Thurber tossed a sheet of paper at them. “We got the warrant. HRT is already suited up. They’ll meet us out there. We need to stake out the land. We roll in fifteen. Be ready. You hit the spot?”
Fletcher looked down so Jordan wouldn’t catch his eye and start laughing and blow this whole thing.
“Yeah, I’ve got it,” she said. “There’s a tunnel on the easement to the property we should be able to sneak through. They might have guards on the other side, but as of the last satellite pass, it was devoid of living beings. If they are there, we can take them out without a problem. Then it’s a clear shot into the farmhouse.”
“Good. Suit up and get downstairs. Get Detective Fletcher a vest, too.”
“Are you inviting me along?”
Thurber’s face was like granite. “You worked this case, didn’t you? Yeah, you’re in. Now get your shit together and let’s roll. Brass is putting together the ROE right now.”
He stalked out of the room.
“ROE?” Fletcher asked.
“Rules of engagement. How we approach, what the shooters are allow to do. Self-defense, shoot to kill, whatever they decree is what we all have to stick to.”
“They’ll try negotiating first, right?”
“Absolutely. Which is why you and I are going to get out there and find Rachel Stevens. You trained for SWAT by any chance?”
“Yeah, but it’s been a few years.”
“Our HRTs are built on a similar premise. They’re badasses. They deploy all over the world at a moment’s notice to save our citizens. They’re the best at what they do. We’ll follow their lead.”
“We need to call Sam and Baldwin.”
She had her phone out already. “On it.”
She’d slipped back into straitlaced FBI agent mode. Not that he blamed her. But he was definitely interested to see where this might lead. He hadn’t been all that perturbed when Andi told him she was lighting out for New York and they could play things by ear. He realized if Jordan said the same thing, he’d be pretty pissed. Interesting.
He listened to her talking to Baldwin and Sam, liked the sound of her voice when she got all bossy—a lot. Shook his head and grinned to himself.
Fletcher, you are such an idiot.
Chapter
54
Interstate 66
Northern Virginia
THEY WERE NEARING the exit south to Lynchburg when Baldwin’s cell rang.
“It’s Jordan.” He put it on speaker. “What’s up?”
“Kaylie Rousch’s map was right on the money, and Doug Matcliff left a bread crumb trail in his SIGINT no one bothered to follow. We looked at the property records in Great Falls. They’re in the name of a trust, run through a shell company. The forensic accountants are on it, tearing apart the details. So far, they’ve been able to tie several holdings in several states to this shell company. Want to guess where?”
“Virginia, Texas, Colorado, Arkansas and Kentucky.”
“You got it. All of which are held by...drumroll please...the Scarron Family Trust.”
“Well, I’ll be damned. What sort of warrant did you get?”
“Broad scope. Covers everything. We aren’t taking any chances. Exigent circumstances, too, since we think Rachel Stevens might be there. They’re pulling together the ROE right now. We won’t get any pushback. In the meantime, we have some excellent satellite shots from early this morning. There are several people wandering around the area, looks like guards. Armed guards.”
“This is all good news.”
“Yep. There’s more. There’s a small outbuilding, and thermal imaging shows at least fifteen people there. The main house has a couple of people in it, too, and more bodies in other outbuildings.”
“So we’re up to twenty, twenty-two? What are the guards armed with?”
“Don’t know. But this isn’t exactly a normal setup for a parcel of undeveloped land.”
“Any confirmation or sighting of Rachel Stevens?”
“Negative. But we’ve got convergence on three levels, and I’ve got a gut feeling she’s in there, just waiting for us to bust in and save her. Do you want in? We’re rolling now.”
“On my way. And, Jordan, you need to be mindful of the situation. This woman hasn’t hesitated to eliminate her followers before. We don’t want another Ruby Ridge.”
“Trust me, none of us do.”
Baldwin hung up and put his foot on the gas. “Now might be a good time to call Xander.”
Sam already had her phone out. Xander didn’t answer. She left him a quick message. “FBI confirmed the land out in Great Falls is owned by a shell holding company. They’re pretty convinced this is the spot. Be careful. You’re about to have a mass convergence, including FBI HRT. Call me.”
She hung up, fiddled with the phone. “Baldwin, what if this isn’t what we think it is?”
“What do you mean?”
“Something Kaylie’s mother said has been bothering me. That she was a compulsive liar. Anne Carter reacted to that information, too.”
He glanced over at her. “Go on.”