Chapter 32 - The Price of Silence
The helicopter approached from the south, an unmarked Sikorsky S-76 slicing through the low-hanging mountain fog.
Inside the cabin, the old battery-powered emergency radio Vance had switched on crackled to life, picking up a national news bulletin on the AM band.
*"...repeating our top story: A nationwide Amber Alert has been upgraded to a federal manhunt. Authorities have identified former private security contractor Valentina Cruz and rogue operative Vance Walker as the primary suspects in the violent kidnapping of three-year-old Owen Pendelton, heir to the Pendelton Defense conglomerate. Pendelton Industries board member Celeste Pendelton issued an emotional plea this morning, offering a twenty-million-dollar reward for the safe return of her nephew..."*
"She framed us," Valentina said, her voice dropping into a register of icy, murderous calm. "The entire country is looking for us. If local law enforcement sees us, they shoot on sight."
"She controls the media networks," Matteo muttered, his head slumping against the pipe. "She controls the board. To the world, Celeste is the grieving aunt, and you two are domestic terrorists holding the world's most valuable child hostage."
Vance peeked through a slit in the blackout curtain. Down in the valley, two hundred yards below their ridge, the Sikorsky settled onto an open clearing beside the river. Four men in tactical black gear stepped out, fanning out in an aggressive wedge formation.
Then stepped out Celeste.
She wore a pristine cashmere trench coat, unaffected by the damp mountain air, her diamond earrings catching the pale morning light. Beside her walked Arthur Pendelton, carrying a sleek, military-grade ruggedized terminal.
"They aren't here with police," Vance noted, racking the bolt of his carbine. "No federal agents. No local sheriffs. Celeste can't afford to let anyone else see Owen. She's here to collect the asset in private."
"We can't fight a prolonged engagement," Valentina said, re-checking the magazine of her .45. "Not with Owen like this. If we get pinned down, he dies of this fever."
"Then we don't play defense," Vance said, his jaw setting like concrete. "Matteo, what is on that terminal Arthur is carrying?"
Matteo looked up, his eyes widening. "The root architecture of Aegis-Seven. The only master cipher that can stabilize Owen's neural system."
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Valentina looked down at the boy, who let out a faint, delirious murmur, his small fingers weakly grasping at the air.
"Vance," Valentina whispered, her eyes burning with lethal intent. "We aren't running anymore."
