Page 4 of Devlin (Lighthouse Security Investigations Montana #4)

Cole gave a quick dip of his head, his signature grin flashing as he turned to Devlin. “Got your back, man.”

Logan’s steady voice continued. “Todd, I’d like you to go as well.”

Todd leaned over the table, his fist bumping Cole’s and Devlin’s with a grin. “You got it, boss.”

“What kind of intel do I need to start pulling?” Sadie’s voice cut through the room, her hands poised over her keyboard.

“Start with everything you can find on the World Food Program and Bidi Bidi in Uganda. Margarethe mentioned she’d send a map, but don’t expect it to match anything official.

The camp layout constantly shifts—new refugees come in, some leave, and the buildings serve multiple purposes.

If they're overwhelmed, a classroom might double as a housing unit for new arrivals or as a temporary medical ward.”

Logan’s orders disbanded the meeting, and the team scattered to their respective tasks.

Devlin stayed behind, grabbing the mission file Logan had handed him and heading to one of the smaller tables.

Todd and Cole followed, their expressions solemn as they settled into seats nearby.

At her workstation, Sadie was already deep into research, screens glowing with data.

Devlin flipped through the file, then looked at what Sadie was sending to their tablets.

His brow furrowed in concentration. “The camp is a coordinated effort involving several organizations,” he said, scanning the pages.

“The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is the primary agency overseeing coordination and protection. The Red Cross is responsible for health, shelter, and emergency response. The WHO handles health interventions and disease prevention, and the WFP focuses on food security and nutrition programs. Then there are groups like Save the Children, Care International, and even the Peace Corps, all managing specific sectors.”

Todd whistled low as he skimmed the data Sadie had uploaded to their tablets. “That’s a hell of an operation. It’s amazing they can all work together. But with so many players, it’s no surprise that the WFP makes for a solid cover.”

Devlin nodded, tapping a finger against the table.

“Exactly. According to Margarethe’s intel, the food security officer noticed enough inconsistencies to start digging.

Evidence found made them feel justified in notifying someone they trusted—someone higher up in their organization, not necessarily someone at the camp. ”

Cole leaned back, his expression thoughtful. “Smart move. If the thefts are systematic, someone in the camp may be in on it. Going to someone outside the immediate chain of command was the safest option.”

Devlin glanced up as a familiar presence approached. Mary rolled toward the table with her usual confident ease. Grinning, he tipped his head in her direction. “Let me guess—you’ve already got our itinerary worked out.”

Mary smirked, holding up a folder as if it were a trophy. “You know it, big guy. Flights, logistics, and a whole lot of headaches, all wrapped up with a bow. Welcome to your next mission.”

She nodded to the files she laid on the table.

“The full itinerary is already on your phones. You’re wheels up from Malmstrom Air Force Base tomorrow.

Tonight, you head there together in one vehicle.

Logan wants you to keep reviewing on the way.

You’ll have accommodations at the base, then fly out on military transport to Germany.

From there, you’ll fly private with Ms. Gunther to Uganda.

You’ll be able to take your equipment and weapons. ”

Todd raised a brow, his grin teasing. “Do I even want to know how long it will take us to get to Uganda?”

Mary met his grin with one of her own, leaning in conspiratorially.

“I suggest you load your tablet with some good reads and have a killer playlist ready. Between flights, layovers, and logistics, you’re looking at close to twenty-four hours.

” With a knowing smirk, she dipped her head and rolled out of the room, leaving the team feeling a mix of anticipation and tension.

Moments later, Bert strode into the room. “Once you’ve gone through the intel, meet me in the equipment room. We’ll make sure you have everything you need.”

Devlin, Cole, and Todd returned their focus to the files spread before them, diving into the detailed breakdown of the refugee camp’s layout, operations, and the WFP’s role within it.

If they were going to blend in seamlessly with Margarethe, they needed to understand every layer of the camp’s ecosystem.

“And the whistleblower?” Devlin asked, his gaze still fixed on the information as he sifted through the details.

Sadie looked up from her station, her fingers flying across her keyboard. “You’ll meet them once you’re on the ground and at the camp.”

“So we’re going in as security?” Cole inquired.

Sadie nodded, her tone brisk. “You’ll be introduced as a security detail working with Margarethe Gunther on oversight of food management for the UNHCR.” She glanced down, then added, “That’s the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.”

The Keepers spent hours dissecting every detail, building a mental map of the camp’s dynamics, and preparing for what they might encounter.

“Food is sourced locally or internationally,” Devlin noted, scanning the logistics breakdown. “It depends on cost, availability, and transport logistics. In Uganda, most food is moved by truck once it lands at the airport.”

“And there’s more than one refugee camp,” Cole added, studying his tablet. “Someone from the WFP coordinates the shipments at the airport, but it’s clear our whistleblower only started seeing the thefts on their end.”

“So the food is making it to Bidi Bidi,” Todd clarified, leaning forward. “And then it’s being stolen. Why not divert it earlier, straight from the source?”

“Pull up the map again,” Devlin said to Sadie.

He studied the highlighted location of the camp, his jaw tightening.

“It’s not the closest camp to the Congo border but the most secure.

That’s not just where a lot of the refugees are coming from—it’s also where the Congolese military could be picking up stolen goods. Food. Weapons. Whatever they need.”

Cole let out a low growl. “They’re probably getting both from various sources.”

Devlin nodded, pointing at the diagram of the camp. “Bidi Bidi has one central warehouse for food, but the camp is so massive it’s divided into villages. Each village has its own smaller warehouse.”

“Just one food security officer?” Todd asked.

“Yeah,” Devlin confirmed. “They’d have a staff under them, but if they suspected someone on their own team, they wouldn’t risk reporting it internally. Going to their superior at the WFP was the smart move.”

“You’ll certainly be watched by the security officer for the whole camp,” Logan said as he walked closer.

By the time they’d combed through the files and spent hours in the equipment room with Bert, the team was prepped.

This mission wasn’t just about providing security; it was about uncovering a system of theft that affected hundreds of lives.

The weight of that responsibility hung heavy but invigorating.

Later that evening, Devlin headed home to pack, his mind already ticking through the mission’s moving parts. Unlike a standard security detail or installation plan, this assignment was investigative, and he felt the familiar itch of anticipation.

Once his bag was packed and his house secured, he stepped outside just as Cole’s SUV pulled into the drive.

Todd was already in the front seat, his grin visible through the windshield.

Devlin climbed into the back, tossing his bag beside him.

The ride to Malmstrom Air Force Base wouldn’t take long, but the camaraderie in the vehicle made it feel like an extension of the mission itself.

Leaning back in his seat, Devlin let his thoughts wander as the Montana landscape blurred past the window. He’d worked missions all over the globe, and while Africa wasn’t new to him, Uganda was. Closing his eyes, he let himself wonder what this mission would hold.

For now, he let the hum of the road lull him into a light rest, knowing full well that tomorrow, everything would change.