“If you try to work with local authorities to arrest him, they’ll want evidence. And the person—”
“You said you had that. You said your source was sure Crane was there.”
Chase raised a hand. “Let me finish. The person who owns the cabin in question is a highly respected Norwegian government official. In order to knock down his door and search his property, you would need ironclad evidence he’s harboring a fugitive. And my source isn’t the kind of person who would garner trust with the legal system. But that doesn’t negate the accuracy of his Intel.”
“Now,” Chase continued, “if you want to go the legal route, fine, but my guess is by the time you’ve gathered what you need...Crane will have already received word and fled to another country. At which point,” Chase smiled, “you would have to start your search for him all over again.”
Studying the women, especially Devlin, Randall scanned their faces for signs they understood the situation.
“If you want to catch your man,” Chase picked up his beverage and sat back in the chair, “you will have to do so without the Norwegians ever knowing you were here.” He eyed Faith, “Black ops,” before unscrewing the bottle’s cap and taking a swig.
“And just so we’re clear,” the current CIA man rested the container on his thigh, “I was never here. This meeting never took place. I won’t be a part of your actual mission. And, if you get caught, I will deny having ever laid eyes on you people.” He shook his head. “I can’t risk exposing my CIA cover.” His gaze fell upon the man across from him. “I’m sure you can appreciate that, Noah.”
Randall poked a thumb over his shoulder. “If you walked out that door right now and left us for good, I wouldn’t blame you.”
“We’re not there yet, old friend. But that time’s coming. So I can help you with logistics, materials, and Intel, but I cannot engage in direct action.”
Randall nodded. “I understand.”
Devlin stood, walked to the fireplace, and bent over to warm her hands. Her mind took her back to a conversation with the President, the conversation that had set her feet upon her current path...
“Jessica, you’ll be hunting our own citizens who have committed, or are planning to commit, crimes against innocent civilians. And that may require you to cross international borders to get your man. When that happens, you’ll become a covert agent, and the parameters of your mission will change. If you’re caught operating on foreign soil, your country will be forced to publicly denounce your activities.”
Her mental replay fast-forwarded to another part of that meeting...
“Jessica…I’m asking you to enforce the law. And, at times,” the President bobbed his head, “that’ll require bending the law...to save innocent lives.” He looked down before meeting her gaze. “Earlier, you said ‘there’s nothing more important than family.’” He hesitated. “Taking the fight to the enemy means protecting the ones you love...your family.”
Frowning, Devlin stood tall and turned away from the fireplace, cupping an elbow and holding her chin in the next instant.
Randall scrutinized her.
She eyeballed Faith while recalling past events—her betrayal in Mexico, her family targeted for assassination, her sister’s abduction.
“What are you thinking, Jessica?”
Devlin faced Randall. “I’m thinking…” There’s nothing more important than family, “I’m thinking we need to take the fight to the enemy.” She came back to Faith. “To make sure what happened to our family doesn’t happen to anyone else’s family.”
Faith shed a half grin.
“Good decision.” Chase returned his water bottle to the table. “But I suggest you act on that decision sooner rather than later if you plan to use the mountain as cover for infiltration...or as part of an exit strategy.”
Randall looked at his friend. “Why’s that?”
“While the colder-than-usual temps have extended the skiing season a few more weeks this year, the weather is expected to change rapidly. On our way down today, I noticed the snowpack was getting pretty thin in many spots. I wouldn’t be surprised if the resort shuts down in the next day or two. And, when that happens, you’ll be forced to go in on the north side, which, as you’ve seen, is virtually inaccessible, except from—”
“The air.” Randall’s gaze fell to the floor. “And helicopters aren’t exactly silent.”
“Precisely.”
Devlin spied Randall. “I believe we had a discussion at the cemetery...a discussion on which one of us leads an operation when we’re in another country?”
He nodded. “I remember. You tabled that topic.”
“Actually, you tabled it, but,” she bobbed her head from side to side, “six of one...half dozen of another.” She paused. “Anyway, I’m asking for your input. Any ideas on how we get to Crane?”
His attention shifting to the flames in the fireplace, Randall thought about his second run down the mountain and the time he had spent on the other side of that orange snow fence. He stood. “I have a few, but first I need to get something in my belly and,” he eyed the bedroom while pointing in the same direction, “I take it the bathroom’s off the bedroom?”
Chase affirmed his assumption. “Apparently, they think only intimate partners rent these places.”
“Okay.” Randall started for the room. “First, I need to take a lea—” he stopped and regarded the women, “I mean...freshen up a bit.”
Devlin smiled at his attempt to keep the dialogue a little cleaner.
“Take a leak seems,” engrossed with something on the mobile she was holding, Faith stood, “pretty accurate to me.”
Randall snickered at the younger woman’s words before skirting around the sofa and making his way toward the bedroom.
Chase headed for the refrigerator.
Faith handed over Devlin’s phone. “Can you send me a copy of that?” She quickly followed up with the reason for her request. “I want to get familiar with the layout of the property.”
The marshal peeked at the photo on her screen, a photo of Randall and Faith hugging and smiling while posing as tourists, the cabin in the background. Devlin scrunched her eyebrows at her sister. “Don’t you want all
