Page 57 of So Deadly
One more job.Then it was time to go home.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Faith looked through her field glasses at the site, an old oil field converted to a covert CIA facility.A chainlink fence surrounded the facility, but a twenty-foot gap opened up in front of them, ringed by charred, twisted metal.Apparently, the fence was electrified but had suffered a major short that melted an opening into the fence, probably when David and his friend broke into the place to get the proof that would shut them down for good.
Past that fence was a single building the size of a small warehouse.Inside, Faith saw about ten analysts in office casual clothing feverishly shredding documents and wiping hard drives.That wouldn’t make a difference since they already had the data, but panicking people didn’t think clearly.Or maybe the CIA didn’t realize they had that data.
“Oklahoma PD just stopped the convoy on I-40,” Michael said over the radio.“The people wearing Marine uniforms surrendered without incident.A couple of the plainclothes agents fired some potshots, but it looks like the uniformed guys are disarming them for us.We should have the vehicles secured within five minutes.”
Michael was with Oklahoma PD overseeing the capture of the vehicles and the probable liberation of the dogs.David was still at police headquarters and would remain there under guard until this operation was complete.Jessica and Faith were leading the FBI raid on the facility itself.
“Once you have the vehicles, confirm the dogs are all right,” Faith said.
“All right’s a big phrase, but I’ll make sure they’re alive.”
Faith nodded grimly.“Fair enough.We’ll proceed with the raid on the facility.”
“Ten-four.”
“Jessica, are you ready?”She was on the other side of the property with her own team of FBI SWAT agents.They’d have to cut through the fence, but that would only delay them a minute or so.
“Ready.”
“On my mark.Ready… Set… Go!”
The team sprinted for the facility.Turk surged past the group, leading eight other K9 units—recent graduates of Faith’s class—toward the building.Faith and the other K9 handlers followed, weapons raised but safeties still on.No one wanted to kill American citizens unless they were left no other choice.Behind them, the rest of the SWAT team spread out, rifles raised in case the resistance was heavy.
The K9 units positioned themselves around the front door of the facility.On the other side, more K9s were guarding the rear exit.
Faith stood to the right of the door while two burly SWAT agents positioned themselves in front with a battering ram.She lifted a megaphone to her mouth with the hand not holding the handgun and said, “FBI!Come out with your hands where we can see them!We don’t want to hurt anyone, but wearearmed, and wewillfire on you if you resist.”
No answer.Faith sighed and nodded at the agents holding the battering ram.They stepped back, shoulders bunching, but before they could swing the heavy steel ram, the latch clicked.Everyone’s weapons lifted.Safeties clicked off, and Faith reminded them, “Easy, everyone.We won’t fire first.”
The door opened, and a man stepped through.He was of average height and somewhat conventionally attractive with dark, slick-backed hair, piercing blue eyes, and a well-fitted suit.From David’s description, Faith recognized Colonel, or rather Agent Randall Chastain, the commanding officer of the 93rdTesting Brigade.
He gave them an imperious look and demanded in a sonorous baritone that belonged on a much more imposing man, “Who’s in charge here?”
“That would be me,” Faith said, stepping forward.“Special Agent Faith Bold of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.”
A flicker of recognition flashed across Chastain’s face.“What is the meaning of this?”he demanded.“You have no right—”
Faith had no interest in hearing his protests.“Place your hands behind your back.”
Chastain didn’t comply, but when Faith grabbed him and turned him around, he didn’t resist.“This is an outrage,” he said.“You’re interfering with a classified government project—”
“Project Telegraph.I know.”
Chastain flinched.“It’s TK9.”
“Which is an arm of a larger project designed to create telepathically controlled soldiers along with K9 units,” Faith said.
Chastain swallowed.His face was white as a sheet.“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Pleading the fifth,” Faith said, ratcheting the handcuffs tightly around his wrists.“That’s a good idea.Not sure it’ll make a difference with the six terabytes of data the FBI now has on your operation, but if it makes you feel better.”
Chastain was shaking now.“You’re lying.”
“Sure.Maybe.Guess you’ll find out when you’re brought up on charges.”
