Total pages in book: 146
Estimated words: 136425 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 682(@200wpm)___ 546(@250wpm)___ 455(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 136425 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 682(@200wpm)___ 546(@250wpm)___ 455(@300wpm)
Big Tag sent his daughter a stare that could have peeled paint.
“Fine,” she said and sat back down. “But it wasn’t about Ben. I think we need to get there as soon as possible and figure out how to save my cousin.”
“We’re lucky we’re not in custody,” Big Tag announced. “Drake is losing his shit because we’re not supposed to be here, and now we’re in the middle of the biggest terrorist attack in Europe in this century.”
Twelve dead. Countless injured. Billions in property destruction, and Huisman was just getting started. There was something more. Something he hadn’t told them yet. The team knew Huisman had been in his and Cooper’s ears, but they hadn’t told them everything.
“Huisman claims Ben is a double.” Zach forced himself to say the words. “When he was talking to me before he blew the station all to hell, he pointed out that none of this was possible without Ben’s help. He claims they’re still friends, and Ben has been with him all along.”
Kenzie waved him off. “Huisman lies. Ben has done nothing to hurt us. He’s risking his job to work with us right now.”
“He’s being a reckless asshole because he knows damn well he’s going to need a key card and code to even approach the facility,” her father said. He looked Zach’s way and gave him a slight shake of his head, which Zach took to mean they weren’t talking about this now. Not while Kenz was here. Tag directed his attention to Lou. “Lou, you have the schematics, right?”
Lou nodded. “I thought I would do a presentation on the plane where I have you all as a captive audience. But yes, this facility Ben claims is actually a front for Huisman is Disrupt Asia’s climate base. It’s supposed to house a bunch of scientists and climate professionals who are studying the Himalayas for signs of climate change. It’s built into the side of a mountain, and from what I can tell it used to be a Chinese secret base. Disrupt bought it years ago, so who knows what changes Huisman’s made. The security system runs on key cards and codes. I’m surprised he’s not using biometrics.”
“Tech can be difficult in an environment like that. Also, he would have to bring people in to set it all up, and not dayworkers. He would need specialists,” Tristan explained. “From what I can tell they only recently started to use this place. At least Huisman’s visits began roughly a year ago.”
Henry walked in the room, sliding his phone into his pocket. He walked slowly, having taken a knife to his side. Luckily he’d deflected it, and Big Tag had stitched him up. “I’ve talked to the director. What happened at the station today has sent shockwaves through the Agency.”
“I’ll bet it did. Well, at least they can’t deny who Huisman is anymore.” Big Tag finally stopped moving, leaning against the bar. He ran a hand over his head. “I bet your talk went as well as mine.”
“He’s pissed that Lucy’s cover is blown, and I don’t think he’s buying what Drake’s selling,” Henry admitted. “But the good news is now this team is considered the subject-matter experts, and you’re kind of unassailable since no one else has clocked as much time on Huisman as you. You’ve got the go to get to Kathmandu. They have an agent on the ground who’s going to run logistics for you.”
Tag nodded. “We need to find a way to access the inner base and get the intel to Parker. At least those were my orders.”
Could they trust Parker? “How much does Parker know about what went down today?”
“Parker is being told an American team will meet him there, but he knows nothing else,” Henry replied. “But you should understand we’re working with the Canadians on this. We’ve agreed to provide backup and share intel. The important stuff.”
“He doesn’t know they have Devi and my mom?” Zach asked. The world felt like it was running in slow motion.
“No, and it’s going to stay that way because no matter what my daughter says, we have to look into the allegations,” Big Tag announced. “The Canadians’ mission concerns Huisman and ensuring he can’t do whatever it is he plans on doing. Our mission is to support theirs. On the surface.”
“Our real mission is getting our people back,” Kala surmised.
“Then why are we working with him at all?” Kenzie’s lips flattened into a stubborn line.
“Because we keep our friends close,” her father said, “and our enemies closer. Kenz, you’re going to be in charge of working with the operative on the ground. We’ll fly into Kathmandu, get what we need, and hopefully meet the Canadians in a day or two. I’m going to hope bombmaking takes some time.”
Time was the one thing they didn’t have. He didn’t like Big Tag’s timeline. Not one bit.