Page 36 of SEAL'S Secret Vows

“Nora, we need your expertise on this one. Were you able to trace the call? Was the call long enough” I ask, my eyes fixed on her.

Nora nods, pulling out her laptop and connecting it to the monitor to give us a larger view.

“I was able to trace the call. They're in California.” She taps away at the keyboard, her brow furrowed in concentration. The Californian map appears on the screen, with red dots on a specific building.

“Alright, let's see what we've got,” Nora murmurs to herself, zooming in on a cluster of data points. She traces the connections, her eyes narrowing as she identifies different locations.

“Joseph, Lena, get ready. Nora, look for anything suspicious—any events going on.”

With a few deft keystrokes, she accesses satellite imagery, scanning for things that look out of place.

“Looks like there's a remote cabin in that region,” she announces, pointing to a clearing on the map.

“That looks familiar. It's ours.”

“Okay, I've found something. It's pointing to a location in upstate California, a few miles from here. Are we going there?”

“Yes. Joseph, get the car ready.” Joseph nods and leaves the room immediately.

“But we don't know who we're dealing with yet. It'll be better to just eavesdrop on their plans.”

“That's why you and I are going. Since a call came from that place, that could be their base. If we move to a closer range and that's where that cabin comes in, we can get something, but let's hope they're still there by the time we get there.” I clench myfists, a newfound determination coursing through me to get to the bottom of this.

It’s a blur getting things organized, equipment moved and approvals signed off. The drive is fast, and we don’t say a word to each other.

Thirty-five minutes later, and we arrive at the cabin. Nora places her bag on the table and begins to set up.

“It's a one room cabin.” I explain glancing around the place. “I'm going to change into regular clothing in the bathroom to prevent suspicion.”

“Sure, I'll just do my thing.” She sets up the rest of the equipment and I retreat to the bathroom. I smooth out the creases on the shirt before pairing it with a jacket to try to look as normal as possible.

“I'm heading out now. These people are in the United States, but they’re likely not Americans. When you pick something up, let me know.”

“Are you going alone? I think you should call on your team.”

“Yes. I can handle this on my own. I need you to stay back and tell me if you see anything suspicious. You don't have to worry about me going alone. I'll alert the team if I need back up.”

She nods, and I make my way outside the cabin.

I hit the streets, tracing the lead through the bustling city. Raindrops patter against the windshield, and a chilling sensation creeps over me.Something's wrong.

My phone screen lights up on the passenger seat, and I pick it up placing it between my ear and shoulder.

“It’s a false location. A hoax. Turn back.” Nora urges, her voice filled with concern.

Thunder strikes, and a heavy wind blows as I stop the car abruptly. A storm's coming.

“What? You can't be serious!” I can't believe what I'm hearing. My hand instinctively slams down on the horn in frustration, the sound echoing through the car.

“They were never there. Come back, and I'll explain. It might even be an ambush.” At her last words, I turn the car back to the cabin, driving speedily to beat the rain.

Pulling over in front of the cabin, I head inside. I see Nora facing the laptop. She looks as exasperated as I feel. I plop down on the bed, pulling off my jacket.

“Nora, someone’s playing with me. Someone that knows me well. They know I can’t ignore any chance to save the hostage, and they lured me in. Whoever this person is, they’re pushing it. I can't shake the feeling that…” I trail off, overcome with emotion.

She rises from her chair and joins me on the bed, placing a hand on my shoulder. “We’ll get through this. Calm down. It’s not like you can do anything about it.”

“There has to be something we can do.”

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