Page 40 of Undercover Infidel
“And close enough to the North Sea for a quick evacuation if necessary.” She set down her cup. “We should examine those satellite images immediately.”
Twenty minutes later, we were in my ops hub, Kestrel’s images displayed across multiple screens. The estate was centered around what appeared to be a small, centuries-old castle—not unlike Blackmoor but more compact—with several newer structures dotting the perimeter. The original stonework stood in stark contrast to the modern additions.
“Look at this,” Lex noted, indicating a series of regular points along the property boundary. “Those aren’t standard cameras.”
“Thermal and motion detection,” I agreed. “Military grade, based on the spacing.”
She moved closer to the screen, analyzing the layout. “The north wing of the castle has nonstandard power lines. Either they’re running something that requires enormous energy?—”
“Or they’re maintaining a completely independent power system. Either way, it suggests advanced technical infrastructure.”
“They wouldn’t need much space for AIWS,” she explained. “The beauty of neural networks is their computational density. A facility the size of one wing in a small castle could house everything necessary for Labyrinth’s core systems.” Lex took a step back and tapped her cheek. “We need to get eyes on this place, but drones would be detected immediately.”
“Ground views, then.” I pulled up topographical maps of the surrounding area. “There’s elevated terrain to the northwest that would provide decent sight lines to the main facility.”
As we developed our plan, I made a decision I’d never made before. Opening a secure terminal, I entered a series of commands, then turned to her.
“I’m giving you access to another network,” I said, entering the final authorization codes. “Complete access, not just the sanitized version Unit 23 sees.”
Her eyes widened. “Con, that’s?—”
“Necessary,” I finished. “If we’re going to stop Labyrinth, we need to pool resources.”
She nodded, the significance of my gesture not lost on her. “Thank you. And in that spirit…” She retrieved her tablet and entered a complex sequence. “This is my research on neural-network architectures developed for military applications. It’s classified beyond what I’ve given to Unit 23.”
I scrolled through her data, impressed by both the technical depth and her willingness to share it.
“This will help identify Orlov’s fingerprints if we find any systems at the estate,” she added.
By midmorning,we had established a preliminary plan. I contacted Gus to run background checks on theestate and everyone connected to it. Before I did so, I asked about Nightingale. “Any update?”
“None whatsoever. To be honest, Con, I’m worried about Tag.”
As was I, particularly since his admission that he and the missing operative were far more than colleagues.
“I’ve got a hit,” he said after a few seconds of silence. “The property was purchased eleven months ago by Highlands Research Partners, which traces back to yet another shell company, Nova Perspectives.”
Lex gasped. “The private think tank specializing in AI applications?”
“That’s right,” Gus confirmed.
“We should prepare for at least three days of continuous observation,” I said after the call with him ended.
As we gathered the equipment, I showed Lex some of the modifications I’d made to the standard gear that reduced detection significantly.
“Is this a signal-masking device?” She held up a small black box I’d designed.
“It works on the principle that most systems look for disruptions, not absence,” I explained, pleased byher appreciation of the technical nuance. “When Fallon was at Blackmoor?—”
Lex stilled, her eyes meeting mine, the mood shifting instantly.
“I apologize,” I said, tension tightening my shoulders. “I shouldn’t bring her up.”
“No, we need to be able to discuss her,” she replied. “She was central to Labyrinth’s development. Pretending otherwise compromises our investigation.”
The understanding in her voice helped ease the knot in my throat. “She used my expertise, asking all the right questions to extract information.”
“That’s what made her dangerous,” Lex said, eyes hardening. “Her ability to manipulate people without revealing her motives.”
