Page 39 of Ground Zero (Lantern Beach Blackout: Detonation #3)

M averick turned slowly, his hand hovering near his weapon as he faced the person behind him.

Jake Laudner stood three feet away, hands visible and empty, his expression grave.

“Easy, Mav,” Jake said quietly. “I’m alone.”

Maverick’s muscles relaxed—but only for a second. He scanned the store, making sure this wasn’t an ambush.

He didn’t see anyone else.

Jake’s jaw tightened. “Listen, I get that you don’t know if you can trust me. But I’m on your side. I know you’re not a traitor. You’ve saved too many lives in your military career to throw it all away now. So whatever’s really going on, we’re going to need to trust each other.”

Maverick studied his team leader’s face, searching for deception.

Finding none, he made a choice that could save them both—or get them killed.

He would trust Jake.

“You wanted to meet?” Maverick started.

“I wanted to warn you. Things are getting ugly. I have a feeling you know things that could help us prove your innocence.”

“I’m innocent but someone at Blackout isn’t.”

His gaze darkened. “That’s what I’ve been afraid of. But I don’t know who. Why don’t you tell me what you know? Maybe I can help.”

He lowered his voice before saying, “I’ve been working with FBI Agent Mendez. There’s going to be a terrorist attack on Naval Station Norfolk. Someone at Blackout is involved.”

Jake’s expression didn’t change, but his eyes sharpened. “When?”

“In twenty-four hours. Maybe sooner. The British submarine arrival has been moved up.”

“That explains the FBI presence at headquarters.” Jake moved closer, lowering his voice further.

Maverick’s jaw hardened. “I lost cell signal.”

“Signal’s been jammed for a while. Someone doesn’t want us communicating.”

Maverick got to the bottom line. “Who could the traitor be?”

Jake’s expression darkened. “That’s the problem. Atlas has been out of town. Hudson’s been acting strange for weeks. Kyle’s been taking meetings he won’t explain. Even William from IT has been accessing files way above his clearance level.”

“William?” Maverick thought about the eager young tech who always seemed to be around when things went wrong.

“Yeah. Kid’s smart. Maybe too smart.” Jake checked his watch. “Listen, we’ve got maybe fifteen minutes before someone realizes I’m gone. What else do we need to talk about?”

“Stop the attack. Clear my name. In that order.”

“I can help with both, but Mav . . .” Jake hesitated. “We don’t know who else we can trust. Could be one mole, could be three.”

They stood there a moment, two soldiers who’d trusted each other with their lives now wondering if that trust would get them killed.

“We need to figure that out,” Maverick said.

“Together or separate?” Jake asked.

“Separate we’ll cover more ground, but?—”

“Separate will also make us easier targets.”

Sheridan left the server room, Morrison close behind her.

The conference room buzzed with activity when they returned. FBI agents studied laptops, Ty and Colton huddled in one corner reviewing something on a tablet, and Cook stood at the center like a general commanding his troops.

But Jake was gone.

Sheridan’s pulse quickened as she scanned the room again.

His chair sat empty, his jacket still draped over the back.

When had he left? And more importantly, why hadn’t anyone else seemed to notice?

She thought about Maverick meeting Jake. If Jake had left here fifteen minutes ago, he could already be there.

She and Maverick should have stayed together, should have maintained visual contact. But now it was too late to go back, to change things. One of them might not make it through this. The possibility was real—and jarring.

“Agent Mendez.” Cook’s voice cut through her thoughts. “Did you find anything in the server room?”

She felt Morrison’s eyes on her, waiting to hear what she’d say. “No, just routine server maintenance logs. My hunch didn’t pay off.”

Cook studied her before nodding. “Keep looking. The answer is here somewhere.”

Morrison’s eyes narrowed as he continued to watch her.

As Cook turned back to address the room, Sheridan glanced around.

William sat in a chair near the door, ostensibly working on a laptop.

But he was watching her, and when their eyes met, something passed across his face.

Recognition. He knew she’d found the drive.

He’d been the one to leave it for her, hadn’t he?

The young IT specialist was trying to tell her something. But what?

Was it a warning? A threat?

Before she could process the revelation, Cook’s voice boomed across the room.

“Listen up, everyone.” He held up his phone, triumph blazing in his eyes. “We just got information. Maverick Adams has been spotted near the pier. Two tactical teams are already en route.”

Sheridan’s heart stopped.

Cook continued. “He’s considered armed and extremely dangerous. Rules of engagement are clear—take him alive if possible, but deadly force is authorized if he resists.”

Ty and Colton went still, their faces grim. They knew what “deadly force authorized” really meant.

Maverick wouldn’t be given a chance to surrender.

Ty straightened. “How reliable is this intel?”

“One hundred percent confirmed.” Cook already moved toward the door. “I want everyone ready to move in five minutes.”

Sheridan’s mind raced.

An undercover asset.

Someone had set Maverick up. But who?

Jake, who was conveniently missing?

Morrison, who’d hinted at Maverick surfacing?

Or someone else entirely?

She glanced at her phone. She still had no signal. No way to warn Maverick that death could be heading his way.

She had four minutes until they moved out.

That meant she had four minutes to figure out how to save Maverick without blowing her cover or getting them both killed.