being launched now from a secure location in Nevada. They ought to be in position within the hour.”

“How will you get Cam out?”

“If the terrorists refuse to release her and the other hostage under threat of retaliation, there will be a coordinated strike from the air to enable a Delta Team to drop in.”

“How did you—”

“I can’t tell you anything further.”

Blair didn’t push for details, knowing the kind of operation Valerie had set in motion was not altogether sanctioned, at least not in the territorial U.S. “If you’re in debt to someone, I’ll pay the tab.”

“That’s not necessary. But thank you.”

“Can you get me to Idaho?”

Valerie laughed softly. “I’m surprised you’ve waited this long to ask.”

“I didn’t want to be too far away in case Lucinda needed me or something changed. Now I want to be there when Cam comes out.”

“I’ll have transport for you within the hour at Andrews. Do you need a ride out there?”

“No. Stark can get me there.”

“Don’t plan on going up the mountain, Blair.”

“I won’t make any promises.”

“No, I didn’t think you would. Be careful.”

“I will, and Valerie—thank you. More than I can say.”

“Just don’t get hurt. Cameron would not be happy.”

*

This time, when Loren called the White House, she was put through to Lucinda Washburn within seconds. “Something’s come up. FALA wants guns in a hurry, and the bikers I ride with are set to deliver.”

“How much firepower are we talking about?”

“I can’t be sure. We’re picking up fifty to a hundred automatic weapons, maybe more. You’ve got to figure they’ve got others stockpiled at their camp.”

“When do you expect to make delivery?”

“If the current timetable holds,” Loren said, “right about dawn.”

“And you think this is the group holding Director Roberts and Special Agent Dunbar?” Lucinda asked.

“It’s the only thing that makes sense. I don’t know why the militia would target Roberts, but I assume you do. Sky is likely collateral damage, and if that’s the case, her life isn’t worth much. If we don’t get them out of there soon, both are probably going to be casualties.”

“Where’s the gun exchange happening?”

“Somewhere up in the Bitterroots. The plan is to show up in numbers and force the militia to take us back to the compound. The Renegades seem to think FALA is working with the law. I don’t know why, but I think someone is playing the two groups off each other.”

Lucinda went silent, and Loren could practically hear the gears turning. Finally, the chief of staff said, “Who’s bankrolling the gun buy?”

“That’s what I’m here to find out.”

“Best guess?”

“Someone on the far right with connections. Someone with solid supporters. My guess is the money is coming from powerful donors for promises of legislation they favor in the future.”

“There are very few people who come to mind who have that kind of reach.”

“I know, and that’s why I’m in Idaho.”

“Yes. And I wish I’d known that sooner.”

Loren had a feeling someone at the FBI was in for an ass-chewing, but that wasn’t her problem. Her cover was likely going to be blown before the night finished, not that she cared. Sky was all that mattered now. Washington could worry about the politics. “Not my call.”

“I’m aware. Can you avoid going on this run?”

“Not possible. I’m part of it.”

Washburn went quiet again, a sure sign there was trouble and she was trying to figure out how to approach it.

“What’s going on?” Loren asked.

“We’re commencing aerial surveillance momentarily. It might not be safe for you to try to penetrate the compound now.”

“Surveillance? Something tells me you’re not talking about sheriff’s deputies in helicopters.”

“Something a little less obvious than that.”

Loren should’ve figured the White House would pull out all the stops for someone like Roberts. Someone was pulling strings, had to be. She knew her phone was secure and she hoped the White House line was too. Homeland and Customs and Border Patrol had been making noises about gearing up a fleet of unmanned Predator drones capable of monitoring cell phone communication and other on-the-ground electronic signals, as well as discriminating between individuals who were armed and unarmed. With facial recognition, they might be able to target specific individuals in FALA’s compound, but the instant they launched an attack, FALA would counterattack. Potential witnesses would be the first to die. “Armed Predators?”

“Let’s just say remote technology with the capability of identifying individuals on the ground and directing specific action as required.”

“Ground transmission monitoring too?”

“Yes.”

Hell. They were definitely planning an assault on the camp. “You might be able to blow up the place, but that’s not going to get Roberts and Dunbar out of there. You need boots on the ground for that.”

“Once the area is secured, we’ll bring in—”

“You’ll be too late. At the first sign of aggression, the militia is going to execute the two of them. This is a great way to lose the hostages.”

“They’ve left us little choice. Experience has shown the longer we wait, the higher the losses. We prefer not to lose you as well. I can’t order you—”

“No, you can’t. Because we both know this conversation never happened. I’ll call you with a new number if you need to reach me, but you’ll have eyes and ears on all of us soon enough.” Loren disconnected, crushed the cell phone under her boot, and put the remnants in her pocket. She’d ditch them somewhere along the highway on the way to pick up the guns. The chip was probably untraceable, but she couldn’t take any chances. She had to keep her cover in place until she got to the camp.

She needed to get up that mountain and join the Renegades when they stormed the compound, and she had to do it before the Predators unleashed their missiles. If she could get Sky and Roberts into the woods, they all might have a chance of making it out alive.

*

At the sound of footfalls approaching the door, Cam focused on staying as relaxed as she could manage. She kept her legs crossed at the ankles and her hands loosely clasped in her lap, telegraphing her confidence and that she and Dunbar were not afraid of their situation. The only weapons she had at her disposal were psychological—and the chance she might goad Jones into telling her something useful or distracting her enough to drop her guard.

Jones walked in, still in combat gear, and strode to the end of Cam’s bed, her eyes glittering with triumph. “We’ll bring you something to eat in a few minutes. You’re going to do some marching in the morning, so you’d better eat it and get some sleep.”

“We need some antibiotics.” Cam gestured to Dunbar, whose eyes were closed. She was either feigning sleep, a smart move, or had fallen into a stupor. “She’s running a temperature.”

“I heard. I’ll see to it.”

“Is your name Pattee like your sister’s?”

Jones smiled thinly. “You don’t need to know anything about me.”

“Actually, I already do. I know you and your sister were homeschooled, which really amounted to being indoctrinated and trained to infiltrate high-level organizations as part of a long-range plan to cripple the government. That’s pretty impressive and a cut above usual paramilitary capability.”

“We’re not an ordinary unit. That should be obvious,” Jones said curtly. “But even say you’re right. So what?” She gripped the iron frame at the end of the bed and leaned forward. “You’re my prisoner now. If you follow orders, you just might live a little while longer.”

“Where do you plan on taking us?”

“You don’t need to know that.” Jones smiled. “All you need to know is I’m going to let you go—just as soon as we have my sister.”

“Washington will never agree to that if they haven’t talked to me. They’ll require proof of life.”

“Oh, they’ve asked. And we’ll give it to them. On our timetable, not theirs.” Jones’s expression darkened. “We don’t follow their orders.”

“The antibiotics?”

Impatiently, Jones removed a set of keys from her right cargo pocket, crossed to the drug cabinet, opened it, and came out with a bottle of pills. She tossed it to Cam, who caught it one-handed. “Amoxicillin. Give her two now and another one in four hours.”

“Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me. I’m just doing it so I can deliver her as part of the deal. But she’s not the critical element. If she can’t make the march, she’ll have to…stay behind.”

“She’ll make it.”

“That’s on you, Director Roberts. Because I couldn’t care less.”

A knock sounded on the door, and a guard Cam hadn’t seen before backed in, balancing food trays in each hand.

Jones said, “Your dinner’s here. You’d do well to eat it. Have a good night.”

Cam swung her legs over the side of the bed and sat up. She estimated Lucinda had until morning to find them and launch a rescue. Once they left the compound, their chances of survival dropped to near zero. An ache settled around her heart. She’d give anything to speak to Blair one more time.

“It’s too soon to think about good-bye,” Dunbar whispered, her gaze unwavering on Cam’s.

“I thought you were asleep,” Cam said.

“Just conserving energy.”

“Good. You hungry?”

“No,” Dunbar said, pushing herself up against the head of the bed with her uninjured arm. “But I’m going to eat. I’ve got a lot of reasons to get out of here.” She smiled faintly. “One is personal. And I want the chance to tell her so.”