CHAPTER 17
WEDNESDAY
Langley, Virginia
Sara barely slept the previous night. She bought two coffees on the way to work this morning. She was driving through the empty morning roads. It was just past 5AM. In a few hours Tom would be getting into the helicopter.
Let’s just launch this mission. I’m sick of worrying and not sleeping.
Despite Anderson’s reassurances, she could not shake the feeling. Was the mission turning on them? She went through the facts. Somehow Officer 1414 had been compromised. Then that blasted Chinese character appeared when she and Matt sent that message to Pacific Command. But neither the North Korean nor Chinese navies were doing anything out of the ordinary. And the latest satellite imagery, from the last satellite pass several hours ago, showed no change in the activity of the Korean People’s Army around the base. Sara was not comforted by the contradicting facts.
She pulled into the parking lot at the CIA. She managed to find a good space today, one of the few benefits of coming in this early. She slung her bag over her shoulder and grabbed both coffees. She realized she must have looked silly walking into work this way. But she did not really care.
She walked to her office and started getting ready for the big day. Inside she turned on her computer. Her door opened.
“One of those for me?” It was Anderson. His eyes looked like they wanted to shut. Sara wondered how much he had slept.
“John – “
“I’m kidding. I have one already. Thanks for coming in so early.”
“Do we have any updates?” She could not help jumping to the only topic on her mind. She wanted to know whether there was any change in naval activity or activity around that base.
“No – everything is unchanged from last night. I just looked at satellite imagery from the last past a few hours ago, and the activity around that base is the same as before.”
“That’s good.” Sara sighed, releasing some tension.
“Tom is set. He will start gearing up shortly. Helicopters are fueled and ready. We’re looking good to launch the mission at 7.”
“How is Tom?” Sara knew she sounded like a mother, but did not feel that way.
“He’s good. He is rested. Also spent a good number of hours pouring over maps and satellite imagery of that area. You know him – he’ll be ready.”
“Good.” Sara sensed she was looking at Anderson a bit too eagerly.
“Anyway, get settled in and then let’s meet in the Command Room at 6 to get going. So I’ll see you there in a little over an hour.” He looked at his watch.
As Anderson left her office, Mr. Park walked by and greeted Anderson. He was wearing the same clothes as the previous day. He and Anderson walked down the hall together.
What did Mr. Park need to stay here all night for? Will someone tell me what he’s working on?
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