Bulldog pulled out his personal cell phone. The one that didn't route through military networks. The one he kept forexactly this kind of situation when official channels weren't going to cut it. "I'll call Sledge first. See if Beth's up for talking. She doesn't do well with surprises or pressure."
He stepped outside the team bay where the conversation wouldn't be monitored by whoever was responsible for watching communications at Erbil. The door closed behind him. Through the small window, they could see him pacing. Talking. Gesturing with his free hand the way he did when he was making a point.
Ghost watched him go. "This could blow up in our faces."
"Could," Hawk agreed. "But doing nothing definitely gets Steele killed. I'll take the chance."
"Colonel finds out we're running unauthorized contacts with civilians, he'll have our asses."
"Only if he finds out."
"That's a big if."
Hawk's voice was flat. Final. "Then we make sure he doesn't. We've all done things off the books before. This isn't any different."
Joker pushed off from the wall. "Except usually when we go off the books, we're in the field. Not sitting on a U.S. military base where every communication is monitored and logged."
"Bulldog's using his personal phone. No military routing. As far as anyone knows, he's calling his buddy back home."
Risk said quietly, "To ask about his buddy's traumatized girlfriend. That's a hell of a favor."
"It is," Hawk agreed. "But if anyone can help us find that team, it's someone who's been on the other side of this kind of operation."
They waited. Five minutes became ten. Hawk could see Bulldog through the window, still talking, still pacing. Whatever conversation he was having with Sledge, it was taking longer than a quick favor request. That could be good. Could mean Sledge was already bringing Beth into the loop. Or it could bebad. Could mean he was explaining why this was too much to ask.
Ten minutes became twenty. Ghost monitored communications traffic that didn't tell them anything new. Risk reorganized his medical supplies for the third time, the familiar ritual keeping his hands busy while his mind worked through scenarios. Joker stood by the door like a sentry, watching the hallway for anyone who might wonder why five Delta operators were holed up in a team bay looking guilty.
Finally, Bulldog ended the call. Stood there for a moment staring at his phone. Then walked back inside, his expression carefully neutral. The kind of neutral that meant he was working hard not to show what he was feeling.
"Well?" Hawk asked.
"Sledge is talking to Beth. Says she's willing to help but needs to make some calls first. See if she can reach the people she thinks might know something."
Ghost repeated, "People. Not organization?"
"She was careful about what she said. But reading between the lines, she knows about a group that does trafficking rescue. Has a contact there. Someone she trusts."
"How long?" Hawk asked.
"Sledge said Beth would reach out to her contact immediately. Told me to sit tight and wait."
Risk shook his head. "Wait. That's all we've been doing."
"Then we wait some more," Hawk said. "Because right now it's the only play we have."
The hours crawled by. They gave the colonel his update, told him they were analyzing intelligence and coordinating with local assets. All technically true. All carefully worded to avoid mentioning unauthorized contact with civilians. The colonel had looked at them through the video feed like he knew they were upto something but couldn't prove it. Told them to stay put. Stay ready. Wait for orders.
More waiting. Hawk hated waiting. Hated the feeling of helplessness that came with sitting on his hands while one of his own was in enemy hands. He'd spent twenty years training to be the person who kicked down doors and solved problems. Waiting for someone else to solve this one went against every instinct he had.
Ghost was the one who noticed Bulldog's phone light up first. "Bulldog. You've got a message."
Bulldog grabbed his phone and read the screen. His expression didn't change but something in his posture shifted, a tension releasing that Hawk hadn't even realized was there. "Sledge says Beth made contact. Her friend is willing to talk."
Hawk was already moving, crossing the room to look over Bulldog's shoulder. "What kind of friend?"
"Someone named Quinn. Beth says she's the tech specialist for the group that pulled the civilians out of that compound."
Ghost stood up from his position by the window. "Tech specialist for a trafficking rescue operation?"
