With a subtle tremor to his grip, the man handed over his documents. If things were going to fall apart, the scanning of his doctored passport would be the start of it. But all that happened after the woman placed the document facedown on the scanning machine was that a pleasant ring sounded and a green light brightened on the podium.

“Mr. Holland, welcome aboard The Emerald Lady.”

“Thank you,” Aaron Holland responded with a barely audible stutter in his throat.

“You’re in cabin thirty-three-eighteen. How many bags will each of you be carrying?”

“Just one for each of us,” Meghan said.

“Very good,” the woman said, looping an Emerald Lady tag around the handle of each suitcase.

“You can leave your bags here.” She pointed to the growing collection of luggage that was organized off to the side. “It will be delivered to your cabin shortly.”

Aaron Holland and Meghan Cobb smiled and deposited their bags with the others.

“Carlos will escort you to your quarters. Enjoy your stay.”

“Thank you,” Mr. Holland said in a considerably more relaxed tone than just a few minutes earlier.

They followed Carlos to cabin 3318. The first obstacle had been cleared. Many more waited. So far, Claire was batting a thousand.

CHAPTER 67 - Lake Placid, NY Sunday, July 11, 2021

CHAPTER 67

Lake Placid, NY Sunday, July 11, 2021

THE NO-KNOCK WARRANT AUTHORIZED FEDERAL AGENTS TO STORM THE cabin without warning. The motorcade consisted of two Humvees and three black Suburbans with tinted windows. The caravan looked so out of place in the quiet mountains that even without sirens blaring or lights flashing, other cars pulled to the shoulder to allow them to pass. Eight agents clad in riot gear occupied the Humvees. Ten more agents, including Jim Oliver, rode in the Suburbans and were dressed in SWAT gear with FBI windbreakers over their Kevlar vests. Firearms were strapped under their arms. And each of them, per the terms Claire Montgomery had negotiated that made this raid possible, had been fitted with body cameras and microphones that would capture every move and every word.

The small brigade pulled down the shaded street until the two surveillance officers who had been watching the cabin came into view. They pointed at the canopied drive and the caravan screeched forward. Before the Humvees came to a full stop, the doors opened and agents poured out. They were armed with submachine guns across their chests and Glocks strapped to their sides. They hid beneath Kevlar helmets and shatterproof face shields. The two lead agents hurled themselves up the front steps and used a battering ram to splinter the front door. They slid to the side to allow the stream of heavily clad federal agents to storm the cabin.

CHAPTER 68 - New Orleans, LA Sunday, July 11, 2021

CHAPTER 68

New Orleans, LA Sunday, July 11, 2021