The fence loomed up with Gabe, Hawk, and Bull crouched at the base, tucking their night vision goggles and head mounts away inside various pockets. She settled beside Bull and did the same. His squeeze on her shoulder, in an obvious well done, eased the fear flooding her bloodstream. JJ appeared, going down on one knee beside Hawk. A few seconds later, another shadow joined them, and Frankie jumped. She hadn’t seen or heard Caz’s approach at all.

Then again, there was a lot of shouting and banging and honking coming from the front gate. The diversion volunteers had been very enthusiastic about their job, especially after Zappa, the gas station owner, had donated two beat-up cars for them to crash.

Against the fence, the transportation volunteers hunkered down to wait until summoned. Bull handed Gryff’s leash to Knox and got a betrayed look from the dog.

Rising, Gabe slipped through the opened flap of fence. He’d left some top links to hold up the person-sized cut section. The fence still appeared intact to all but a close inspection.

After checking the area, Gabe motioned for the assault team. As Hawk held the fence open, Caz, JJ, Bull, and Frankie sidestepped into the compound.

Gabe led them toward the back of two shabby prefabs—the barracks for the women and children.

Lights on the corners of the buildings made bright pools on the ground, leaving the rest in shadow. At least they were out of sight of the watchtowers on the corners of the fence. Frankie tried to swallow, but her mouth was too dry.

Children’s quiet voices came from the building to the left. Thumps and a woman’s hoarse cries sounded from the right, which must be the women’s barracks. Surely, they didn’t have sex in there with others watching.

Aric and Kit would be in these buildings. Almost too afraid to hope, Frankie reached out, and Bull took her hand, squeezing it in reassurance.

A closer examination showed the back doors were secured with heavy iron grillwork. So were the windows. Anger shunted aside Frankie’s fear for a moment. The bastardi obviously didn’t want anyone leaving the buildings—even if it meant the occupants would burn if there was a fire.

Having checked the door and grillwork, Gabe shook his head and whispered, “It’d be too noisy to break in here. Bull, you and Frankie take left. Caz and JJ, right. Hawk and I’ll go in the front door and open this from the inside.”

As Gabe and Hawk went between the two buildings, Frankie followed Bull. Her legs felt like wooden pegs, as if they didn’t belong to her at all. Her heart pounded so hard it seemed like any guards inside the compound would hear it.