Chapter 5 - The Web Unravels
For the next three days, while the medical team at Walter Reed nursed Emily back to health, Colonel Thomas Bennett operated out of a makeshift command center in the basement of the Pentagon.
High-definition monitors lined the walls, tracking cell tower pings, bank transactions, and satellite imagery across five states.
Sergeant Major Vance pointed a laser pointer at a map of rural Wisconsin. "Richard Vance owns a secluded estate three miles outside of Superior. It’s registered under an agricultural trust, heavily fortified with private security contractors, and has a private airstrip."
"Is Ryan there?" Thomas asked, leaning over the tactical map.
"A silver SUV matching his escape vehicle cleared a toll booth ten miles south of the property two hours ago," Vance replied. "And we intercepted an encrypted transmission from the estate to a charter flight company in Toronto."
"They're extracting him out of the country," Thomas said.
Suddenly, the door to the command post opened, and a sharp, middle-aged woman in a tailored dark grey suit walked in, carrying a leather briefcase. It was Special Agent Marcus from the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
"Colonel Bennett," Agent Marcus said, holding out her hand. "The Department of Justice has officially authorized federal intervention. The warrants for Ryan Vance, Richard Vance, and Linda Vance have been upgraded to espionage, treason, and conspiracy."
Thomas shook her hand firmly. "Is my daughter protected?"
"Four federal agents are posted inside her room, and the entire floor at Walter Reed has been scrubbed," Marcus assured him. "She is entirely safe. Now let's go get the men who did this to her."
Thomas looked at the satellite image of the Wisconsin estate—a sprawling timber lodge surrounded by dense pine forests and high steel fencing.
"They think they're safe behind their private security," Thomas said quietly. "They think money and miles can protect them from what they broke."
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"How do you want to handle the entry, Colonel?" Agent Marcus asked. "State police want to set up a roadblock."
"A roadblock gives them time to burn hard drives and get to the plane," Thomas replied, stepping up to the tactical table. "We go in fast. Air assault protocols. We drop in before they even hear the rotors."
