Ramsey’s training facility, Skagit area…
“Well, shit.”
Coulter crouched at the edge of the perimeter, the rest of his team fanned out behind him. Thick clouds rolled across the midnight sky, the scent of wet granite and diesel heavy in the cool Skagit air. Fog gathered at the edges of the forest, a few fingers already weaving across the pit. In front, the ten-acre spread of land stretched across the old gravel quarry bed, the crushed white rocks glowing like snow in the overhead halogen lights.
A horseshoe-shaped mountain of jagged granite rose out of the forest floor, the upper level topping out about a hundred meters above them. A second level had been carved out of the rock, what looked like a mockup of an urban setting interspaced with a series of shipping containers, the various levels all joined by rusty metal ladders and lengths of grated catwalks. At the top, a row of spotlights lit up the area with bright yellow light, making the large expanse of open space between the fence and the edge of the wall a virtual kill box.
Neve settled in beside him, eyeing the different levels. “Looks like those satellite images were old. That’s more than just some barracks and shooting ranges.”
Coulter sighed. “Those are probably on the top level. Definitely didn’t anticipate it would be like this.”
“Not much cover between here and what looks like a motor pool of industrial machinery. I swear the tires on that loader are taller than you.”
“We’ll have to stick to that massive, dual-track conveyor belt. If we stay close to the support frame, we might avoid getting spotted by those sentries Ramsey has positioned up top.”
“That’s a lot of wishful thinking.”
“We can call it. Choose to fight him another day, another place.”
Neve stared at the landscape. “Every day we wait is another he or Finch can increase their numbers. We go in. Hope for the best, prepare?—”
“For the worst. I’m familiar with the strategy.” He studied the fence between them and the open quarry. “The chain link’s probably monitored. Any cut we don’t actively control will send out an alert. And we could use a distraction while we hoof it over to that belt. Any ideas?”
Zadie tapped on her tablet, glancing at the compound then back at her screen. “I have one, but I’m not sure you’re going to like it.”
“I’m listening.”
“When Ramsey acquired this place, it looks like he tapped into the existing power supply to configure his facility, but he didn’t remove the original machinery from it, which means I can hack his grid — start up one of the line crushers on the far side of the lot. There’s bound to be some old ore still in there. Draw the guards’ attention while Scout bridges the fence — gets us inside.”
“What about the lights?”
“Unfortunately, those are on a separate circuit. There’s likely a power shed around here someplace. Probably off to the right, by that pole. I’ll need to access it to kill them.”
Coulter looked at Neve. “Your op, sweetheart.”
Neve scanned the quarry again. “Do it. Once it’s running, Scout, cut the wires. Let’s hope they’re not looking this way, see the sparks from the bridge.”
Zadie nodded, scrolled through her screen then signaled she was ready. Scout moved over to the fenceline, a couple lengths of cable, some alligator clips, and a pair of insulated wire cutters in her hands.
Zadie pointed to Scout then hit a button. In the distance, a metallic groan echoed through the quarry, a hissing screech cutting through the night as the rusted engine turned over, the entire machine shaking from the strain. Dust rose against the spotlights as it chugged to life, a sharp mineral tang permeating the air.
Scout didn’t wait for another signal, just clipped the jumper wire above and below where she planned on cutting, then snipped the wires. Tiny flashes of blue light sparked in the darkness, the heavythunkfrom the cutters hidden beneath the roar of machinery.
Coulter stood close, ducking through once Scout had peeled back the wires, careful not to touch any. The rest of the team followed suit, Neve bringing up the rear. He gauged the distance to the steel structure beneath the conveyor then hauled ass, sprinting across the open space before diving beneath the metal beams.
The crusher rumbled in the background, grinding down whatever rocks were still inside until Zadie tapped her screen, shut it down. The machine gurgled, spitting out smoke and dust before slowly dying, the engine coughing and sputtering a few times. Voices sounded above the lingering hum, the entire lot gradually fading into an uneasy silence.
He waited to see if they’d been spotted, then slowly inched ahead. A guard walked off to their right, gaze scanning the fence line where they’d broken through, before carrying on. Coulter motioned to the far side of the belt, then took off, staying in the shadows as he wove his way across the yard.
The belt traveled straight for about twenty meters before listing right as it started to gain elevation, angling toward the top of the cliff at thirty degrees, leaving nothing but the patchwork of girders as cover. They stayed low, stopping when Zadie whistled softly.
She closed ranks. “Ramsey’s suspicious. He’s sending out a crew to search what he calls the pit, which I assume is this level. We need better cover.”
Neve motioned to the cluster of one-hundred-ton yellow front-loaders, excavators, and rock-crushers parked in a chaotic line off to their right. “We’ll make a break for that motor pool. Find a place to lay low while they scour the gravel yard. Head for that cable lift once they’re gone.”
Coulter veered to his right once he reached the edge of the machinery, bypassing a few of the smaller rigs before darting beneath an enormous front-loader. Webs clung to the yellow underbelly like thick curtains, a coppery, musty odor making him gag. He pulled in tight to one tire, leaving enough space for the rest of his team to move in beside him.
Several meters off, flashlight beams bounced along the gravel, reflecting the white light back against them. Boots crunched closer, hushed voices echoing across the open space. Coulter motioned to the shadowed areas above the bucket, boosting Neve and the others up before slinking beneath the machine and wedging himself in the undercarriage. He gripped his Sig, sights leveled at the men bearing down on them, as those beams swept across the gravel then along the massive tires.
