Chapters (72)
- TITLE PAGE
- COPYRIGHT PAGE
- DEDICATION
- CONTENTS
- PROLOGUE
- PART I
- CHAPTER 1
- CHAPTER 2
- CHAPTER 3
- CHAPTER 4
- CHAPTER 5
- CHAPTER 6
- CHAPTER 7
- PART II
- CHAPTER 8
- CHAPTER 9
- CHAPTER 10
- CHAPTER 11
- CHAPTER 12
- CHAPTER 13
- CHAPTER 14
- CHAPTER 15
- CHAPTER 16
- CHAPTER 17
- CHAPTER 18
- PART III
- CHAPTER 19
- CHAPTER 20
- CHAPTER 21
- CHAPTER 22
- CHAPTER 23
- CHAPTER 24
- CHAPTER 25
- CHAPTER 26
- CHAPTER 27
- CHAPTER 28
- CHAPTER 29
- CHAPTER 30
- CHAPTER 31
- PART IV
- CHAPTER 32
- CHAPTER 33
- CHAPTER 34
- CHAPTER 35
- CHAPTER 36
- CHAPTER 37
- CHAPTER 38
- CHAPTER 39
- CHAPTER 40
- CHAPTER 41
- PART V
- CHAPTER 42
- CHAPTER 43
- CHAPTER 44
- CHAPTER 45
- CHAPTER 46
- CHAPTER 47
- CHAPTER 48
- CHAPTER 49
- CHAPTER 50
- CHAPTER 51
- CHAPTER 52
- CHAPTER 53
- CHAPTER 54
- CHAPTER 55
- CHAPTER 56
- PART VI
- CHAPTER 57
- CHAPTER 58
- CHAPTER 59
- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
- ABOUT THE AUTHOR
“It’s clear,” he said.
Rich turned to Devin and Marnie. “The moment of truth. If this is a two-family cabin, we’re defaulting to WWKD.”
A two-family cabin meant they were potentially looking at twelve hundred sleepers instead of six hundred. If that turned out to be the case, Devin might have to reconsider his position regarding the building break-in scenario, consequences be damned, whether they pulled the rabbit or the tiger. He got the feeling Marnie would agree.
They followed Rich inside, Devin instantly relieved to see a full bed frame on one side and a bunk bed on the other. A single-family arrangement. Aside from the beds, the dank-smelling cabin contained a nightstand between the beds, wooden chests at the foot of the beds, and a small table and chair set for four near the window. He didn’t see any electrical outlets or overhead lights.
“Pretty sparse,” whispered Rich.
“That’s what I was thinking,” said Devin. “Camp Stalin looks more like a gulag than a future training ground for sleepers.”
“My guess is that the main buildings are a little more luxurious,” said Rich. “The gulags didn’t have swimming pools.”
“They probably use the pool exclusively for swim training,” said Marnie. “This place has a very deprived, utilitarian feel.”
“On purpose,” said Devin.
“Like a cult,” she said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if the entire camp looked like this.”
“We’ll find out later tonight,” said Rich. “I’m thinking we work our way up the rows, until we’re five or so cabins away from the center, then hunker down until the camp goes night night. Move up to the cabins closest to the center and give it another hour before we send a few people out to scout the buildings.”
“Works for me,” said Marnie.
“Sounds like a plan,” said Devin.
“We won’t have drone coverage, but I don’t think we’ll need it at that point. If the sentries at the dock haven’t turned in for the night by the time the drone goes off station, I’ll position one of the snipers to cover that approach. We’ll probably find a trail leading to the dock from the center of the camp. It doesn’t make sense for the campers to trudge through the woods after they’re dropped off. Hopefully, they’ll go straight to their cabins.”
“Getting a good look inside those buildings takes priority,” said Marnie. “They probably have fairly extensive files on every kid here. Right? They’d have to in order to monitor the kids’ progress, chronicle their loyalty—whatever they do here. That could be the big ticket that wins an FBI raid or at the very least shines a bright light on every family named in the files.”
“I like the way you think,” said Rich, turning to Devin before leaving the cabin. “She’s a keeper.”
“Thanks,” he said, not sure that was an appropriate response.