Inside sat makeshift desks with computers, maps, and groups of soldiers huddled together discussing strategy.
Agent Davis held up his hand. "Stay here. Agent Simmons will join you soon."
Yeah, not happening. I pushed past Davis, whose thoughts had mostly focused on Mary's tits the whole ride here, and walked up to a group of agents who looked like they knew what they were doing. "I need to see Simmons right away."
One guard glanced at me, mentally brushed me off as some weak and insignificant girl, and turned back to the map in front of him. "She's busy."
"I understand." I grabbed his wrist and twisted it hard, bringing him to his knees. "Now, may we please see Agent Simmons?"
The other guards surrounded me, weapons raised. Their minds were on alert, focused on my every movement but unsure as to whether to shoot or not without orders.
Agent Simmons walked up from behind them. "Weapons down. She's with us, more or less."
A few months had passed since I'd seen her last, and even then only briefly, but I didn't hesitate to penetrate her every thought and memory while we talked. Most centered on the plan, wondering whether Luke, Lucy and Hunter would succeed. She worried especially about Hunter. Seemed the twins pissed her off.
Good for them. "Are Luke and Lucy in the water already?" I knew the answer before she had a chance to answer. "No, they're not. Okay, I want access to surveillance."
I let the guard go and walked toward a guy sitting in front of a bunch of computer screens. He hovered between standing and sitting, looking as though trying to do both at once.
Simmons scurried after me. "Now wait a minute. You don't give orders here."
I stared her down, no longer the timid, soft Sam of a few months ago. "My daughter is missing. I'll do anything to get her back. This is less an IPI mission than it is our operation, with your assistance. After all, if you guys had gotten better intel, we wouldn't be in this position at all."
And I would never have had Ana. I brushed the thought aside. However she came to be, she was mine now, and I'd die to protect her. "Still need convincing? Look around."
The guards held their weapons low, firing nervous glances at my team, who stood behind me, ready to attack should the need arise.
"You have no idea what the nine of us are capable of, but I can tell from the thoughts floating around me that your people don't want to find out."
Simmons scowled at the agent still stuck in limbo. "Give her your seat."
He stood, relieved, and offered me his chair. I sat and examined the equipment.
They had eyes on the Rent-A-Kid compound, but none up close. A wall surrounded the perimeter, and a tall guard tower rose above it. Beyond that, buildings were scattered over several acres and made up the living quarters and work space. Guards patrolled on foot, and all the buildings were well lit.
Simmons cringed, but asked, "Do you need access to the comm system as well?"
"Nope, I got it. I'll know what's happening before you will."
She rolled her eyes and stormed out of the tent.
I tapped my head, then reached out with my thoughts to find Lucy's mental signature. "Hey, Luce, we're set up."
'Sam! I'm glad you made it. We're about to drop into the water. Don't worry, we'll get Ana and all the kids. Failure isn't an option, especially now that you guys are here.'
"Good. I'll monitor you mentally, and we'll be ready to send aid if needed. Be safe. And hurry."
Norm stood beside me, watching the beeping monitors and surveillance. "So, what do we do?"
"We wait for an orange or red flare. Then attack."
Robyn stood at his side. "What do the colors mean?"
"Orange means they succeeded. Red means they're screwed. Doesn't matter. I'll know before they even fire one."
I handed control of the chair back to the nervous agent, who kept his distance from me—smart man—and walked out of the makeshift office in search of Simmons's tent.
Simmons sat at a small table checking her weapons. With practiced movements, she broke down and reassembled her 9mm in a matter of seconds.
Her obvious display didn't faze me. I could destroy her in a heartbeat, and I would if she interfered with rescuing my daughter. But for now, she could be useful. "You have expertise—expertise I need—but you must do as I say."
She laughed without humor and lifted a large needle off the table. "Do you know what this is? It's a very special drug that strips paranormals of their para-power. Do you and your friends think you'd be so special without those powers? No. You'd be nothing. Less than nothing."
She stood and walked toward me, expecting me to flinch or back away. She'd have to live with disappointment.
"So, why should I listen to you, when I have this?"
I took a step closer to her, my face inches from hers. "Because I know who you are, and I know what you've done."
Part Three – What Lies Beyond
Chapter 109 – Lucy