At the windward landing all three vehicles drove off the ferry. Ten minutes after that, they crested a hill and could see the checkpoint preceding the camps. The view of the Caribbean looked awesome. The bluish-green water along the rocky shoreline nicely contrasted the arid landscape. There was no shortage of cactus around here. Heck of a location for a detainee camp, but it made logistical sense.

Admiral Maas’s Cherokee received a salute from the MPs as it passed through the checkpoint. Their vehicle was also saluted. Camp Delta sat directly ahead, a series of linear buildings surrounded by high fencing and guard towers. Essentially, a prison. At the bottom they passed a parking lot and followed Maas’s vehicle to the left. Nathan looked at the detention camp. All quiet. No one could be seen, guards or prisoners. He hadn’t realized it until now, but he had no idea what to expect. San Quentin? Soledad? This looked nothing at all like those California prisons. It almost had the informal feel of a juvenile detention facility.

So why did his unease continue to grow with each passing minute? Duane Dalton survived. Nichole and her daughters were reunited. Operation Ironclad remained secret. And Montez would spend the rest of his life in prison. So why the trepidation? He relaxed his hands and took a deep breath. He had a role to play as a CIA operations officer. Acting like a nervous schoolboy wouldn’t do. Besides, not that long ago he’d actually been a CIA operations officer. Not that long ago? It felt like a lifetime.

They followed Maas’s Cherokee into a small parking lot on the right side of the road.

Porras cut the engine. “You’ve been briefed about procedures inside?”

“We’re basically invisible,” Harv said.

“That’s correct. We’re going into camp five. It houses the most dangerous detainees and also the detainees deemed to have the most valuable intelligence. It’s a computer-controlled facility. The central mainframe even controls the showers. The man you’re visiting doesn’t fit the normal profile of who we usually see here.”

Neither of them said anything.

“If at any time you have any questions, give me a very slight head nod. I’ll pull you aside and address your concern. Clear?”

“Yes, sir,” Harv said.

“Okay, here we go.”

Admiral Maas led them across the street to where several MPs stood guard at tall fencing topped with razor wire. The MPs came to sharp attention at seeing JTF’s commanding officer approach. Nathan watched their eyes grow when they saw a four-star accompanying her, along with JTF’s deputy commander and the station commander.

The building beyond was screened from view by green canvas attached to the fencing. They walked down a concrete corridor and found several more MPs guarding the actual entrance to the building. No IDs were needed. And just like that, they were inside.

***