Mason looked at his watch, and remarked, “Okay—it’s 3 AM. Let’s try to be in and out of there by 3:15.”
Delgado chuckled, “A ten-minute window huh? Wow—this is really going to be a quick snatch and grab.”
Mason questioned, “You don’t think it’s feasible?”
Delgado shrugged, “I’m sure we could do it.”
Benton then slapped Mason on the back and offered, “Look if me and Mason here can sneak in and out of heavily fortified Al-Qaeda compounds in the mountains of Afghanistan in less than a minute—I believe storming through this old, rickety building in 10 minutes should be child’s play.”
Delgado laughed, “Alright—I guess if you say it that way.”
He then looked to Mason, “Alright—then what are we waiting for?” Mason nodded, “No time like the present—let’s go!”
Delgado led his officers out first, crouching low lest they be seen. They also each employed a new ballistic shield that was actually capable of refracting light—what little there was in the dimly lit streets of NYC at this hour—making them semi-invisible in the process.
Mason was always amazed at how rapidly technology kept right on advancing. He was a big sci-fi fan when he was a kid, and invisibility cloaks were the stuff of legend, but now they were damn near close to reality.
With such measures of stealth on their side, as planned three went straight for the secret door in the side of the building, and the remaining three accompanied Mason Benton, Chris, and Delgado as they prepared an all-out assault of the compound.
It may seem elementary, but the first thing the group did as they approached the front doors was to check and see if it was locked. There was no sense bringing out a battering ram—except maybe shock value—if the door was already wide open. And sure enough, when Mason tried the handle, he was able to fling it wide open.
Inside all was dark, Mason wearing his optical glasses, switched to night vision as he led the group inside. As they stepped in Benton without the benefit of such tech, was fortunate if he could simply avoid colliding with a church pew. Navigating through the darkness, Benton asked, “What do you see Mason?”
Mason answered, “Nothing so far—it still looks deserted.”
Benton then remarked, “Yeah, but as we know—looks can be deceiving.”
From the foyer, Mason then led the group on into the main sanctuary, Mason quickly reported, “All clear here too—in fact…”
Mason trailed off; he knew something wasn’t right. The few chairs and tables that had been out were now suddenly missing, this place was even emptier than it was before. Without saying another word Mason led them through the sanctuary and on into the rectory.
Mason expected a few of the terrorists to be holed up into this makeshift office, but when the SWAT officers kicked the door open with guns at the ready, they were once again greeted by silence. Mason shook his head in despair as he acknowledged, “They’re gone.”
Benton looking around at the empty room asked, “What do you mean they’re gone? They were just here!”
Mason shook his head, “It’s as if someone on the inside tipped them off that we were coming, that’s the only thing that can explain it.”
Benton grimaced, “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”
Mason nodded, as he quietly spoke the name, “Fanelli…”
Fanelli was the name of the General that had seemed suspiciously linked to the self-same terror group. Pretty shocking charges to make that a United States General would have his hands dirty with terrorists, but due to the circumstantial evidence that they had witnessed in the past, both Mason and Benton had come to that conclusion.
There was just no way to currently prove it. And at the moment, stuck at another painful dead-end with no leads to follow, Mason had no choice but to call off the mission.
Pointing at the bare wall in front of them, Mason turned to Delgado and rather bluntly informed him, “Sorry that I wasted your time and resources Captain, but this is officially a dead end.”
Chapter 22: Mason out on a Limb and Justice out on the Lamb
AT THE ONYX NYC COMMAND CENTER. As soon as Mason, Benton and Chris arrived back at their temporary New York headquarters, General Thomson was already there waiting on them. Seated at the head of their own table, he looked grim. Luke Simon seated next to him, looked even worse.
Mason was close to Luke, and somehow, he could tell by his expression that he had some bad news that he really did not want to impart to him. It was only his obligation as team leader that kept him in place. And before they were even fully seated, he informed them in no uncertain terms, “Mason I’m sorry—but I’m going to have to shut this case down.”
Mason nearly fell out of his chair as he shouted, “What?! But what about the terror cell?!”
General Thomson nodded, “Oh—believe me. They will be thoroughly investigated and eventually hunted down. Just not by you guys.”
Mason was instantly irate. Did they really deserve this snub? They had had come so close to breaking up the terror cell and now this? Luke knowing how upsetting the whole thing was to Mason attempted to ameliorate the tension by offering, “But—that doesn’t mean that you won’t be called upon further down the road…”
But Thomson wouldn’t even allow this small bit of consolation, quickly rebuffing Luke, by saying, “Pending review that is… It’s all pending review.”
Upon hearing this verbal door slamming in his face, Mason finally lost it, “Pending review? What the hell does that even mean?”
Raina shocked that Mason lost his composure cautioned him, as she hissed “Mason!”
Mason’s anger was like a freight train now though, and once off the rails, nothing could stop it. Mason demanded, “What about all the viruses? What about all the people who are going to be killed—is that pending review too?!”
Luke really fearing Mason was digging himself
