Between the two of them, they drew a map of the compound from their combined recollections of the buildings and walls surrounding it, the entry and exit points, guard towers, offices, dorms and holding cells.
Once they had the layout completed to the best of their knowledge, they took a break for food.
Keira cooked up a couple of cans of chili and produced a box of saltine crackers.
As they gathered around the table, Rogue’s satellite phone rang.
He glanced at the screen. “It’s Royce.”
Jade’s gaze shot to Keira.
“It’s okay. Royce is Rogue’s boss. We can trust him.” She nodded to Rogue.
Rogue answered and put the phone on speaker. “Hey, boss. You’re on speaker.”
“Rogue, it’s good to hear your voice,” Royce said. “Especially after the San Antonio news station reported there was a firefight at an abandoned ranch near Bandera with multiple casualties. Was that you?”
Rogue snorted. “Affirmative.”
“Why didn’t you coordinate for backup?” Royce demanded. “We were so close.”
His gaze went to Jade. “We had the opportunity to connect with another Onyx operative, but only if Keira came alone.”
“I take it Keira wasn’t alone,” Royce stated.
“That would also be affirmative.”
“And?” Royce prompted.
“We have a second Onyx operative, Jade Than, who wants to defect and join ranks with Keira. She’s willing to cooperate and provide additional testimony to back Keira’s claims about Onyx.”
“That’s good news. Is she with you now?”
Rogue nodded toward Jade.
“Yes, sir,” Jade answered.
“Glad to meet you, Jade. Thanks for agreeing to help us shut down Onyx.”
“I’ll do what I can,” she said.
“It’s good to know the three of you made it out of the firefight safely.” Royce paused. “But we have a problem.”
Keira’s lips twisted. “Just one?”
“Maybe more,” Royce said. “Strickland just went into a closed-door briefing with the National Security Council to discuss the firefight in Bandera. My contact in DC thinks Strickland is going to play it as a ‘security incident’—one of more to come. My contact also thinks he’s planning something big— to justify expanded black ops powers. We think he’s going to stage an attack and blame it on domestic terrorists.”
Rogue frowned. “Timeline?”
“Seventy-two hours. Maybe less.”
“Okay.” Rogue glanced across the room at Keira and Jade. “We need to move faster.”
“That’s not all,” Royce continued. “Strickland has activated a full-scale manhunt for you and Keira. Federal, state, local. The works. Your faces are on every law-enforcement network, local and state news channels. They’re calling you armed and dangerous terrorists.”
Keira dipped her head. “So, we’re completely on our own.”
“Not completely,” Royce said. “Senator Hartley and I are working the political angle. You need to get that testimony and evidence to us before Strickland makes his move.”
