“And maybe it is. Come on, West.” Reid stood. “An accident could be a cover story for a classified mission gone wrong. It’s about protecting national security. You know the drill.”
West gripped the couch. “I still think one of us needs to phase into the future and look into this. Hurley and Moore were on team two. They saved us eight years ago when we were ambushed in Afghanistan.”
Knots tightened in Reid’s gut. That day in the valley, bullets flying, pinned down by insurgents. He still had nightmares about it.
“Hell, Reid, just send me.” West held up a hand. “I know what you’re going to say. Take it to Dalir. I already tried, but he wouldn’t listen. He said we’re grounded. Period. I also know I’m logistics. It’s my job to keep things solid while the team is on assignment, but one of you can handle it until I get back.”
“I hear you, but Speaks is paranoid. Do you honestly think we can trust him on this?”
“He rarely leaves his mother’s basement and only eats canned food. So yeah, there’s a chance he’s full of shit, but he’s hacked into systems that would take me weeks to get into. The intel he’s provided in the past has been solid. This isn’t just about me wanting back in the field. I can’t ignore what my gut is telling me. A few months ago, a former project manager from Greenhill made claims to a reporter about falsified reports. He changed his story after he got his job back with a bonus. As crazy as it is, I think Speaks is right.”
And West’s gut instincts were on target more often than not. “What’s your plan?”
“Thread the needle. I can create a dummy profile here that sets one of us up as a perfect candidate for Samson. We have to phase in at least two years six months before the accident. That also meets the parameters Thane laid out about not jumping in on his timeline with Celine. In the future, with the right buzzwords, Speaks will get on board. His hacking skills can solidify the cover and get us into the program.”
Reid walked to the sliding glass door overlooking the pool. Their last roll call would have been at Arlington Cemetery if Hurley and Moore’s team hadn’t backed them up. They were alive because of them. If Project Samson was part of some fucked up plan, they had to act. Leave no man behind. They lived by that creed. Sitting on their asses was like leaving Hurley and Moore behind to die. If Dalir wouldn’t spare time for West, he damn sure wasn’t going to listen to him. Once the Ancient was pissed and made up his mind on something, he was immovable.
“All right. Let’s take a look.”
West stepped forward. “Who are you tapping for this?”
“No one.” Reid met West’s gaze. “I’m taking it.”
Chapter 6
The future
“Colonel Shea, thank you for joining us.” Frank Dent, the project manager for Greenhill, shook hands with the army officer. Morning sun gleamed off Dent’s bald spot. As usual, the rest of the short, husky man’s brown hair hadn’t seen a comb. Next to Shea’s starched, desert-camouflaged BDUs, Dent’s gray, ill-fitting suit resembled a sack. “I’d like to introduce you to the soldier who’ll perform our first demonstration today—Staff Sergeant Reid Montgomery.”
Reid stood at attention on the edge of the urban warfare obstacle course and gave an efficient salute. Readapting to name, rank, and serial number had come easily. So had implementing West’s plan. Speaks had inserted him into the program without a problem. The specialized unit of twelve tested prototypes of the Samson body armor and weapons under various conditions.
After nearly three weeks, he hadn’t unearthed anything remotely suspicious about the testing or procedures. So far, everyone remained alive.
The light haired colonel’s sharp gaze assessed him. The army officer’s stern expression cracked with a moment of approval. Reid imagined what was going through Shea’s mind. The form-fitted, head-to-toe body armor gave the impression of combat ready and ultimate badass.
Shea jerked his head toward the observation booth near a patch of pine trees. “Let’s get this dog and pony show on the road.”
Teri, a lab tech, checked over Reid’s armored suit. When he’d first met the pretty blonde, she’d reminded him of Lauren. Smart, a sense of humor, but with a major difference. She lacked fiery passion in her eyes.
She smiled. “All set. Good luck.”
“Thanks.” Reid put on his headgear and shooting gloves as he walked to the tree line. A mock setup of an urban street in the Middle East spread out in front of him.
He cued his headset. “Mic check. Tower, this is Game Show. Do you read me?”
“Game Show, this is Tower. We read you loud and clear. Hurley said to tell you some of the guys are talking trash about Army. They said you’re going to tank.”
Reid flexed his fingers. He’d volunteered for the exercise to get a closer look at the equipment, but a little harmless cross branch rivalry wouldn’t get in the way. As the new guy, it would help bond him with the members of the unit. “What’s the fastest time on the course?”
“Five minutes eight seconds. How much you plan on beating it by?”