Chapter 16 - No Rank, No Backup
Olivia killed the lights.
"Back exit?"
Ortiz pointed toward the rear of the storage unit. "Solid wall."
Ward checked his phone. "Signal jammer."
The first man outside called through the metal door.
"Commander Mitchell, federal custody. Open the door."
Olivia whispered, "No warrant."
"How do you know?"
"Because if they had one, they'd say so."
She looked at the stacks of files.
Too much to carry.
Ortiz pulled out her phone even though it had no signal.
"I can record locally."
They photographed page after page while the men outside began cutting the lock.
Ward found an old loading vent near the ceiling.
"There."
Olivia shook her head. "You two go. I'll delay them."
Ortiz stared at her. "Absolutely not."
"Sergeant."
"You're suspended. You can't order me."
Despite herself, Olivia smiled.
The lock snapped.
They climbed through the vent seconds before the door opened.
From the roof, they crossed into the neighboring unit and dropped behind a row of parked trailers.
Ward took a punch from one pursuing agent but kept moving.
Ortiz reached an old delivery van and found the keys inside.
"Best logistics day of my life."
They escaped through a side gate as the SUVs turned after them.
Five miles later, Ortiz's phone regained service and automatically uploaded the photographs to three secure destinations Olivia had configured earlier.
Ward looked at her. "Where did you send them?"
"A military judge. Ghost Division inspector general. And one reporter my father trusted."
"A reporter?"
"Insurance."
Her phone rang.
Unknown number.
Voss.
"Rusk will kill you," he said.
Olivia gripped the phone. "Where are you?"
"Somewhere he can't find me yet."
"Then help me."
Voss laughed bitterly.
"You still think I'm the villain."
"You helped kill my father."
May you like
Silence.
Then Voss said, "Yes. And I can prove who gave the order."
