Page 30 of Ground Zero

He leaned closer, his shoulder brushing against hers as he studied the screen. “Are you saying . . . ?”

“I’m saying that, just as we suspected earlier, someone at the FBI is working with Sigma.” The words felt like poison in her mouth. “And they’re using our own security methods against us.”

Maverick’s fingers flew across the keyboard, applying decryption algorithms with increasing urgency. “If we can crack these messages, we might finally have proof of who’s been feeding them information.”

Sheridan watched the code scroll past, and fragments of readable text slowly began to emerge from the encrypted chaos.

GROUND ZERO TIMELINE ACCELERATED

FBI INVESTIGATION CONTAINED

CAMERON ELIMINATION SUCCESSFUL

Her blood turned to ice as more messages became clear.

BLACKOUT COMPROMISE ACHIEVED

PENTAGON DISTRACTION UNLEASHED

PHASE THREE INITIATION: 72 HOURS

CHAPTER 17

“Maverick, look at this,” Sheridan whispered as she leaned closer to the screen.

The final decrypted message made her hands shake.

PRIMARY TARGET: NAVAL STATION NORFOLK

SECONDARY TARGET: FBI HEADQUARTERS

SIGMA INFILTRATION COMPLETE

AWAITING GROUND ZERO AUTHORIZATION

Sheridan stared at the words, her mind reeling.

Naval Station Norfolk was one of the largest naval installations in the world. If Sigma was planning an attack there . . .

“They’re not just planning cyberattacks.” Her voice sounded barely above a whisper. “They’re planning something massive. Something that could cripple our naval operations and federal law enforcement simultaneously.”

“Like what?” he asked. “What could they be planning that takes this to the next level?”

She blew out a breath. “It could be anything. They’ve taken out the power grid before. Someone scrambled the security codes at the Pentagon.”

“I have a feeling this is more dangerous than those things. Just a gut feeling, I guess.”

Her gaze locked on his. “What are you thinking?”

“During 9/11, terrorists weaponized airplanes in order to kill thousands of people and make a statement.”

Her eyes widened. “You think that’s what they’re planning this time?”

“I have no idea. But I wouldn’t put it past them. I think thousands of lives are on the line.”

Silence stretched between them for a moment.

Then Maverick began scrolling through more messages, his voice grim as he said, “According to this timeline, whatever is happening, we have less than three days to stop it.”