Danger Close by James Sumner (classic novels for teens txt) 📕

before the shooting,” he said to Jericho. “No one entered or left that building.”

Jericho pushed himself upright and placed his hands on his hips. He stared with frustration at the screens before him. “What are we missing? How did the shooter smuggle a revolutionary sniper rifle into a building without anyone noticing?”

“He could be the Mole Man,” muttered one of the Palugan soldiers, which prompted the other to chuckle.

A flash of clarity hit Jericho like a lightning bolt.

He pointed to the soldier. “What did you just say?”

The soldier turned around. He was young, with a fresh face and innocent eyes that had never seen real conflict. “I’m sorry, sir. It was a bad joke.”

Jericho shook his head. “No, explain to me what you just said.”

The soldier was unsure. He looked at Ramirez for confirmation.

“Don’t look at me, soldier,” said the colonel. “Answer him.”

The young soldier swallowed hard, fearful he was in some kind of trouble. “I-I said he could be the Mole Man, sir.”

Jericho frowned. “And who’s that?”

“It’s a fable to scare children who misbehave, sir. The Mole Man crawls under your house and bursts up into your room at night to take you away if you’re naughty. My mother threatened me with it all the time.”

Jericho’s mind began racing. He looked over at Ramirez, who, after a moment, began thinking the same thing.

“What’s underneath that building?” he said to the men before him. “Can you pull up some schematics?”

“I’ll try,” he replied, turning back to face the screen.

“Forgive our system,” said Ramirez pre-emptively. “It is not as advanced as what I imagine you are used to.”

Jericho waved the comment away. “It’s fine. Just find me what’s beneath those offices.”

A few minutes of tense silence passed as the three men sitting in front of their keyboards worked together.

“Got it,” said the young Palugan soldier finally. “It’s a…” He turned to look at Jericho and the colonel. “It’s a sewer system, sir. Built within the last decade. The tunnels form a strategic network beneath the city.”

Ramirez nodded. “It was the first of its kind. Designed to be built upon and expanded across the country.”

“So, where does it lead?” asked Jericho. “Show me the entrance points.”

On the screen, a topographical map of Maville appeared. It then switched to a view resembling a blueprint, which overlaid the tunnel network on the buildings and streets. Jericho leaned in, resting a giant hand on the back of an analyst’s chair as he studied the map.

A tunnel ran directly beneath the building.

He tapped the screen. “There. How would I get to that tunnel?”

The soldier worked the screen, moving the map around, following the path until he found the entrance. He switched the view back to the original satellite imagery. It showed a large, gated, circular tunnel entrance leading out onto a small beach along the coastline approximately one mile away, bordered by steep cliff faces.

Jericho looked at his operative, who was already tapping feverishly away on his own computer. “Pull up our feed of this area from twenty-four hours before.”

“On it, sir,” he said.

A few more moments of palpable silence, then they saw it. A speedboat approached the beach alcove at dawn, just under ten hours before Herrera gave his speech. A shadowy figure stepped onto the shore, carrying a large bag.

“That’s him,” said Ramirez. “That’s the shooter!”

Jericho ignored him. “Now fast forward to the time of shooting, same location.”

The operative did. He then skipped the feed forward in fifteen-second intervals from the time the president was shot. A little over twenty minutes sped by before the shadowy figure emerged back onto the beach, bag in hand, just as the speedboat reappeared. Everyone watched as the figure climbed into the boat and it accelerated away.

“Track it,” said Jericho, unable to keep the adrenaline and urgency from his voice. “Find out where that boat went. That’s the priority now. We find that boat, we find the shooter.” He turned to Ramirez. “Told you we’d find him.”

“I will tell my men to stand ready,” said Ramirez. “As soon as we ID this shooter, I will send word to General Guerrero. If he knows we’re tracking the shooter, maybe it will de-escalate things on the streets and put an end to this before it has a chance to begin.”

Jericho’s expression hardened. “That’s assuming the general isn’t behind it.”

Ramirez appeared shocked. “You think he would do that? I don’t think even he would—”

Jericho held up his hand. “I just think we should hold off on any peace treaties until we confirm the shooter isn’t one of your own people.”

“Perhaps you are right,” said Ramirez hesitantly.

Jericho reached for his phone. “Let me check in with my team and let them know we’re making progress. They might be able to help.”

As he approached the door, it burst open. A Palugan soldier stood there, red-faced and out of breath, a look of concern in his eyes.

Ramirez stepped forward. “What is it, soldier?”

“Sir. We have men at the gate.”

“Civilians?”

The soldier shook his head. “Our men, sir. They’re demanding we open the palace gates and let them in, on orders from General Guerrero himself.”

“Please tell me you didn’t…” said Jericho.

The soldier looked at him. “No, sir. We’re holding our ground. I came straight here.”

“How many men?” asked Ramirez.

“Maybe twenty, sir. Just one unit.”

Jericho looked at the colonel. “How many men do you have in the palace?”

“Sixty. You?”

“Twenty-five.”

The soldier shifted his weight back and forth anxiously. “Sir, what should we do?”

“I’m on my way,” said Ramirez. “Go on ahead. Tell our men that under no circumstances is that gate to be opened.”

The soldier nodded and disappeared.

Ramirez looked at Jericho. “What do you think?”

Jericho shrugged. “Strange timing for a show of strength. Perhaps I should come along and introduce myself. Might be useful to remind your general that he’s not the only game in town.”

Ramirez smiled. “I thought you might say that, soldier.”

14

Jericho and Ramirez stepped out into the palace courtyard. They were flanked by a mix of Palugan soldiers and GlobaTech operatives they gathered along