FOR VANCE ONLY.
I read it.
And felt the past seven years collapse beneath my feet.
ELENA — IF YOU STILL REMEMBER SARAJEVO, DO NOT LAND WHERE THEY SEND YOU.
— C.R.
Rourke.
My hand tightened around the paper.
There was no doubt anymore.
Only Caleb had used Sarajevo that way.
Not as a location.
As a code word.
A memory.
Seven years earlier, during our final mission together, we had established an emergency rule.
If either of us ever believed command itself had been compromised, we would reference Sarajevo.
It meant:
Trust no channel.
Trust no orders.
Trust only what you can personally verify.
I returned to the cabin.
Everyone looked toward me.
Cole was still seated with his hands visible.
Briggs stood nearby.
“What happened?” Reed asked.
I folded the message.
“Change of destination.”
Pike frowned.
“To where?”
I looked at six people who might save my life.
Or end it.
“I’ll tell you when we land.”
Briggs stepped forward.
“Chief, with respect, the team needs operational clarity.”
“No.”
“We just discovered an unauthorized transmitter.”
“I’m aware.”
“And now our route changes?”
“Yes.”
“That makes no sense.”
“It doesn’t need to make sense to you.”
His expression cooled.
