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Jonas took the wheel of the SUV and headed north. At this time of the morning, just before rush hour and headed away from New York City—and therefore the worst of the congestion—it was an estimated two hours to the old orchard near the Hudson River, in a typically old East Coast town with one of those Dutch names.

No one talked much until Blue announced he was studying the schematics. That led to talking through various options for taking the perimeter. Then the farmhouse and assorted outbuildings.

“I don’t think it would be that hard to renovate the place on the down-low and get state-of-the-art lab facilities in there without anyone being the wiser,” Blue said.

“Does it have to be state-of-the-art?” August asked. “Or does it just have to be usable?”

“I would think it has to be secure, first and foremost,” Bethan said, from directly behind Jonas. “How unstable is this SuperThrax? Is that a factor in the kind of facility Sowande would need?”

“I guess we’ll find out,” Rory said with a laugh.

No one else laughed.

Sometime later, Jonas turned off the main highway. He let the navigation system lead him through a series of winding, pretty back roads, circling around the old orchard todrop them on the far side. A good mile or so back from the various structures identified on Oz’s latest map.

He stashed the car and they all rolled out, then prepared to take their previously agreed-upon positions.

“We’re in position in New Jersey,” Isaac said into everyone’s comm unit. “Updates to follow.”

“Roger that,” Jonas replied. “Approaching the perimeter of the farmhouse.”

The team fanned out and began to move in. The sun had come up while they were driving, and it lit up the budding, gnarled trees that made up what was left of the old orchard. They went in fast but carefully, because everyone was certain that if this was the right place, it had to be alarmed—if not outright booby-trapped.

That only meant they needed to be both swift and sure.

For a solid ten minutes, there was radio silence as the whole team moved into place.

“I’m around to the front of the building,” Bethan said into the comm unit, not sounding the least bit out of breath, even though she must have run full out in tactical gear, plus weapons, to get there. Because of course she wasn’t out of breath. Jonas ordered himself to listen to her, not her breathing. “There are no cars in the drive, but there’s clear evidence of significant recent activity. It’s a little muddy and there are tracks. At least four vehicles, by my count.”

“Any visible signs of life from within?” Jonas asked.

“Negative,” Bethan replied.

Jonas had taken the rear of the farmhouse. He settled into the best vantage point he could find while the others called in their various positions from the outbuildings.

No signs of life all around.

But that could mean anything. Including the possibility that they were being watched right now. More than a possibility, to Jonas’s mind.

He scanned the back of the farmhouse, seeing nomovement. Then on his second scan of the scene before him, his gaze caught on a window on the second floor. It was cracked open, and he knew instantly that wasn’t right.

“I don’t see anything out back,” he reported. “But there’s a cracked open window on the second floor.”

“This part of the world can still get cold this time of year,” Rory replied. “I don’t think people leave windows open if they’re not planning to come back real soon.”

“Agreed,” said Griffin. He had taken a position high on the barn’s roof, with an overview of the house. “I’m in position and see nothing moving anywhere, but I don’t like it.”

“Do any of those outbuildings look the least bit scientific?” Bethan asked.

“Negative on that,” Blue said. “There are three. Two look like sheds. Unused sheds with overgrown vegetation in front. Still a possibility that they could be entrances to some kind of subterranean situation, but my gut says no. And the third doesn’t have four walls. It’s wide open; I can see straight through it, and there’s nothing there.”

“Same on the west side of the property,” August chimed in. “The old barn is missing windows and has ancient cars packed inside. Unless it’s all Hollywood-level misdirection, I don’t think anyone’s been in this place in years.”

“Ditto the garages down by the main road,” Rory said. “Locked up tight and dusty.”

Jonas scanned the back of the house again, his senses telling him that this was the place. Even if there hadn’t been tire marks on the front drive, he had that feeling he knew well enough to treat like another piece of navigational equipment. He just knew.

“We have to take the house,” he clipped out. “Rory, stay down by the road. Bethan and I will take point. Blue, August, get into position to cover, then join us.”