Navy SEAL Newlywed. Elle James
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driver nodded and shifted gears, setting the limo into motion.
Rip pressed a button and the privacy window between the driver and the passengers slid upward.
As soon as they were back on the main road and Tracie was certain they weren’t being followed, she opened the packet and peered inside.
“What’s in it?” Rip cast a quick glance her way.
“Photos and some printouts from the internet.” Tracie thumbed through the contents.
“Photos of?” Rip queried.
“People. They appear to be Latino.” She handed one to him. The image was at an odd angle, as if whoever had taken it hadn’t been focusing on the subject. “This is marked as Juan Villarreal.”
Rip’s eyes narrowed and a muscle ticked in his jaw. “Villarreal was the leader of the terrorist camp we raided in order to free the DEA agent. He’s the one in charge of the group using the US-supplied weapons. The photos are probably more of those taken by Greer while he was embedded. I’m surprised they made it all the way to his boss in the States. I had the feeling the flash drive he gave me before he died was all the evidence he managed to get out. Find anything else?”
“More photos and a hand-drawn map.” Tracie pulled the map out of the packet and unfolded it in her lap.
Rip leaned over the map. “Looks like the layout of the camp before we raided. I don’t think it will do much good now.”
“Maybe not, but the photos might help.” Tracie gathered the information and slid it back into the packet. “We need to get this information to Hank and let him run it through his computers.”
“And how will we do that?” Rip asked.
“Back at the airport. Everything we need is on the airplane.”
Rip studied the controls on the armrest and hit the one marked mic. “Driver, take us back to the airport.”
“Yes, Mr. Gideon,” the chauffeur responded.
Tracie shot a brief text message to Hank telling him what had happened and to clear the hotel’s video feeds of their images.
They arrived at the hangar within minutes and entered the big space where the airplane sat waiting for them.
An attendant hurried over to them, “We’ve topped off the fuel and checked all fluid levels. As soon as the chauffeur indicated you were on your way back to the airport, the pilot conducted all preflight inspections and is ready to file a flight plan.”
As they approached the aircraft, the steps were lowered. Tracie climbed aboard first, followed by Rip. The flight attendant secured the door behind them. Tracie led the way to the middle of the plane where she flipped one of the tabletops open, revealing a computer screen. She tapped several keys, and in moments she had Hank’s face up on the screen. “Hank, we’re back on board the Freedom Flight.”
“Glad you’re safely aboard. Brandon wiped the security video of any images including you and Schafer.”
“Good. I’m not certain how soon the body will be discovered. Your help with the security footage should give us some time to get out of Atlanta. We found some data in the DEA boss’s vehicle. I’m scanning it now.”
She raised another part of the table, revealing a computer scanner, and fed the documents they’d found in the DEA agent’s vehicle into the machine.
Hank’s attention shifted to something beside his monitor. “Got them. I’ll have Brandon double check the identities of the men in the photos. But I can’t move on nailing the suppliers of the weapons until we have some serial numbers.”
Rip frowned and leaned close to Tracie so that he could see and be seen by Hank. “The only way to get serial numbers is to go back to Honduras and get them off the guns.”
Hank nodded. “Afraid so.”
Rip’s gaze captured Tracie’s and then returned to Hank. “She can’t come with me. It’s too dangerous.”
Hank’s brows rose. “Miss Kosart’s a trained professional. She knows the risks.”
“Look, frogman, I can speak for myself.” Tracie shoved him aside. “I’m on board. So we’re headed to Honduras as planned?”
Hank smiled. “You can opt out, if you feel it’s too dangerous for your liking?”
“I’ve been in worse situations,” she said, her lips thinning.
“Exactly. You might not want to go to that extreme again. The men in that terrorist camp are pure evil and have little regard for women.”
“Hank’s right,” Rip confirmed. “It’s not a good place for a woman.”
“Or a man.” Tracie crossed her arms. “If we don’t go in for the additional information, how will we stop whoever it is selling American weapons to terrorists?”
Rip opened his mouth to say something, but the stubborn set of Tracie’s chin made him realize he wouldn’t get her to change her mind. Instead, he turned to Hank. “I won’t be able to focus on the mission if I’m worried my partner can’t keep up or will be captured and tortured.”
“She’s your partner. We can’t activate your SEAL unit and send them in again. They’ve been in once and that got one of your men killed. Someone is dirty on the Fed side. Until we find that person, we can’t count on the secrecy of the operation if we involve your unit or any other government agency.”
“I trust my brothers.”
“So did Gosling.” Hank stared straight into Rip’s eyes. “Tracie can handle it.”
“Yeah,” Tracie said, her ire up. “I don’t need you or any other man telling me what is too dangerous for me. We go in together or, if you think it’s too dangerous, I’ll go alone.”
Tracie stared at Rip, holding his gaze, daring him to try to override her decision.
Finally, Rip shrugged. “It’s your funeral.”
“That plan is not in my books.” Tracie aimed for confident, when inside she wasn’t quite as certain. The kidnapping in Mexico had shaken her more than she cared to admit.
“Then you’re deluding yourself. You’re headed right into trouble.”
Her chin tilted upward. “That’s my choice.”
The flight attendant appeared. “If you would fasten your seat belts, we can get underway.”
Rip frowned into the screen. “How do you propose the two of us sneak into the terrorist camp?”
“I’ve got that covered. You will be the guests of a friend of mine.” Hank grinned. “You’re honeymooners, I’m sure they have tourists wander off the beaten path on occasion. And Rip you will be especially prone to wandering off. Your cover is a wealthy entrepreneur looking for potential investment property.”
“On my honeymoon?”
“My contact has the story spreading already. You’re notorious for your arrogance and disregard for anyone but yourself.”
Rip snorted. “I’m an entrepreneur in a violent, nearly lawless country?”
Tracie’s brows rose. “Are you afraid?”
He met her stare with his own, his lips firmly set into a straight line. “Not for me. If you recall, I’ve been there. I know what the terrorists are capable of.”
“Then you’ll be the best guide to get us back in there.” Tracie nodded at Hank. “We’re good to go.”
Hank tipped his head. “Glad to see you two agreeing. Your flight plan has been filed. Brandon tells me you’re number three in line to take off. My contact,