"Yeah, I know," Jaxon said. "But, if my plan works, we'll only need a few moments of surprise before anyone's the wiser. Once we land, we can hand our passengers off to the GSA and duck out in the process. Besides, our destination isn't terribly far from the port anyway."

Oliver and Camille both perked up at hearing Jaxon's conceived plan. "Do tell," Camille said.

Jaxon spent the next several hours explaining what he'd discovered through Guzman's interrogation and his plan of attack. In the end, all three were in agreement that it was the only feasible approach. Their first step was to determine exactly who Brutus was. They each had their suspicions as to who.

The rest of the journey back to earth passed in relative normalcy. Something new for them for a change.

64.

Jaxon sat in the driver's seat of the sport UTV that he and Oliver drove from the safe house to the spaceport a few weeks earlier. Having returned to that same vestige, he sat idle, under the cover of the forest canopy. From his position, he had eyes on the front door of the safe house.

Having been back on Earth for a little less than a week, he and his companions remained undetected by the GSA. Their covert existence allowed them to fully plan their imminent operation. It also allowed them to secure multiple tools of the trade along the way.

Jaxon reached up as if to scratch the back of his ear and gently tapped at his skin. "Hummingbird, what's your status?" he asked. Hummingbird was the codename he'd given to Camille. He thought assigning codenames at that stage was foolish, but with Camille's limited experience in covert field operations, she felt ... not necessarily special, but secure by the implementation of them.

Within a few seconds, she replied. "All is quiet from my end, Saber. Over."

"Ladies Man?" Jaxon asked, referring to Oliver's self-declared codename.

"I was just about to call you, boss, er, I mean Saber. A black, GSA-licensed SUV just turned off the main road and is heading your way." After a few moments of silence, Oliver spoke again. "Over."

"Here that, Hummingbird? The game is on," Jaxon said, feeling his anxiety build.

"Roger that, Saber. Would you refresh our minds on what your signal will be? Over."

"It's Clay Francisco, obviously. Over," Jaxon said with a grin.

Within moments, the SUV came barreling up the dirt road and stopped in front of the rustic cabin. Jaxon continued to watch, anxiously waiting to see if the director followed their precise written instructions. Come alone.

The director exited the vehicle and cautiously looked around at his surroundings. Having once been a covert operative himself, Jaxon recognized the honed skill set. After a few moments of hesitation, the director climbed the front steps and walked into the cabin.

"The falcon has landed," Jaxon said. "The sparrow is already in the nest, and our party is complete. Ladies man, please come up and join us. I will signal when it's time for your arrival. Over."

"Roger that, boss," Oliver said, forgoing the codename nonsense.

Jaxon took in several deep breaths, exhaling slowly with each. He knew that the moment he walked through the door, all bets were off for a potential life in seclusion. But none of that mattered when it came to saving Celeste.

Jaxon checked himself once again and made sure that he had both his primary weapon as well as a snub nose at his ankle ... just in case. Satisfied, he gunned the UTV and careened out of the brush and onto the dirt road. Seconds later, he parked next to the director's vehicle. Not wasting a moment's time, Jaxon sprinted up the steps and blasted through the front door, startling both Director Howe and Assistant Director Evans.

The heads of the GSA were seated at a small kitchen table, looking both confused and surprised.

"Jesus, Jaxon. We thought you were dead," Howe said, pushing himself to his feet.

Jaxon watched both of their facial expressions as he walked further into the cabin. "Well, I've been told that I'm a tough man to kill, and I'd like to keep it that way."

"When did you ... get back?" Evans asked, standing to join Director Howe.

"Oh, I've been back for a ... while. I've just been kind of laying low and taking care of some personal matters."

"Such as the location of your daughter?" Director Howe asked.

"That, and trying to determine the identity of the mole."

Jaxon watched, and neither Howe nor Evans flinched.

"Are you positive there's actually a mole?" Howe asked. "It's only been speculation-"

"I'm all but positive, director. And from what I've learned over the past few weeks, I've just about narrowed down his identity."

"Well, that's absolutely sensational news," Evans said.

Jaxon perked up at hearing the assistant director's choice of words. "Yes, it is, Perry. I've also learned that his codename for Pablo Guzman is Brutus. Is that equally sensational? Assistant director?" Jaxon asked, resting his hand casually on the butt of his gun.

"Whatever do you mean?" asked Evans. "I've ... not heard that name before," he stuttered as he crossed his arms defensively.

"What's going on here?" Director Howe asked.

"If I'm right, director, Assistant Director Evans here is Brutus."

Evans gasped. "That's absurd. Whatever would give you that idea?" he asked, letting his hand slide to the inside of his coat.

"Well, you see, Guzman and I had a fairly in-depth conversation shortly before his tragic demise. He told me everything," Jaxon lied, "including the fact that you have my daughter. And from my understanding, she's here, somewhere, right now."

"That's preposterous," Evans said. "You're going to take the word of a known international criminal? Good Lord, the man had his hand in every crime-oriented business in the galaxy. From the obvious, drug manufacturing and distribution, to- "Human trafficking? Prostitution? Racketeering?" Jaxon added.

"Precisely. Not a very upstanding citizen, I'd say," Evans said, resting his hand on the butt of his own gun, tucked inside his jacket.

"The thing is, Perry, all the GSA knew about was the drug business. I just added the human trafficking statement after I discovered his activities in the outer ring. Until now, that was only known to him and his entourage. People like you, Brutus," Jaxon said, stepping closer to Evans.

"Let's just slow down," Director Howe said. "Those are sizable accusations, Jaxon. I've known the assistant director for many years, and I'm sure he has explanation for-"

Before the director could finish, Evans withdrew his gun and thrust it into the director's rib cage. "What? You want me to prove my innocence? You want me to assure you that I'm not Brutus? Well, let me tell you," Evans said, pulling back the hammer on his pistol. "I'm done explaining things. I'm done. I've been in your shadow for far too long, and things are going to change."

Howe winced at the pain caused by Evans' pistol gouging his side, but remained silent.

"Where is she, Perry?" Jaxon demanded. His hand was now fully gripping his own holstered pistol.

"You're in no position to demand anything, Jaxon. As I see it, I have all the control. Now, why don't remove your pistol from its holster, slowly, and drop it to the floor?"

Jaxon stared intently into Evans' eyes. He knew that his honed skill set was much stronger and more accurate than Evans' was, and he was almost positive that he could draw on him, aim, and fire long before Evans could get a shot out himself. But it was the director's life that would hang in the balance if he was wrong. Finally, Jaxon nodded slowly and followed Evans' direction. He slipped the gun from his holster and dropped it to the floor.

"Now kick it away," Evans demanded.

Jaxon did so, nudging it across the floor.

"Tell me, what gave me away? I know that Pablo would never disclose my identity."

Jaxon slipped his hands into his pockets, casually, and leaned against the wall. "You're only half right, Perry. Pablo didn't tell me who you really were, but he did leak out some hints about your inflections. Isn't that absolutely sensational?" Jaxon asked, adding more inflection to the word.

"That's all you were basing this on?" Evans asked. "My pretentious word choices?"

"That, and a number of other things that I've added up over time. It seems that you've been giving me just enough information to string me along. Then I learned that you'd given Camille specific direction to maintain contact throughout the mission, and that drove everything home. I'd already agreed to report to the director personally and any further communication beyond that would not have been sanctioned by the GSA.

"You traitor!" Howe said. "I've given you every opportunity for advancement, and this is how you repay me?"

"Oh shut up, you windbag. I should be in your position, and you should be-"

"But you have to earn this position. You've never given me reason for promotion. You've always been a follower and never a leader. This position-"

"Shut up!" Evans demanded, shoving the director to the ground.

Jaxon had to move cautiously if he wanted to keep everyone alive. He also knew that he couldn't just outright kill Evans until Celeste was safe. As far as he knew, he could have Celeste at a completely different location and their weeks of tracking his movements could have all been a ruse.

"So, what's your play, Perry?" Jaxon asked. "You don't think that by simply eliminating Howe and myself that you'll just be able to step into the director's position, do you?"

"That's exactly what I think, Jaxon. There are a very small number of people who know this place even exists, and as soon as I kill you both, I've eliminated the majority of those involved."

"Aren't you forgetting about Miles Oliver, Camille Parker, and Clay Francisco?" Jaxon asked, queuing his team into action.

Evans swung his pistol back and forth between the director and Jaxon. "Let's just start with you two first and then I'll track down everyone else and eliminate them with equal vengeance." Evans continued pointing his pistol back and forth between the two men, as if playing eeny, meeny, miny, moe.

Suddenly, the front door burst open at the precise moment that Evans had his gun pointed at the director. The commotion startled Evans enough that he squeezed the trigger, driving a bullet into the director's stomach. Howe screamed from the pain and dropped to the floor.

Just as swiftly, Evans pointed his pistol toward Oliver, who had dropped to the ground himself in a defensive posture and fired two shots in quick succession. Both shots went wide.

"Wait!" Jaxon said, pleading for Oliver not to return fire. "He still hasn't told us where Celeste is."

"That's right," Evans said, pointing his gun right at Jaxon's head. "Celeste is the key, and unless your partner over there drops his gun, you'll never know what has become of her."

"Drop it," Jaxon said. "Drop it now."

Oliver reluctantly lowered his semiautomatic rifle to the ground. He shoved it to the side.

"Good boy," Evans said, pulling the hammer back on his pistol. He pointed it at Oliver, and just when he was about to pull the trigger, a shot was fired from the rear entrance of the cabin.

Camille's shot hit Evans in the shoulder, causing him to drop his gun. Jaxon sprung forward and plowed into Evans, taking him to the floor and pinning his arms behind his back.

"Quick, take a look at Howe. He's been shot!" Jaxon exclaimed.

Camille rushed to the director's side. He clutched at his stomach. "How bad is it?" she asked.

The director squeezed his eyes closed as he lifted up his blood-soaked shirt, exposing a bullet hole on the left side of his abdomen. Camille gently touched the side of the director's waist and slid her arm around to his back. She pulled her hand out, and it was covered in blood.

"It looks like it was a through and through. If we get you some help fast, I think you'll be okay."

"There's ... a medical ... room in the basement," Howe said, fighting to get his words out.

"Without proper training, we wouldn't know what we're doing," Camille said, pulling the director's shirt back down over the wound.

"I might be able to help," Oliver said, kneeling down next to them. "I had a little training as an EMT before coming on to the GSA. I generally get weak at the knees at the sight of blood, and knew right away that it wasn't my desired career choice, so I changed. But, in an emergency like this, I think I can manage."

By then, Jaxon had made his way to the group. "Well, you're just full of surprises, aren't you, Miles?"

"That's right, boss. I feel it's best not to reveal too much of one's own being prematurely. Don't you agree?"

"You got that right, boss," Jaxon said with a wink.

As Camille and Oliver helped the director up, Jaxon returned to Evans for more information.

"Are you ready to talk yet?" Jaxon asked, standing above Evans, who was lying on his stomach.

"If you're going to help him, why don't you help me as well? Then I'll tell you where she is."

"Sorry, Brutus. You first," Jaxon said as he rested his foot on Evans' back.

Evans moaned in agony. "Okay. She's down on sublevel six."

"You mean she's here?" Jaxon asked, incredulous.

"Yes, she's been here the whole time. Nobody goes down that far and-"

"You fucking bastard!" Jaxon said, driving his foot harder into Evans' back.

"Stop! You're killing me."

"You should've thought about that before you killed Lily and took my daughter."

Jaxon removed his foot and headed for the basement door. Evans called after him.

"Aren't you going to take me down? I'm bleeding here."

"I tell you what, Brutus. If she's down there and is okay, we'll patch you up. But until then, you can lie there and bleed for all I care."

Jaxon turned and walked through the basement door.

65.