Chapter 5 - Midnight at the Airstrip
Rain pounded relentlessly against the windshield of my SUV as I pushed the engine to its absolute limit down the desolate industrial highway leading to the Gary Private Airfield.
Behind me, four unmarked tactical vehicles from the FBI were trailing at a safe distance, their lights off to avoid alerting Vance’s scouts.
Through the rain-streaked glass, I could see the floodlights of Hangar 4 illuminating a large, twin-engine cargo jet idling on the tarmac, its rear ramp lowered.
I pulled off the main road, parking behind a row of rusted shipping containers two hundred yards from the hangar perimeter.
"Agent Miller, do you have eyes on the tarmac?" I spoke into my comms earpiece.
"We are in position on the south ridge, David," Miller’s voice crackled through the earpiece. "SWAT is surrounding the perimeter, but Vance has six heavily armed mercenaries stationed on the high catwalks. If we open fire now, the crossfire could hit Lily."
"I'm going in alone," I said, pulling a tactical vest over my sweater.
"David, that's suicide! Vance is expecting you to negotiate—"
"I have the master vault drive in my pocket, Miller," I interrupted coldly. "I am going to trade the drive for my daughter. The second she is clear of the ramp, you take out the sniper on the roof."
Without waiting for his reply, I stepped out into the pouring rain, holding the glowing USB drive high above my head as I walked into the harsh glare of the hangar floodlights.
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"Vance!" I shouted across the wet concrete, my voice carrying over the roar of the idling jet engines. "I have the encryption keys! Show me my daughter!"
Two mercenaries stepped out from the darkness of the hangar, their rifles aimed directly at my chest, and motioned for me to advance.
