The vibe in the van had changed. Walker felt it in the air without a word being spoken.
Team Black is set up there.
That’s what had changed the mood. Tension. Apprehension.
First, it meant that this team was surprised that DoD had people there at all. So, they weren’t in the loop on that. Nor why they were headed there—certainly not on Jasper being there, either. But did they know of the General’s involvement? And the silence that followed Harrington’s mention of Team Black—these guys knew Team Black. It wasn’t like they were saying Delta were there, or a Ranger platoon. It was specific, and therefore small, part of the same black-ops outfit as them, in this case working for the General out of Cyber Command.
Walker summed it up: a small blackball outfit of the DoD, operating on US soil. Split into six-man teams? And the General was bent. And, it seemed, these guys in the van weren’t privy to Team Black’s operations or intentions.
Walker had to exploit that.
•
McCorkell stood on the shoulder of Interstate 66 and used the Secret Service officer’s phone to call Eve Walker.
“The Vice President got your message,” McCorkell said. “And it turns out that someone has put blocks on all my team’s phones so that they’re no longer connected to a network.”
“It’s General Christie,” Eve said. “That’s what Walker told me to tell you. That she’s driving this—that she has Jasper.”
McCorkell was silent.
“Are you still there?” Eve asked.
“Yes,” McCorkell said. “I’m here. Was that all he said?”
“He said that Jasper is being held at Ames Research Center.”
“He said that?”
“Yes.”
“Okay, okay. That’s it?”
“He said this all started with General Christie.”
“Okay. Thank you, Eve. Are you safe?”
“Yes I’m at—”
“Listen, do me a favor,” McCorkell said. “Wherever you are? Leave your phone behind, take cash, no cards, and hole up for the next few hours until this blows over. Things have been said on this call that may get flagged and then tracked back to your cell phone and your location can be found. Do you understand?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Watch the news. You’ll see when this ends, and after that—well, then all will be fine. Stay safe.”
“Thank you.”
McCorkell ended the call and asked the Secret Service agent to escort them directly to the White House.