Risk walked in last, medical pack still slung over his shoulder like he was ready to move at a moment's notice. "Any word from CTS? Iraqi intelligence? Anyone who might have eyes on Nazari's network?"
Ghost said, "CTS is being cooperative. Which means they're telling us what we want to hear while doing exactly nothing."
Bulldog stood and started pacing. The man had too much energy to sit still when things were going wrong. "So we've got no leads, no intel, and no authorization to act. Meanwhile Steele's somewhere in Mosul getting interrogated by an arms dealer who knows exactly how valuable a captured Delta operator is."
The words hung heavy in the small room, each one a reminder of their failure and their helplessness.
Hawk set down his coffee. "There has to be something we can do."
"Like what?" Joker asked. "Colonel was pretty clear. No operations until we have confirmation of status and location."
"So we find status and location."
"How? We don't have assets in Mosul. Can't exactly walk the streets asking if anyone's seen an American prisoner."
Ghost pulled up a map on his tablet. "I've been monitoring communications intercepts. There's been increased encrypted traffic between known Nazari associates but I can't break it. Whatever encryption they're using is better than what I can crack with the tools I have here."
Risk asked, "What about satellite?"
"Patterns of life analysis shows activity at three locations that might be relevant. But 'might be' isn't good enough for a rescue operation."
Bulldog stopped pacing. "What about the other team?"
Everyone looked at him, the question hanging in the air like possibility.
"The team that was in the compound," he continued. "The ones who extracted the civilians. They were there. They saw what happened. Maybe they know something we don't."
"We don't know who they were," Hawk said.
"So we find out."
"How?"
Bulldog was quiet for a moment, then ran a hand over his head. "I might know someone who can help."
Ghost raised an eyebrow. "Someone?"
"Yeah. Friend of mine back in Texas. Cade Turner. Goes by Sledge. Firefighter. Good guy. We met years ago, stayed in touch."
Joker asked, "And he can help us how?"
"His girlfriend. Beth. She's..." Bulldog paused, choosing his words carefully. "She went through some bad shit a few years ago. Kidnapping. Real ugly situation. Got rescued but it left her pretty messed up. Agoraphobia. The whole nine yards."
Risk leaned forward. "What does that have to do with finding the team?"
"She moved to Texas for a fresh start. Met Sledge. They've been together about a year now." Bulldog looked around at them. "But here's the thing. Because of what happened to her, because of how she got out, she knows things. Connected with people who do the kind of work most people don't even know exists."
"You're being vague," Hawk said.
"That's intentional. Beth's situation is sensitive. But I trust her. And more importantly, she might have connections to organizations that operate in the trafficking rescue space."
Ghost said slowly, "The team that was in that compound."
"Maybe. Worth asking."
Hawk considered it. Reaching out to someone outside the chain of command was risky. Especially a civilian. Could get them all in serious trouble if it went wrong. But sitting here doing nothing while Steele was God knows where getting God knows what done to him wasn't acceptable either.
"Make the call," Hawk said.
