Page 50 of Ground Zero
Footsteps entered the house, deliberate and systematic. Maverick forced himself to breathe slowly and quietly through his nose, fighting the urge to shift his weight as the laptop’s edge dug into his ribs.
“From all appearances, this place hasn’t been used in a while,” one of the agents observed.
“Still worth checking. Adams is former military—he knows how to stay hidden. Besides, is it just me, or do you smell coffee?”
Maverick’s heart pounded harder. He could put items back in place, but smells were harder to extinguish.
The footsteps moved closer to the living room. Maverick saw shadows moving across the floor through the tiny gaps between the cushions above him. One of the agents stood less than three feet away.
“Anything?” the first voice asked.
“Negative. But I want to check the bedrooms too.”
As the footsteps moved toward the hallway, Maverick tried to place the voice. Had he heard either of them before? He wasn’t sure.
The first man had an accent that was slightly Southern. His tone was professional but with an underlying tension that suggested personal investment in finding him.
The agents spent ten minutes searching the house room by room. As they did, Maverick remained perfectly still. His muscles cramped from the awkward position, and sweat beaded on his forehead despite the cool air.
Finally, after what felt like hours, he heard the men return to the living room.
“Nothing,” an agent said. “If he was here, he’s long gone.”
“Or he was never here at all,” the other voice replied. “Could be we’re chasing ghosts.”
“Maybe. But the boss wants every possibility covered. This operation is too important to leave anything to chance.”
The footsteps moved toward the door, and Maverick allowed himself a tiny sigh of relief.
“Ground Zero can’t be compromised,” the familiar voice continued as they reached the exit. “Not when we’re this close.”
The door closed with a soft click, leaving Maverick alone in the darkness beneath the sofa cushions, his mind reeling.
Those men knew about Ground Zero. Which meant either the FBI was more compromised than Sheridan realized, or those hadn’t been real federal agents after all.
CHAPTER 28
“I’d like to examine this privately.” Sheridan held up the USB drive.
Ty nodded. “Of course.”
“Will you tell us what you find?” Colton’s voice sounded tight with concern.
Sheridan met his eyes and saw the worry there—worry for a friend, for a teammate who might be innocent or might be guilty of treason. “Yes—if I can. You deserve to know what’s on here.”
Ty still hesitated. “Listen, to be truthful, we already searched his office. That USB wasn’t there earlier.”
“You’re telling me that whoever left it did so since you searched the office?” she clarified.
“That’s correct,” Colton said.
“And when did you search it?” she asked.
“Yesterday.”
She nodded slowly. “Good to know. Any cameras?”
Ty’s jaw tightened. “They went dark for about an hour yesterday.”
