Page 59 of Echo: Burn
I study Karina Miles. Former CIA. Number eight on the kill list. Running from the same people we are. But that doesn't mean she's trustworthy. Could be a plant. Could be compromised. Could be the bait that gets us all killed.
"Why come to us?" I ask. "Why not go to law enforcement? FBI? Homeland Security?"
"You think I didn't try?" Her laugh is harsh. "The Committee has people in every agency. I went to my handler at CIA—he tried to have me killed. Went to FBI—same result. There's no one left to trust except people who are already marked for death. People like you."
"And how did you find us?" Rourke's voice carries that edge he gets when he's calculating threat levels.
"I've been tracking Committee movements for two years. When Protocol Seven activated, I started monitoring their target acquisition patterns. Your base signature was the hardest to find, which made it the most interesting." She shrugs. "Took me three weeks to locate this facility. Another week to crack your security systems. You're good. But I'm better."
The casual arrogance should irritate me. Instead, it's reassuring. Someone who can breach Echo Base's security is exactly the kind of asset we need.
If she's legitimate.
"Boss, her intel checks out." Tommy's voice cuts through my assessment. "Satellite imagery confirms a facility at those coordinates. Heat signatures consistent with industrial chemical processes. Heavy security presence. Everything matches what she's saying."
"That doesn't mean it's not a trap," Mercer points out.
"No," I agree. "But it means we have to check it out. If the weapons are there, we're out of time." I look at Karina. "You're coming with us. If this is legitimate, you help us hit the facility. If it's a trap, you're the first one who dies. Clear?"
"Crystal." She doesn't flinch. "When do we move?"
"We don't. Not yet." I turn to the team. "First, I need to verify the cabin is still secure. If the Committee's tightening their search pattern, they might've found it by now."
"I'll go with you," Willa says immediately.
"No. Too dangerous. You stay here where...”
"We've had this conversation." She cuts me off, arms crossed. "I'm not hiding while you walk into potential danger. Either we go together or I follow you anyway."
Stryker's grin is knowing. "Told you. She's got your number."
I want to argue. Want to lock her in the safest room in the base and know she's protected while I handle threats. But looking at her—jaw set, eyes fierce, already reaching for her tactical vest—I know that's not who she is anymore.
Maybe it never was.
"Fine." I turn to the team. "Stryker, Mercer, you're on Karina. She’s coming with us and doesn’t get a weapon until we verify her intel. Rourke, coordinate with Tommy on the facility assaultplan. Sarah, get me everything we have on inauguration security protocols."
"And the dog?" Karina asks.
Odin's still watching her, head tilted, calculating in that way military working dogs do. Not aggressive, but not friendly either. Just assessing.
"He stays with Khalid," I say. "Safest place for him until we figure out our next move."
Twenty minutes later, Willa and I are geared up and moving through the tunnel system toward the cabin access point. She's wearing full tactical kit now—vest, rifle, sidearm, enough ammunition to fight her way through a small army. The transformation from veterinarian to operator is nearly complete.
"You think Karina's telling the truth?" she asks as we navigate the dark passages.
"I think she believes she's telling the truth. Whether that truth is accurate or manipulated is a different question." I check the motion sensors as we pass. All clear. "The Committee's good at using true believers. Could be she thinks she's helping us when really she's leading us exactly where they want us."
"Then why go to the cabin?"
"Because compromised or not, we need to know if my cover position is still viable. And because..." I pause at the final access door. "Because if they've found the cabin, they're closer to finding Echo Base than I'm comfortable with."
The door opens onto the tunnel that leads to the cabin's concealed entrance. Cold air rushes in, carrying the scent of pine and snow. It's past midnight now, temperature well below freezing. Perfect conditions for an ambush.
I check the tactical display on my forearm. Heat signatures... clear. Motion sensors... inactive. Everything looks normal.
Too normal.
