Sylvia waited in Arthur’s office and brought Lydia and Aidan to the ready room, making no fuss about Aidan’s joining Lydia. Inside, Arthur stared at a geographical map of the surrounding area on a large screen and chatted with a few people on computers. At the center table, security guards loaded their weapons and stood at attention, ready for orders. Scattered folders of emergency procedures lay splayed open on the table.
“What’s going on?” Lydia asked, peering at the map. One of the technicians drew a red circle on his computer screen, and it popped up onto the map screen.
“Rick failed to check in on time,” Arthur said. “A few minutes ago, we received a call from Dilbert. Heather escaped.”
Lydia’s and Aidan’s jaws dropped. “Escaped?” she said. “How does she ‘escape’ from a plane? It’s in the air! There is no ‘escape’!”
“She got out of her handcuffs. Had a key hidden on her,” he said as the technician wrote 20–30 minutes beside the circle and traced a path to the mountain in the center. “Got the jump on the security. Knocked all but one out, used him as a hostage, and forced Dilbert to land the plane.”
“The mole,” she said and Arthur nodded. “Do you know who it is?”
“We’re still reviewing the security footage from this morning,” Sylvia said. “It’s difficult to make out if some people slipped her a key or anything else.”
“What about the others? Are they all right?”
“Yes,” Arthur said. “Strangely, she spared them and let them leave the plane. Rick and two guards are injured, but they’ll live.” Lydia let out a relieved breath. Maybe Heather had been influenced by her talk and this place after all. “However, that’s not the worst news.” Immediately, her earlier tension replaced the relaxation she’d been feeling. “Dilbert saw Whyte and the people who attacked you at the mill pick her up. They destroyed the plane shortly after and, according to Heather’s last-known location from her tracking pill, they seem to be on their way here.”
“Wait, how are they on their way here?” Lydia asked. “I thought the mole didn’t know where the Cave is.”
“We’re not sure yet,” Sylvia said. “My money is on calculating our transfers and the distance and time.”
“Or is one of the guards the mole?” Aidan suggested.
Arthur shook his head. “I doubt it. But we don’t know for sure. All we do know is that they’re coming this way. We’re working with the assumption that the mole is still here and that Whyte has a good idea where we are.”
The red numbers and circle now made sense to Lydia and she gulped. Half an hour at most to prepare for an attack? Arthur turned from the screen and to the soldiers on standby. “According to Dilbert, Whyte’s forces are heavily armed. Vehicles, helicopters, the works. Estimates number them around twenty at the least, but we’re expecting much more.”
“While we have forty guards strong with small arms,” Sylvia said, grimacing. Lydia didn’t like the odds either.
Arthur ordered a technician to contact the FBI. “Tell them to send all the help they can. And recall all our agents. We need as many people as possible.”
“Put out an international call to the other BEP Divisions as well,” Sylvia said. “Maybe we’ll get lucky and someone can send backup.”
Arthur pointed to two of the guards, and then unfurled a map of the Cave on the table. “I want everyone on alert and fully equipped. Focus your attention and defenses on the front entrance,” he said, tapping the map. They saluted and left.
“It’s unlikely that Whyte knows about the escape routes,” Sylvia said.
“Yes, unlikely,” he said. He let the worrisome other end hang awkwardly in the air. On the other hand, the mole could’ve told Whyte about the routes.
“We need to find the mole,” Arthur said. “Find out firsthand what Whyte is doing.” Turning to Sylvia and another guard, he said, “Bring everyone from the transfer this morning to the holding cells.”
“Including Barrett and Brentle?” she asked. Arthur startled and leaned on the table, staring at a folder opened to threat alerts. Sylvia walked around the table and crouched to his level, looking up. “Sir?”
He flared his nostrils and gritted his teeth. “Yes. That includes them as well.” She left right away, and he faced the last two guards. “We need to start the evacuation procedure all the same. BEPs and nonessential personnel first. Don’t leave until I say so.” He rubbed his chin, murmuring to himself. “Assign half the guards to escort them.”
“Half?” Aidan said. “Are you trying to cut off our legs before this even starts?”
“No,” Arthur said. “But they’ll need protection if they run into Whyte’s forces. Round up any adult volunteers with weapon or combat experience. Anyone willing to fight, have them help. Eisenberg,” he said to one of the guards. “I’m putting you in charge. Got it?”
“Sir, shouldn’t we confirm that Whyte doesn’t know about the emergency routes first?” Eisenberg asked.
“If we don’t do anything, those people will be caught in the crossfire here,” Whyte said. “We’ll have to chance it. All the same, wait for my order to leave. If they do know about the routes, we may be able to distract them and cover you.”
Lydia stepped up and offered to help Sylvia. “We’ll be back afterward.” Arthur didn’t acknowledge her. He rocked on his knuckles and dug them deep into the wooden table. She ushered Aidan out the door, avoiding any outburst and escaping as soon as Arthur punched the table.