Chapter 24 - THE COLORADO EXPEDITION
A private Montgomery jet cut through the winter clouds, landing at Aspen County Airport during a heavy snowstorm.
Clara, Reese, and Elena stepped off the plane into the freezing mountain air, wrapped in heavy winter coats.
Two armored SUVs waited on the tarmac, their engines idling as security guards secured the luggage.
"The chalet has been unoccupied for five years," Reese noted as they drove up the winding mountain road.
"My father bought it under a shell company in 1998," Clara explained, looking out at the snow-covered pine trees. "It's where he stored the physical backups of the defense software."
The SUV pulled up to a massive timber-frame chalet perched on the edge of a steep snow cliff.
The security team swept the perimeter with thermal scanners before giving the all-clear signal.
Clara stepped into the dark, frozen foyer, her flashlight beam illuminating dusty leather furniture and mounted elk horns.
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"The basement access is hidden behind the wine cellar rack," Clara instructed, leading the way down the stone stairs.
Behind them, the front door of the chalet clicked open softly, admitting three figures dressed in white winter camouflage.
