Page 107 of Freeing Lark

“I heard that.”

“Wasn't meant to be subtle.”

Haley rolled her eyes and turned back to her screens. “SIBYL found something.”

Hoot’s attention sharpened.

“What?”

“The numbers aren’t coordinates.” Baker leaned closer to his camera, listening intently. “They’re manifest numbers.”

Hoot’s stomach tightened. “Shipping manifests?”

“Exactly.” Haley brought up a document. “The original manifest corresponds to a shipment that entered the United States several months ago.”

“What was listed as cargo?”

“Industrial equipment. Specialized machinery components.”

Hoot glanced at the list Haley sent. “That’s not what was actually in those crates, was it?”

“No,” Haley said. “And SIBYL agrees.” A new screen appeared where several lines of data were highlighted. “The manifest was altered twice after the shipment entered the country.”

Flint’s expression hardened. “By whom?”

“That’s the problem. “The changes were made using legitimate credentials.”

Flint’s eyes narrowed. “Government or private?”

“Unclear.” Hoot’s jaw tightened. “I’m still digging.”

Baker spoke up. “The interesting part isn’t what the manifest originally said. It’s what happened to it afterward.”

“What do you mean?”

Haley brought up a map. “The original destination was a warehouse outside Norfolk.”

Voodoo mused, “Water access?”

“Directly onto the Elizabeth River.”

Hoot’s mind immediately jumped to the island. “The crates were being moved by water.”

“Exactly,” Baker said.

Haley zoomed in on the map. “But there’s more.” Of course there was. “The shipment didn’t stay in Norfolk.” She traced the route with her finger. “Three containers were transferred to another carrier. Then another. We’ve identified at least four locations.”

“Where?”

“Norfolk. Baltimore. Philadelphia.” She paused. “And one here in Virginia.”

Hoot stared at the map. “Bell Creek?”

“Not quite,” Haley said. “But close enough to make me nervous.”

Flint leaned forward. “How close?”

Haley’s fingers moved across the keyboard. “Twenty-seven miles.”