Whispers in the Dark - Maya Banks [126]
“I still don’t get it,” Garrett said. “It seems awfully stupid to go back to the same facility they used before. Risky at best.”
Resnick shook his head. “Who would know? The Petersons are dead. Grace and Shea were too young to remember this place much less get anyone back to it. They have Shea. They may even have Grace. We don’t know. Two of the scientists are dead. Two others went back to Russia. I know because I immediately did a search of everyone who was involved in this whole thing.
“All that’s left is me. And the few members within the government who okayed funding and got reports on the research findings, and believe me, none of those people are going to be lining up to do anything that would bring attention to this project or their involvement in it.
“If they’re getting this program up and running again and are using Grace and Shea as the basis of their research, they don’t want their dirty laundry aired, which is why they took out the Petersons and went after Grace and Shea. If they’ve made the connection between me and the Petersons, I’ll be next,” Resnick said quietly.
Donovan grimaced. “Well, fuck it all. I was going to take great joy out of letting Nathan nail your sorry ass to the wall and now we’re going to have to protect you too? You sure know how to ruin a man’s day.”
Sam stepped forward and Resnick and Donovan went silent. It always awed Nathan how much respect Sam commanded.
“Here’s what we’re going to do. Resnick said there are two entrances into the facility. The front door and the not so obvious back door. We can find the front door. We’ll need Resnick’s help to find the back entrance. So he’s going to go with Steele and his team. Except P.J. I want her positioned at the front entrance and Cole at the back entrance. If things go to shit, I want the two of you to take out anyone who isn’t us or Shea Peterson and provide cover for us.
“The rest of us will go in, take out any threats, locate Shea and get the hell out as quickly as possible. I’ve already given you all the GPS points of our rendezvous point. We’re on a tight time line. I want this to be a quick in and out. Clean and smooth. Just another day at the office. The chopper will be waiting to get us the fuck out of here. Don’t be late.”
“With all due respect, sir, where exactly do we fit into this extrication plan of yours?” Kyle Phillips asked as he stepped forward.
The Marine didn’t look at all happy not to have received orders and for all practical purposes had been ignored from the start.
Sam’s eyes narrowed. “The very last thing we need is for you to be the one who finds Shea. In her mind you’re responsible for where she is right now. What I need for you and your team to do is back P.J. and Cole up. Make sure no one comes in or goes out of this place except my team and Steele’s. And be our backup if things go bad inside.”
Phillips’s lips tightened, but Nathan had to hand it to the man. He obeyed orders. Without question. Without hesitation. Phillips gave a quick nod, took a step back and then signaled his men to fall back. In a moment’s time, they’d melted into the trees surrounding the facility buried in the mountain.
Sam gave the signal for Steele and his team to take position. P.J. remained with the Kellys while the rest of her team disappeared over a rise with Resnick to circle around back.
“Let’s go,” Sam said.
They paralleled the dirt road for the mile in, and when they reached the turnoff, they kept farther into the trees and picked up their pace for the last half mile.
Even though they knew where to look for the entrance, it was still difficult to find. It was very well disguised and surrounded by aspens and pine.
“Are you in position, Steele?” Sam asked into the radio.
After Steele responded in the affirmative, Sam ordered everyone to check in and confirm their positions. P.J. slung her rifle over her shoulder and climbed up a steep, rocky rise that overlooked the front.
Then Sam turned to his brothers. “Okay, you know what to do. Let’s get in, get out and get the fuck back home.”
Donovan hurried