Page 184 of Deadfall

“Oh yeah,” Nyx took a seat next to Atlas. “That’s why we wanted you involved.”

I wasn’t unaware of the planning that had been taking place since we got here. While North was very conscious of the need for his team to heal and rest, he also knew that Mahoney would be preparing for us, and so we needed to do our own prep and surveillance. For the most part, I’d only been called in a few times to consult, but from the looks of things, consulting was over. It was time for plans.

“Mahoney has been infilling additional security,” North said. “As well as fortifying the easiest entry points of the island. This includes the airstrip and all beach access points.”

“We don’t want to go through the forest,” I stated. “I can tell you that right now. That’s a natural bit of security he has on that side that I won’t touch.”

“I agree,” North nodded. “The problem is he has anti-air on the roof now.”

“He what?” I looked at the monitors to see the drone images from the roof of the manor. Three massive guns had been installed.

“We’d planned on doing an air infill," North said. “But, now it looks like we’re going to need a team to go in and dismantle those first.”

“So we’re going in by boat?” I asked.

“That is the thought,” Atlas said. “There—” He pointed to a section of island where the manor edged up to the open air of the cliffs. “Swim in. Climb all the way to the roof, dismantle the guns so the bird can drop the rest of the team.”

“Where is the helo coming from? It would need to refuel—”

“The boat is more of a yacht,” Nyx said. “There’s a landing pad. We just need to acquire the helo.”

“I might be able to help with that,” I said.

“Oh?” North said.

“My sister is a pilot.”

“Would she fly for us too?” Atlas asked.

“If she’s available, I don’t doubt it.”

“Give her a call,” North said.

“Okay, so we go in by boat—a team to dismantle the guns, a team to infill by helo—” Nyx pointed to the airstrip. “What are we going to do about Mahoney’s escape plan?”

I moved closer to the monitor and studied the island. “Send in a third team—rig the jet, the hangar, anything else that flies. Use it as a distraction to hide the attack of Team A on the anti-air. Drop Team B on the lawn once it’s clear. Team C can rendezvous with everyone after the bombs go off.” I shook my head. “Mahoney knows we won’t touch the forest.” I turned to them. “I cannot stress enough how you should not enter the forest without a tracker with you, as well as gas masks, it is extremely dangerous to navigate. If we didn’t have Seven and Emersyn leading, we would have been fucked.”

“Emersyn?” Nyx asked.

North’s gaze drilled into mine and I nodded. “You should ask her about it, but it’s obvious she’s had training. Military. Highly specialized, and proficient in the forest setting. She even reset a bear trap in a creek by feel—” I shook my head and offered an amused smirk. “She knows how to move with a team. Don’t underestimate her.”

North studied me for a long moment before he nodded. “Noted. Thank you.” He rose abruptly. Nyx and Atlas shared a smile between them that held a soft knowing.

“Griffin, finalize the explosives locations with West,” North ordered.

I nodded and watched him go. I, too, knew where he was going. I wished I was headed off to find Emersyn, but I knew she and North needed as many father/daughter moments as they could possibly have. Besides, I never passed up an opportunity to do my second favorite pastime.

I turned to West with a grim smirk. “Alright then. Let’s blow some shit up.”

Once West and I wrapped up our planning session, I stepped out to call my sister. She answered on the first ring.

“Hey you!” Uh oh, I knew that tone. “Want to tell me why all my calls have been going to voicemail for the last few days?”

“I texted you,” I said.

“You said you were going dark, and you’d call me when you got back on the grid.”

“This is me calling you, isn’t it?”