“Uh, excuse me,” said Professor Mills. “Since it was me that started this mess, perhaps he’d emerge to speak with me.”
“He’d kill you before you were ever able to speak to him,” said Gator. “You have nothing to offer him any longer, except the possibility of where Marissa is located. Even then, he’s arrogant enough to believe that he can find her on his own.”
“But we have to try something,” said Mills. “I want to help resolve this. Marissa and the others deserve to have a life where they’re not hidden. They’re brilliant students and have much to offer the world.”
The men stared at one another, then Joey turned to River.
“How far is the FBI willing to go on this? Will they go as far as we need them to go?” he asked.
“Maybe. I know they didn’t want me using my ‘rogue family ways’, whatever the fuck that means. I think if we could get them to help us just locate him. They might be willing to step back after that if we let them have the arrest.”
“River, I know you’re not naïve, son,” said Patrick. “They won’t kill him. They’ll take him in, question him to death, and release him to his own country on the guarantee that he won’t enter the U.S. again. It’s all political bullshit.”
“Look, I’m not naïve. I know how these things work. All I’m saying is that’s the way we could get them to help us. Our tech and comms teams are amazing but you have to remember that the feds have thousands of men and women working these clues every day.”
Ham looked at Jak and Gator, all of them turning to give that ‘look’ to one another.
“What are they doing?” whispered Red to Joey.
“Communicating.”
“It’s late,” said Rush. “Let’s get some sleep and we can start first thing in the morning with a fresh perspective. No one enters the hut unless they’re one of us, or the MPs outside.”
Everyone moved to their beds, Marissa and Joey pushing theirs slightly closer together. It wouldn’t allow them to snuggle, but they could hold hands and whisper to one another.
“It’s going to all work out,” he smiled at her.
“I know. I know because you’re here and I trust you more than anyone else. I’m just scared. All these people, our family, here and risking their lives for me. There has to be a better way.”
“Get some rest, babe. We’ll talk more in the morning. For now, we’re all safe.”
Marissa woke to sunlight streaming through the windows along the top of the hut. She could hear whispers and murmurs, but nothing too loud. Smelling coffee, she stood and moved toward the counter with the coffee pots. As she poured the black heavenly liquid, she turned to see all the men standing at the door of the hut, MPs standing outside.
“What’s going on?” she asked Dana.
“One of the MPs was killed last night. Someone tried to get into this hut but didn’t get very far.”
“Damn! When? How? How did someone get on this base?” she asked.
“We think he or she was already here,” said Bo. “We’re not sure. What I know is that MP was a good young soldier with a wife and baby at home.”
“This has to stop. I don’t care if I am at risk, we have to stop him. Let me be the decoy. I’ll draw him in.”
“No!” yelled the group of men at once. She just glared at them, then Christopher walked toward her, hugging his daughter to his chest.
“Honey, there’s something else happening here,” he whispered. “Someone here is a traitor.”
“Dad, that’s not possible. We know everyone here. They’re our team or Joey’s team. I trust them,” she said. Christopher nodded.
“He does as well, and so do we. Which leaves one person.”
She frowned at her father glancing around the room. Professor Mills. Gator and Joey walked up to them and smiled.
“Just act as if we’re having a family conversation. Smile,” said Gator. “You wanted a chance to draw out Vasily, well we’re going to give it a shot. With Mills. Sit with him and have breakfast. If he talks to you, talk back but don’t give him any specific information. He told us he didn’t have a phone, and we didn’t find one, but he clearly has something.”
“Okay,” she nodded. “Okay, I can do this.”
“Marissa,” said Joey, squeezing her hand. “Don’t leave this hut with him. Do not go outside with him.”
