Page 34 of Ground Zero (Lantern Beach Blackout: Detonation #3)

A s the late afternoon sunlight faded through the windows, Sheridan stared at the message on Maverick’s phone. Her mind ran through the implications.

Jake either genuinely wanted to help, or this was a trap.

“Don’t respond. Not yet.” She stood and paced to the window, processing everything they’d just learned.

A British nuclear submarine.

A diplomatic reception.

Several shipments of bomb-making materials.

The perfect storm of targets that would create chaos on multiple levels—military, political, international.

And someone masquerading as a good guy was going to help make it happen.

Sheridan turned back to Maverick. “Off the top of your head, who has had recent Norfolk access from your team?”

Maverick’s jaw tightened as he went through the list. “Jake has base-wide clearance—he negotiated our contracts there. Hudson was there three weeks ago for a system assessment. Kyle has temporary access for training exercises.”

“What about Atlas?”

“No current clearance that I know of. His focus has been on the Port of Virginia, not the naval station. In fact, he’s not even here on Lantern Beach right now.

I suppose he could still be guilty. However, he and his girlfriend single-handedly stopped a super storm from hitting the US.

I’d think if he was in on this, he wouldn’t have nearly lost his life trying to stop Sigma.

The same could be said for Jake. He put everything on the line to stop this terrorist group in the past.”

“Sigma has been busy . . .”

He let out an airy laugh. “Tell me about it. Sometimes it seems like they’re throwing everything at the wall and trying to see what sticks.”

That left them with two suspects, both with means and opportunity.

But what about motive? What could possibly drive one of Maverick’s teammates to betray not just their entire team but their country?

“Like we talked about earlier, I need to get into Blackout’s scheduling system.” A plan formed in Sheridan’s mind. “See who’s slated to go to Norfolk in the next two days. But if I’m too obvious about it, I’ll tip off whoever’s involved.”

“You could say you’re following up on the evidence you found. That you need to cross-reference my movements with the team’s schedules.”

It was a good cover story. Believable. “That could work.”

Maverick stood and moved closer to her. “However, I’ve got to say, Sheridan, that I don’t like this. You’re walking into a building where someone inside may have tried to kill you twenty-four hours ago.”

“I know.” She met his eyes and saw the genuine concern there. “But we’re running out of time and options.”

The worry in his eyes did something strange to her heart—something strange that she tried to ignore.

“What if Jake’s message is sincere?” Maverick asked. “What if he knows something and wants to help?”

Sheridan considered it. “Then we need to be very careful how we respond. If Jake’s clean and reaches out to you, it means he’s suspicious of someone else on the team. But if he’s the mole . . .”

“If he’s the mole, then he’s trying to locate me and eliminate the last threat to the operation.” Maverick’s tone sounded grim.

They stood there a moment, the weight of the decision hanging between them.

Every choice felt like a potential trap and every ally a possible enemy.

“We stick to the plan,” Sheridan finally said after several moments of thought. “I go to Blackout again tomorrow, gather intelligence, try to identify who’s scheduled for Norfolk. You stay hidden, work on preparing evidence that proves your innocence.”

“And Jake?” Maverick asked.

She thought about it. “I think you should set up a meeting but somewhere public. Somewhere with multiple exits. If Jake is genuine, he’ll understand the precaution. If he’s the mole?—”

“He’ll try to bring backup or set an ambush.” Maverick nodded with a frown before squaring his shoulders. “I know a place. The ferry terminal. Always crowded with plenty of ways to disappear if things go bad.”

“When?”

“Tomorrow. We have no time to waste.”

It was risky, but everything about their situation was risky. They were juggling too many dangerous variables with too little information.

“There’s something else.” Sheridan decided to voice a thought that had been nagging at her. “The person who planted that tracker on me—I’m beginning to wonder if it happened at Blackout, during the meeting.”

“It’s a possibility.”

“But it wasn’t just Ty, Colton, and Jake in that room.”

Maverick’s eyes sharpened. “Who else was there?”

“Support staff came in and out. Someone named William brought in the laptop. An administrative assistant delivered coffee.” She tried to recall every detail. “Any of them could have brushed past me and planted the device.”

“Or someone could have done it when you were walking through the building.”

He was right. The tracker could have been planted by anyone with access to Blackout headquarters.

That meant their suspect pool was larger than just Maverick’s immediate team.

Her jaw clenched tighter. They needed answers—just one good solid lead—but all she had were ghosts and dead ends.

At times, that lead felt impossible, like a fairy tale.

“Tomorrow, I’ll pay attention to everyone,” she promised. “Not just the obvious suspects.”

Maverick’s phone buzzed again. It was another message from Jake.

I know you’re innocent. But someone on the team isn’t. Meet me. Lives depend on it.

Sheridan and Maverick exchanged glances.

“He’s either very clever or very desperate,” she said.

“Or he’s sincere.” He paused. “Question is, which one makes him more dangerous?”

As she looked at Maverick’s face, illuminated by the phone screen in the growing darkness, Sheridan realized they were about to find out. Tomorrow would either bring them answers or lead them straight into a trap.

Either way, they were running out of time to stop an attack that would change everything.

But right now, they needed to get out of this house and find somewhere else safe to hide out before someone silenced them . . . just like Danny had been silenced.

Permanently.