Chapter 9
Above ground, the heavy thrum of armored diesel engines vibrated through the mountain stone, shaking dust from the ceiling tiles.
Cole’s tactical SUVs had successfully located the overgrown access road, parking directly outside the concrete retaining wall.
Heavy combat boots crunched against the gravel as elite federal operatives deployed from the vehicles with military efficiency.
Director Cole stepped out of the lead vehicle, adjusting his silver-rimmed glasses as he stared up at the rusted steel access door.
"He's inside the subterranean vault, sir," a tactical commander reported, tapping a handheld thermal scanner.
"We picked up his heat signature through the mountain ventilation shaft ten seconds ago."
Cole smiled coldly, his breath forming a white cloud in the freezing mountain air as he pulled a secure radio from his belt.
"Don't bother trying to pick the locks this time," Cole ordered, his voice dripping with lethal authority.
May you like
"Bring up the thermal cutting torches and blow the blast doors off the hinges."
"If he refuses to surrender the cryptographic key, bury him forty feet beneath the American soil."
