Azami made her way to the roof in spite of the fact that everything looked as if it was all right. She wanted to see the layout of the compound and how much cover was available. Clearly even the roof had been built with combat in mind. There were numerous places for a soldier to stay in cover yet defend the roof and grounds around him. She could see the helicopter on the helicopter pad several yards from the main grounds. Kadan was running beside the man she’d only seen in pictures. General Ranier. She really hoped he was as good a man as Sam believed.
All clear. Assemble in the war room. Nico, keep your eye on the pilot.
The command came several minutes after the general disappeared into the house. Azami wasn’t certain if she was included in the command, but she made her way to the war room. If they threw her out, she’d find another way to listen in. Daiki had planted a tiny camera and transmitter when they’d first been shown around the building. The cameras enabled her to move around without fear of getting hurt when she teleported. She didn’t need them for most of the rooms, she had the coordinates in her mind now, but they hadn’t yet retrieved their equipment, although two of the cameras had been found by the GhostWalkers.
She entered the room in the samurai way, quietly but with absolute confidence. The general glanced up, frowned, and turned to Ryland.
“This is Azami Yoshiie. She’s a GhostWalker, sir,” Ryland said. “She’s one of us.”
“And engaged to me,” Sam added. “We’re going to marry as soon as it can be arranged.”
The general looked as if Sam had hit him with a two-by-four. “What the hell are you talking about? We’re in a big enough mess without you losing your mind, boy.”
“I’m a man, sir,” Sam corrected. “I grew up a long time ago. Azami and I want to get married soon. I thought you should know. She’ll be an asset to us. She’s a skilled fighter.”
“She owns one of the biggest satellite companies in the world,” Ranier corrected. “She’s corporate, not one of us.” He sounded brusque, bordering on rude.
Azami continued to watch him, her demeanor demure and serene. It mattered little to her what he said about her, only what he had come to do here. His visit was obviously unusual. The men, although they knew him and had settled into seats around the table, were still very much on alert, ready for anything.
“Sir, what brings you out to our compound?” Ryland asked.
The general glared at Sam for a few more minutes before he sighed. “It’s classified. You know I can’t discuss it in front of a civilian.”
Sam opened his mouth to protest, but Azami inclined her head and left the room immediately. There was no point in arguing. She put on a burst of speed and made it back to her room, quickly turning on the small video screen to watch what transpired.
The general pulled a sheaf of papers from his jacket. “This is why I came.” His voice was grim as he tossed the papers down in front of Ryland.
Ryland picked them up slowly, scanned them quickly, and passed them to Kadan. “I pick my own team on any mission, General. You know that.”
Azami was surprised Ryland could keep suspicion from his voice. Her heart sank for Sam. The orders had come down to go to the Congo, she was certain of it, and from what Ryland had just said, the general had specified Sam go, just as she’d predicted. Her heart might ache for Sam, but her determination to protect him didn’t falter.
“Exactly.” The general roared the word. “Why do you think I’m here? I tried to follow this order up the chain, but suddenly, no one is talking. I can see taking a team into the Congo and destroying vehicles and artillery as well as taking out the present leader, that idiot who calls himself General Armine, and the one fighting him for the rebel force, Eudes Ekabela’s brother, Ezekial. Both have got to go if the president in that country is ever going to stabilize it.”
“They want both men taken out?” Ryland asked.
The general nodded. “They want this genocide stopped there, and the ragtag army of rebels just seems to smash and run. They’re good at disappearing. They’re keeping the UN from delivering food to the people who need it most, although, if you ask me, the rebels also are holding the diamond mines hostage and the president wants them back, which is probably more of a motivating factor for him asking for help.”
“And the bit about retrieval?” Ryland asked.
“Ekabela has a package he’s protecting—a large diamond. He claims he would hand it over if Armine is assassinated, giving him control of the rebels. He negotiated a time and place where you’ll meet him and retrieve the package. They want Sam to meet with him.”
Ryland let out his breath in a long hiss of disapproval. “Sam is the sniper who killed his brother, Eudes.”
The general nodded. “He shouldn’t know that. Shouldn’t have that information, but why specifically Sam, if he doesn’t know?”
“That’s a good question, sir,” Ryland said. “Nico does most of the sniper missions for us. It doesn’t make any sense that anyone would specifically ask for Sam.”
The general took another piece of paper from his inside pocket and pushed it across the table to Ryland. “That’s the name of the man I believe generated these orders. I was stonewalled everywhere I asked, but this man has been in my office, and both times, after he left, when we did the sweep for bugs, we found them. I know this sounds crazy, but I met him twice at charity events Whitney held. I think he’s an old crony of Whitney’s and they’re still in touch. I don’t know what these orders mean, but I know we’re expected to carry them out.”
Azami could see Ryland frowning over the name, but he didn’t say it aloud. There were several people she suspected of aiding Whitney and she had them under surveillance.
“Who is he?” Ryland asked.
“He works for the CIA and operates out of Kinshasa. He’s in tight with the president there, so it makes sense that the order would come from him, but I couldn’t get confirmation, which doesn’t make sense. No one keeps me out of the loop. Something doesn’t smell right, Rye.” He took a breath and avoided eye contact with Sam. “I want you to keep Sam here. I’ll take the responsibility for overruling the order.”
Relief flooded Azami. The general could have tried throwing suspicion onto someone else if he was still friends with Whitney, but he, for certain, loved his foster son.