"Or they'll send someone else." I add, "Contractors rarely work alone. There's always backup."
Sela's fingers drum once against her knee. A single tap, then it goes still. "So I disappear."
"For now," Harlow says. "Until we know what we're dealing with, until we can identify The Marshal and build a case that doesn't rely on a compromised tip line."
Sela's quiet for a moment. "I just started at Palmer Regional. I'm still in my probation period. If I just don't show up for shifts, I'll be terminated."
"Better than being dead," Rhys says.
"And my apartment. My rent's due in two weeks. My car's still at that parking garage. My bills. How am I supposed to pay for anything if I'm hiding in the mountains?"
"We'll figure that out," I say. "Rhys can contact the hospital, explain you're in protective custody related to a federal investigation. They'll understand."
"Will they?" Her jaw tightens. "I've been there less than a month. They don't know me. They'll think I flaked on the job."
"Then they'll think that," Rhys says. His tone is matter-of-fact, not unkind. "Your professional reputation versus your life. Which one matters more?"
I can see the harsh reality lands. She takes a breath, processing.
"Your car will be impounded as evidence from the crime scene," I add. "We can arrange to have your apartment checked, bills handled. But none of that matters if you're dead."
Another moment of silence. I watch her work through it. Watch her accept the reality she doesn't want to accept.
"Where?" She doesn't pause, doesn't hesitate.
"Nothing official," I say. "We keep the circle small. A friend's hunting cabin. It's remote enough that nobody's going to stumble across it."
Finn speaks up for the first time since the briefing started. "Talon Mountain territory. It belongs to a buddy who's overseas right now. No utilities on record, no property tax trail, just a structure that technically doesn't exist on any map."
"How far?"
"It's a couple hours from here. You'd have high elevation, forest cover, a single access road that's easy to monitor." Finn's voice is calm, matter-of-fact. "You'd have shelter, a water source, a defensible position. It's a good place to wait while we work the problem."
Sela looks at me. "You're law enforcement. Wouldn't you need to stay here and coordinate with Palmer PD, work the investigation?"
"Palmer PD is processing the garage scene. They've got what they need from me." I lean back against the desk. "Rhys can handle coordination. I'm more useful keeping you alive than filling out paperwork."
"You volunteering?" Rhys asks.
"Yeah." I meet his eyes. "I pulled her out of that parking garage. I'm not planning to let someone finish the job because we left her exposed."
Rhys nods slowly. "Alright. Marc takes Sela to the cabin. Finn, you guide them in, make sure it's secure, then get back here. Cara, you work the drive. Harlow and I coordinate with the task force, see what we can shake loose about who might have access to FBI communications."
"What about supplies?" Sela's voice cuts through the planning. "I've got my scrubs and a USB drive. That's it."
"We'll get you what you need," I say. "We'll get you clothes, food, basic gear. You won't have some of your normal comforts, but you'll be alive."
She's running calculations, weighing options. Then she nods. "How long am I out there?"
"As long as it takes," Cara says. "Could be a few days, could be longer. It depends on what we find and how fast we can move on it."
"And if The Marshal figures out where I am?"
"Then we fight," I say. It's simple truth. "But that cabin's easier to defend than anywhere in Palmer. We'll have warning if someone comes, time to prepare. We'll have better odds than you had in that parking garage."
Sela's quiet for a moment. Then she nods. "Okay. When do we leave?"
"Soon as I load gear," I say. "It won't be long."
