Cory caught her signal immediately. They needed to discuss this revelation without their guest—traumatized and potentially compromised—in the room.
"She's right," Cory said, noting how the man swayed slightly in his chair. "We can strategize after you've rested." And order the man to tell the FBI what he’d just told them.
They helped him to one of the guest suites, Izzy checking that he had water, pain meds within reach, and her cell number programmed into his phone.
Reed nodded, already sinking onto the bed. "Find them," he said. "Find who's doing this before anyone else gets hurt."
Back in the operations room, Izzy immediately started setting up the video connection. "We need the team," she said, fingers flying across the keyboard. "This changes everything."
The video call connected to chaos. Both Knight Tactical teams crammed into what looked like a luxury lodge's great room, some kind of competition clearly in progress. Axel had Kenji in a headlock while Maya documented with her phone.
"Really?" Izzy's voice cut through the noise. "This is how you spend a snow day?"
The teams immediately focused, though Axel kept his arm around Kenji's neck.
"Where's your shadow?" Axel's eyes found Cory. "The chief?"
"Right here." Cory stepped into view.
"Good job not letting her chase the shooter alone." Axel's grudging approval felt like passing some kind of test. "That's like trying to hold back a tornado."
"Tell me about it," Cory responded dryly, earning what might have been an almost-smile from the massive operator.
They quickly briefed the team on Osgood’s revelation. The playful atmosphere evaporated as the implications sank in.
"A mole explains everything," Ronan said. "The timing, the access, knowing which aircraft to target."
"We need to identify them," Maya added. "But carefully. Can't tip them off."
"Track SBN," Kenji suggested. "If she's running a mole, she has to meet with them."
Zara frowned down at her computer screen. "Her condo's like Fort Knox. The place has more security than some government buildings. But..."
"But?" Izzy prompted.
"Financials show a standing Saturday appointment at a med spa. Super exclusive. Zero cameras. The kind of clients who go there value their privacy."
"Put a tracker on her vehicle," Deke said. "See who she meets with."
Cory's stomach dropped. "That's— a federal crime," he finished. "Illegal surveillance. Up to five years for each of us."
The team exchanged glances across two thousand miles.
"So let her keep meeting with someone who's sabotaging aircraft?" Axel's voice had gone dangerously quiet.
"People could die, Chief," Kenji added. "Already almost have."
“Izzy and I can tail her. That’s completely within the law.”
Izzy made a noise. “And super inefficient.”
Ronan shook his head. “Our girl has one speed: super-sonic. Plus, you risk being made. If the woman flags you….”
Cory gripped the back of his neck, squeezing hard. “Yeah. Copy that.”
"Sometimes the law and what's right aren't the same thing." Deke's quiet wisdom hit like a hammer.
"I'll do it alone," Izzy said suddenly. "Keep you clean. You don't even have to know?—"
