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But even as she said it, a tiny spark of excitement ignited in her chest. What if it wasn’t nothing? What if her father had left her more than just a sentimental piece of jewelry?
Her thoughts were interrupted by Cody’s excited voice cutting through the room. Her head snapped up, pulse quickening at the triumphant gleam in his eyes.
“Got it,” he announced, his chair squeaking as he spun to face the group. “I have a home address for Lorna Michaels. Swanky high-rise north of the Capitol.” He rattled off the details, the words tumbling out in a rush. “I also pinpointed locations for the security guard and Brent Friedmann, the second lab tech.”
The air in the room suddenly charged with electricity. The smell of coffee and nervous sweat mingled as they crowded around, mapping out their strategy.
As Cody shared his findings, Bridger’s authoritative voice cut through the buzz of excitement. “Alright, team. We’ve got our targets. Let’s move.”
He turned to Mason, his eyes sharp with focus. “Mason, I need you to secure transportation. Get us a work van, something inconspicuous. We might be bringing back prisoners for interrogation, so make sure there’s enough space.”
Mason nodded, already pulling out his phone. “On it, boss. I’ve got a contact who can hook us up with a utility van, no questions asked.”
Bridger then addressed the rest of the team. “Paige, prep our comm equipment. Make sure we’re on secure channels and everyone’s earpieces are functioning.”
“Already on it,” Paige agreed, happily. Finally, something she was good at.
“Fenn,” Bridger continued, “you’re on weapons detail. Check and double-check our arsenal. I want options for both close-quarters and long-range engagement.”
Fenn grinned, a glint in his eye as he headed towards their weapons cache. “Consider it done. We’ll be locked and loaded.”
Bridger’s gaze shifted to Tai. “Tai, I need you to run point on surveillance. Set up remote access to any security cameras in the vicinity of Lorna’s building. I want eyes on the approach and all possible exit routes.”
Tai cracked his knuckles, already moving towards his laptop. “Sounds like fun.”
Finally, Bridger turned to Graham. “You’re on logistics. Map out multiple ingress and egress routes. Plan for contingencies—if we need to split up or if we’re pursued. We’ll need multiple contingency routes back to the safe house.”
Graham nodded solemnly and headed off.
As the team dispersed to their tasks, the safe house transformed into a hive of focused activity. The air thrummed with purpose as each member prepared for the mission ahead. Paige watched in awe as the disparate pieces of their plan began to coalesce into a cohesive strategy.
Bridger’s voice rose above the controlled chaos once more. “Remember, people, our primary target is Lorna Michaels. She’s our best lead on the virus. We go in fast, we go in quiet, and we get out with our target. Questions?”
“Let’s do this, people.” Mason clapped his hands. “I’ve got Chateaubriand that needs to hit the oven by seventeen hundred if we’re gonna have dinner on time.”
Mason’s boots echoed on the hardwood as he left to secure a van. Paige’s stomach fluttered at the thought of being cooped up in close quarters with Cody again, running the comm center alongside him and Tai and Graham.
Tai’s drone equipment clinked as he gathered it, preparing for surveillance duty. The rest of the team buzzed with anticipation, ready to join Bridger in apprehending the woman and searching her residence.
“Maybe we’ll get lucky and she’ll even be home,” Cody suggested, a hint of his old cocky grin playing at the corners of his mouth.
She snorted, the sound sharp in the tense atmosphere. “I’m never that lucky,” she muttered, but a tiny spark of hope flickered despite her cynicism.
The team filed out of the safe house, their movements purposeful and synchronized. Paige fell into step beside Cody, acutely aware of his presence. Too aware.
As they climbed into the van and took off, the city sights blurring past the windows, she found herself torn between exhilaration and dread. They were hurtling towards answers, but at what cost? Were they the hunters, or the hunted?
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The van’sinterior hummed with nervous energy, the air thick with the acrid scent of coffee, sweat, and ozone from overheating electronics. Paige settled into her usual spot, the worn leather seat creaking beneath her. Her skin prickled with hyperawareness of Cody’s presence beside her, his warmth radiating in the cramped space. It felt surreal, working together like this again. Not like Croatia, where he’d been playing them all. She shook her head, marveling at how much had changed in just a few days. Their last op felt like a lifetime ago.
Bridger’s voice crackled over the comms, the static making her wince as he updated them on the team’s progress. Paige’s fingers flew over her keyboard, the rapid-fire clicking a staccato counterpoint to her racing heart. She monitored their approach to the high-rise where they hoped to find answers about the missing lab tech, her eyes burning from the intense focus on the glowing screen.
Tai’s calm voice cut through the tension like a knife. “No heat signatures in the apartment. No one home. No pets.” The words hung in the air, heavy with implication.
Graham leaned forward, his brow furrowed, the scent of his woodsy cologne momentarily overpowering the van’s stale air. “How are they getting past the doorman?”
Paige smirked, a hint of pride in her voice. “I’ve routed the building’s comm system through my laptop. When the doorman calls up, I’ll take it.” Her fingers hovered over the keys, ready to spring into action.