Colt glanced at the area then back to her. “Can you tell me where we are, now? Or does this need-to-know bullshit still only involve you?”
Ellis sighed. Looks as if it wasn’t just concern but a healthy dose of anger. Not that she blamed him. She’d expected a high degree of faith, so far. “You’re not going to like it.”
“Figured as much when you gave me the silent treatment.”
“It’s a storage facility.”
A clench of his jaw followed by a long rough exhalation. “Let me guess? CIA?”
“In a manner of speaking.”
“What the hell does that mean?” He stared at her, eyes gradually narrowing. “Oh no. No, no no. You didn’t…”
“I know it’s not an ideal situation?—”
“Ideal? Are you freaking high? Because if my suspicions are correct, this is Roger McCormick’scovertstorage facility. The one he’shidingfrom the CIA.”
She held out her hand with the small black chip. “I need to know if this came from inside.”
“So, we’re going to what? Waltz in there and ask?” He tightened one hand around the steering wheel, surprising her when it didn’t crack beneath the strain. “Christ, El. Do you know the level of security he’ll have inside?”
“As a matter of fact, I do. Been here a number of times. There’re cameras covering the perimeter. CCTV throughout the entire facility. Doors are protected by a retinal scan, voice-activated pass-phrase, and an eight-digit code. There are armed guards patrolling the interior. Explosives and possible chemicalagents as defensive measures.” She met his gaze. “I’ve never come across any dogs, though, so that’s something in our favor.”
Brett just sat there. Staring at her.
She wet her lip. “Brett?—”
“I’m all for taking a risk for the good of the mission, but this…” He pointed at the building. “This is insane. The idea is to save you, not hand you over to the guy who wants you dead.”
She held up her hand, the chip tucked in her palm. “I know it’s risky, but if this is what I think it is, it’s worth it.”
“And what the hell do you think that is? Obviously, a microchip, but they’re everywhere.”
She flipped it over, pointing to the partial numbers. “It’s impossible to tell what this identifier is, but I’m pretty damn sure it’s from those missile guidance systems I acquired on my last mission. But if it is, how did it get in that warehouse?” She pointed at the building. “I know I didn’t have any on me because the last time I had them I was putting them in a secure box inside that facility. And why would those assholes keep asking me who else knew about them if they already had them, right there in the warehouse?”
Brett’s expression firmed. “Shit. You think McCormick’s playing both sides. Grabbing weaponry for the CIA but then fudging the numbers and selling some of it to the highest bidder. And he must think you’re on to him.”
“It would explain why I was taken, why they kept me alive. Tried to get me to talk. McCormick would want to know if I had any evidence stashed away, seeing as how I nearly took him down once before. He knows what I’m capable of. That I could have incriminating files ready to distributed if anything happened to me.”
“A Hail Mary.” He scrubbed a hand down his face. “We should call Cannon. Get the rest of the team here.”
“There’s no way that large of a team would be able to move around undetected. The two of us is pushing it. Three or four more men… This is about stealth, not power. Even if we had your squad, Priest’s squad—hell, all of Alpha’s assault forces—we’d still be outmanned and outgunned.”
“So, you’re saying one mistake in there?—”
“And we’re both dead. That about sums it up.”
“Fabulous.”
“On the bright side, I should be able to get us inside without alerting security. After that… It’s going to take patience, skill, and a healthy dose of luck.”
“And if that chipisfrom one of the systems? If McCormick sells them. What kind of fallout are we talking?”
“Imagine the capability to strike long-range targets with laser precision in the hands of militia forces that aren’t too fond of our country.”
“Well, crap.”
“You in?”
