From what he could see through the scope, he was able to figure out exactly which electronic controls they’d hacked into controlled which cameras and sensors, and disable the ones needed.

Laurel was sitting on the bed. She’d set up a satellite link with the Pentagon and they were waiting for the connection to be activated.

“How do you feel?” Lance said.

She looked at him. “Better.”

He’d examined her wounds and patched her up as best he could. She’d been badly hurt.

She did look better, though. When he’d found her in the forest he hadn’t been so sure. Even if she physically okay, she’d been through hell mentally. He doubted he’d ever be able to forgive himself for that.

If he’d been in New York, she never would have been taken.

“I’m going to tell you something that you might not like,” he said.

She’d gotten up from the bed to make coffee and was putting a capsule in the machine.

“Okay,” she said.

“The plan, whatever Roth and the Langley guys say, it’s got to be me going in alone.”

“I’ve got all the training for this,” Laurel said.

“I know you do, Laurel,” he said. “And believe me, I’m not trying to put you in a box or anything.”

“But you’re telling me I’m going to have to sit this one out?”

“After everything that’s happened, I just think…”.

“I know what you think.”

“What’s that?”

“You think I’m a helpless little girl…”.

“That’s not it at all.”

“What is it then?”

“You were tortured, Laurel. They could have killed you.”

“That’s the game we play, Lance.”

“But, I can’t, I mean…”.

“You can’t?” Laurel said. “You can’t what?”

“I can’t stand the thought of losing you again.”

“Again?”

“You know what I mean.”

“You’re thinking of Clarice.”

“I thought you were dead when they took you,” he said.

“I don’t believe it,” she said. “You’re thinking of Clarice, aren’t you?”

“No I’m not.”

“You lost her once. Now you’re going to lose a girl who looks just like her.”

Laurel was getting angry and Lance didn’t know if he’d be able to calm her down. He was getting emotional himself. She was right. He wasn’t sure what he’d meant.

“Laurel,” he said.

“No, Lance. I’m doing his. I’m coming. There’s nothing you can say that’s going to stop me.”

“I can’t accept that,” he said.

“I don’t care what you can accept. This isn’t your call. It’s mine. I’m not Clarice. I’m not your girlfriend.”

“But you’re my handler.”

“No, I’m not. I could have been. I wanted to be. But you sent me away.”