Chapter 5 - Tomorrow at 0200
Ryan wanted to run.
Instead, Elena ordered him to behave normally.
That was worse.
At 1830 he returned to his barracks.
At 1900 he ate dinner.
At 2030 he played cards with Marines who knew nothing about the room beneath the bar.
At 2200 he lay in bed staring at the ceiling.
His name.
Tomorrow's date.
200.
At 0137, Ryan heard footsteps outside.
He sat up.
Someone knocked.
Three times.
Pause.
Twice.
Ryan reached for the concealed transmitter Price had given him.
The door opened before he touched it.
Jake stepped inside.
"What are you doing here?"
Jake closed the door.
"We have a problem."
Ryan saw the fear in his face.
"What?"
"Chris is gone."
Ryan stood.
"What do you mean gone?"
"His room's empty."
"Maybe he's—"
"His phone is here."
Jake held it up.
Ryan immediately contacted Elena.
No answer.
Price.
No answer.
That frightened him more.
At 0149, the building's electricity failed.
Darkness swallowed the corridor.
Ryan whispered, "Stay behind me."
Jake almost laughed.
"Since when?"
A vehicle engine started outside.
They ran.
A black utility van was pulling away.
Ryan saw something through the rear window.
A camouflage sleeve.
"Chris!"
They sprinted toward Ryan's truck.
Jake jumped into the passenger seat.
Ryan started the engine.
Then froze.
A woman was sitting in the back.
Elena.
"Drive."
Ryan stared at her in the mirror.
"What the hell?"
"Drive, Sergeant."
He accelerated.
The van turned toward the abandoned northern training sector.
Elena contacted Price.
This time she answered.
"Target moving."
Price's voice came through.
"We see it."
Ryan looked back.
"You knew?"
"I suspected."
"You used Chris as bait?"
"No."
Elena's answer was immediate.
"Chris volunteered."
Jake turned around.
"What?"
Elena handed him an earpiece.
Chris's voice crackled through.
"...three people... vehicle... heading north..."
Jake stared.
"You planned this?"
Elena looked toward Ryan.
"We needed them to believe tomorrow's target was you."
Ryan understood.
"They took Chris because they thought he knew something."
"Correct."
The van entered the abandoned training sector.
Then stopped.
Ryan slowed.
"No lights," Elena ordered.
They approached on foot.
Through the trees, Ryan saw an old concrete building.
Men dragged Chris inside.
Elena signaled.
Price's tactical team moved through the darkness behind them.
Ryan whispered, "What is this place?"
Elena looked at the structure.
"I don't know."
Then a light switched on inside.
Through a dirty window, Ryan saw dozens of photographs covering the wall.
Marines.
Officers.
Families.
And in the center was a photograph of Elena Graves.
Taken yesterday.
At the bar.
Before Ryan poured the beer.
Someone had been watching her before the test even began.
Then a man stepped into view.
May you like
Ryan recognized him.
Brigadier General Warren Kessler.
