She shrugged.“Nothin’ to be done about it.I don’t want Maisie growin’ up in a world where she has to worry more than she already will.If I can be a part of that, then perhaps my life’s been worth somethin’, aye?”
He squeezed her shoulder but she didn’t feel him using his Prime on her.“I really hope we all make it out alive.I want you and Tamsin to be happy.If you wanted to tell me to go fuck myself and walk away, I wouldn’t blame you.”
“No, I signed up fer this, right?I gave my word.”
“I’m willing to release you from that.Help me get it up to the night of, and then you lead the crew waiting on this side of the border.”
She sadly smiled.“No, sir.But thank ye.I couldn’t live wi’ myself if things went tits-up and I coulda’ been here and perhaps made the difference.I gave Tam the chance to ask me to back out the night before I left.She told me she knows this needs to happen and wants me to do it.”
She sighed.“And Tam promised me if… Ye know,if.She promised she’d go on and be happy, and wouldn’t do somethin’ to leave Maisie without her mum.Just make sure we have everything we need.I really want to have a chance to not bollocks things up with her.”
He nodded.“It’s your operation.”
Over the next several days,as the full crew arrived, Aisling evaluated everyone and separated them into teams based on their skills.
Ironically, everyone asked to be part of the team that made entry into the lab, but she needed people to stay behind.
They went over the layouts, practiced infiltration tactics, and planned several contingencies for each stage of the operation.Ideally, the guards would provide no resistance and would, in fact, kill each other, starting with any guards they might have missed compromising ahead of time.
The guards would also cut all communications on the surface and help destroy the signal tower that was part of the complex.
The guards who weren’t scheduled to work the night of the attack had been programmed to go kill any remaining lab personnel who weren’t on duty before killing themselves.Ironically, the thing that made it more difficult for them to compromise the lab workers without detection—them all living in the same building—was the thing that would make it easier for the security personnel to take them out.
Hopefully, if any outside interest was garnered by the operation, it would look like a revolt from inside, or a terrorist attack, and not be traced to its true origins.
While Aisling slept fitfully every night, the night before the day of the operation was the worst.She eventually gave up, walked outside, and called Tamsin.
“Ash?”
“Hi, pet.”Aisling closed her eyes and pictured Tamsin’s face.“Howzit?”
“I’m not sleeping, and probably won’t until this is over.I am so scared for you.”
Aisling sighed.“I’m sorry.I know this is rough on ye.But keep yer promise, aye?”
“I will.”She sniffled, breaking Aisling’s heart.“I will demand they give you a vacation when you return.”
Aisling smiled.“Where will we go, love?We’ll be free to explore anywhere we want.”
“Ken told me there’s a lovely beach resort not too far south of here, on the Gulf.We could take the baby and go there and just… breathe.”
Tears prickled her eyes.“That sounds lovely.I haven’t seen the water there yet.”
“It’s so warm this time of year…” Tamsin spun out her idea for Aisling as she listened.
Soft, white sand, warm sun, balmy waters.
Just the three of them, because there was no way Aisling wanted to leave Maisie behind.Maybe when she was older, but not now.
“What do you think?”Tamsin said.
“It’s brilliant.I can’t wait.”
Tamsin hesitated.“How long until you can call me?”
“I don’t know.We’ll go radio silent this afternoon.As long as nothing goes tits-up, I’ll be on the transport plane with anyone we rescue.I will try to text you during the refueling stop in Norway, but if I can’t, I promise to call as soon as I can in Wales.Or I will have Trevor send word sooner, if possible.”
“Thank you.”She sniffled again.“I love you so much.You are so brave, and I’m so very proud of you.I’m not spiritual, but if there are things such as ghosts, I’m certain Maisie and Rupert will be there with you in spirit and trying to assist in any way they can.”
