Chapter 14 - The Traitor’s Arrival
The sound of helicopter blades broke through the storm outside, vibrating the reinforced glass windows of the warehouse. A sleek, civilian Eurocopter descended onto the private helipad behind the facility, its searchlight cutting through the torrential rain.
Cole smiled, a predator watching the trap snap shut. ""There he is now. Coming to collect what was promised.""
Before Cole could reach into his jacket, Elena fired.
A single round took Director Cole in the center of his chest. The force of the impact drove him backward into the burning barrel, his eyes wide in sudden, paralyzed shock as he slumped against the flames, lifeless.
Elena lowered the rifle, her breathing shallow, her eyes locked on the helipad outside.
""Elena, what do we do?"" Marek asked, stepping beside her, his weapon raised toward the window. ""We can't fight a full extraction team.""
""We don't have to,"" Elena said, her voice dropping into a register of deadly calm. She reached into her pocket, pulled out the satellite phone, and dialed the emergency number etched into the brass key of the safe deposit box.
The phone connected on the second ring.
""Department of Defense, Inspector General's Special Operations Oversight,"" a sharp female voice answered.
""This is Elena Vance, former Corporal, Task Force Aquila,"" she said clearly. ""I am in possession of the Orion Manifest. And I am about to deliver the man who sold out the entire United States military command structure.""
She hung up, turned to Marek, and handed him the black leather ledger. ""Take this. Get out through the water dock. If I don't make it to the pier in ten minutes, deliver it to the address on the first page.""
""I'm not leaving you behind,"" Marek protested. ""We finish this together.""
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""This isn't your ghost, Marek,"" Elena said, looking down at the eagle on her arm. ""This is mine.""
She walked out into the rain, unholstered her sidearm, and stood alone in the center of the tarmac as the helicopter doors slid open.
