Page 40 of Zero Visibility

James brought up Google Maps on his new burner phone “Let’s see if we can find a location where we can get to it quickly, if needed.” He scanned the satellite image. “Here. It’s about thirty miles from here. The only problem is it’s right on the border. Could have some heavy military traffic if they’re still searching for you guys in that area. But if not, the landing strip is on a former mining operation that’s been out of service for several years. It should be clear of any activity.”

“It’s perfect,” Ben told him. “We’ll head out straight away. I’ll take Garrett with us. There’s safety in numbers.”

“Sounds good. Be careful. You don’t know what you’ll be facing,” James tossed over his shoulder.

Ben and his men started outside into the cold.

“I’ll be right back.” Ben told his people and went inside the house with Jen. He needed to say a proper goodbye to Jen in case something happened. Inside the house, he pulled her away from the others and explained what they needed to do.

“I’m coming with you.” She squared her shoulders and waited for him to argue.

“No way. It’s too dangerous and you’re still not fully recovered.”

She shook her head. “Ben, I don’t want to be away from you for a second. You said yourself, we don’t know what the future holds. Besides, I’m a good shot and I have medical training. I’m going and that’s it. I want to do my part to help our cause.”

As much as he wished to protect her, he of all people understood the need to be part of something bigger than one’s self.

“All right, but you stay close to me at all times and if anything happens—” He couldn’t finish.

Jen grabbed her weapon and went outside with him.

Ben opened the passenger door of the Jeep and Jen got inside the front of the vehicle while Garrett and Lincoln piled in behind.

The trip down the mountain was a quiet one. Ben chanced several looks at Jen. She watched out the front of the windshield while wearing a determined look on her face that he’d seen many times in the past. His wife was one of the strongest women he knew; still all he wanted to do was protect her.

As they reached the plane, Lincoln hopped out along with Garrett and opened the loading hatch.

Ben drove the vehicle inside. “I want to take a look around before we go.”

“You think someone’s been here?” she asked, her eyes anxious.

“I don’t know, but best not to take any chances.”

“I’ll help.” He had to bite his tongue to keep from refusing.

While Lincoln prepared the plane for flight, he and Jen along with Garrett checked around the area.

Jen stayed close to him as promised. Ben kept his attention on the countryside surrounding the plane. All the foot tracks were covered in snow. No one had been here recently.

“It appears clear,” Garrett said once he came over to where they stood.

Ben nodded. “Let’s get out of here.” They went inside and closed the hatch.

Under Lincoln’s expert care, they were airborne in a matter of minutes.

“The cloaking software app is in place. Let’s hope it works the way it did before,” Lincoln told them.

Ben settled back in his seat with his wife close, his thoughts whirling with the latest details. If the president was still alive, they’d need to find out where he was being held and soon if they stood a chance at rescuing him.

“We’ll be at the strip in another ten minutes,” Lincoln’s voice interrupted his troubled thoughts. He glanced at Jen.

“Everything okay?” she asked.

He tried to hide his misgivings, but right now they were swamping him. “Yeah, I’m just ready to get back to our new compound and find the president, and we have other people out there exposed.” He shook his head. So many lives were at stake and time was running out for them.

“Preparing to land,” Lincoln announced.

Ben tried to shove down his concerns, but with Jen by his side every time they were out in the open like this, he was on edge.

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